Michelle Makes Nice

Democratic National Convention, Denver, 2008

It doesn’t matter which side of the political fence you sit on, who can argue with the oratory skills of Barrack Obama? His speech performance at the DNC 2004 took him from obscurity-except for Illinois and Washington-to the national stage almost overnight. Wednesday night he delivered the most important speech of his life to the American people. From senator to presidential candidate-does his impacting speaking style leave any doubt where stellar communication skills can take you?

Michelle Obama speaking style, on other hand, is similar to Hillary Clinton’s delivery. Mrs. Clinton has come a long way and she delivered a well-received speech at the DNC, but we don’t get an emotional charge when she speaks. Hillary’s most moving performance followed her New Hampshire primary defeat. Although she wasn’t feeling our pain, we could feel hers. That’s a lesson in what makes a difference in a well delivered speech versus a moving or inspiring speech.

Mrs. Obama also delivers a well-written, well-rehearsed speech, but not heart touching or moving. Her opening night speech at the DNC was an attempt to make us forget some of her negative off the cuff remarks on the campaign trail. The “I love my country” line seemed to drudge up her previous remarks about “being proud about her country for the first time in her adult life”. The theme “we’re just like you,” often referring to her husband, had the reverse effect. They are not just like us. Why would we expect presidential campaigning couple need to be like the neighbors next door?

When Michelle received criticism early on, the senator responded by saying the smears surrounding his wife were infuriating and that “…it is an example of the erosion of civility in our political culture that she’s been subjected to these attacks.” We wonder, then, why was she headlining at the DNC if she hasn’t a taken a role in the spotlight to gain support for her husband? It goes both ways. Politicians know by now, if spouses are campaigning, giving speeches and being interviewed in the media they open themselves up for scrutiny and criticism. Just ask Bill Clinton.

Look, we want some magic in the White House and our first ladies help deliver it. Libraries are filled with books about the charismatic John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy’s spellbinding style. This is another area where Michelle Obama’s advisors can help her project a first lady image. Her dress on the opening night of the convention was a tad too tight and too casual. First ladies don’t need to dress staid or dull. A little sophistication and glamour reflects the position. Mrs. Obama handlers need to focus on her personable assets including her youth, freshness and her representation of a 21^st century woman.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: Great communication is about connecting with people, subtleties and nuances. You might not be running for president or positioning yourself for first lady, but everything about us from our walk to our talk to our clothes and hair communicates positive or negative statements. Powerful communication can take us anywhere. Senator Obama meteoric rise proves it. And here’s the good news; these are skills and areas of professional and personal growth that can be developed.

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