Judy’s Gold Star Action: We teach it, we preach it, we speak it and we watch it happen before our eyes in our coaching workshops.  You see it too. Powerful speakers are among the most influential people in the world.  Develop stellar speaking skills, know your message and your audience.  Deliver your message with emotion.  Your confidence will soar as you become one of most influential people in your world.

Ring! Ring! People called with one question following President Obama’s televised speech to Congress.  “What do you think of his speech?” No one doubts the President’s ability to deliver a good speech.  His oratory skills resembled his campaign speeches for the first time since he became President. He was in such speaking shape, at times, you thought it was a campaign speech.

The triumph trademark confidence, hope, optimism and “we’re in this thing together” message was ever present throughout his speech.  With a theme of rebuild, recover and “stronger than ever” it was enough to win him comparisons, in some camps, to Ronald Reagan. It’s that old positive attitude thing.

Lesson 1: We look to leadership, the same way your clients and teams look to you, for optimistic confidence. Doom and gloom doesn’t win support for your vision or rally the troops.  Even bad news delivered with some hope is easier to accept. We’re not suggesting anyone put their head in the sand  ignoring challenges, but leaders have a responsibility to help companies and countries move through difficulties. If hope is gone, what else is there?

Lesson 2: President Obama delivered a well-rehearsed speech.  No matter what message you are trying to get across is, or the audience you’re trying to influence, your preparation pays off in every aspect.  First, you look more relaxed.  You can focus on delivering your points and not fret about what you’re going to say next. The key factor is to look and sound confident.  You can’t project it if you don’t feel it! Rehearse your speech as many times as it takes to feel natural until “you own it.” Your impact will soar.

Fallout from President Obama’s speech lies not in his delivery but rather the content.  Yes, it matters what you say as well as how you say it.  Political pundits and the media continue to debate his stimulus plan citing the reasons it won’t work.  “Big Goverment is back,” some cry.  No matter which side of the political fence you’re standing on, or whether you’re for or against the President’s stimulus plan,  does anyone believes good speeches will “talk” us through the recession?  President Obama receives accolades for a professional, polished, well delivered speech and his oratory ability, once again, to arouse hope.

Judy’s Gold Star Action: We teach it, we preach it, we speak it and we watch it happen before our eyes in our coaching workshops.  You see it too. Powerful speakers are among the most influential people in the world.  Develop stellar speaking skills, know your message and your audience.  Deliver your message with emotion.  Your confidence will soar as you become one of most influential people in your world.

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What is there about Barack Obama that captured the world’s attention?  Yes, he ran a “smart campaign” and used to the Internet to raise millions, but what is his appeal that landed him in the White House?  Did he “keynote” his path to the Presidency?  Tune in next week when we cover the personal communication style of the Senator from Illinois. We’ll break down the speaking skills that took him from obscurity to the 44th President of the United States.  You will learn how to develop extraordinary speaking skills.

Today we kicked off our “Legendary Leadership” Series with Bill Marriott, Jr!

Stayed tuned!

Judyth

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It didn’t matter which side of the political fence you cast your vote in last Tuesday’s emotional Presidential election. We all knew, no matter what the outcome, we were witnessing history in the making. Our tremendous privilege of voting in America for the candidate of choice made each of us a part of an historic election.

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama! Whether you are leading a staff of five or an organization of five hundred thousand if you don’t think your ability to deliver a powerful speech combined with a likability advantage doesn’t affect your win or lose score, just ask Barack Obama.

Four short years ago most people outside of Illinois or Washington, D.C. couldn’t spell Barack Obama, let alone pronounce it. But that changed when the Senator from Illinois spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. His stellar speaking skills thrust him onto the national stage. He captured America’s attention and in 2008 we elected the man with a different name to become the 44th President of the United States of America.

Both his critics and the media acknowledge his exceptional oratory skills, while supporters tout his intelligence and smart campaign strategy. Foes, and some supporters, claim we don’t know much about Barack Obama, and it is true he is untested, but the majority of Americans who elected him express feelings of excitement and hope for change.

The political pundits and historians will analyze the reasons Obama beat the Clinton machinery and why Senator John McCain lost the election. (We’ll cover his moving concession speech in our next post). McCain’s critics cite his age, the zigzagging campaign strategy, his controversial VP choice, his connection to an unpopular president and the economic meltdown, from which he never seemed to gain momentum. All or some of these observations might have been contributing factors, but we’ll leave that to the experts. My expertise is helping people identify their strengths and develop the qualities that contributed to Obama’s win. His personality force, ability to deliver powerful speeches, likability, temperament and presence helped him connect to a wide audience of supporters.

Some people call Obama a “Rock Star.” And I agree, he does have “Star Quality.” The winning combination of presence, confidence, likability, optimism, great speaking skills and a powerful message are qualities that help give leaders star power. So how does all of this relate to you and your business? True, you might not ever run for President, but if you are running a business, or in a position that requires you to influence people or embrace change, you are in a position of leadership. You lead teams, staff, clients, customers, boards, associations and, who knows… someday, maybe even voters.

Think about Presidents Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton. All three former world leaders’ brilliant communication, charismatic leadership and persuasive personalities prove talent and skills alone are not enough to lead, influence and unite people. What would the results of a company look like with great communication and likable leaders combined with substance?

Judy’s Gold Star Action: Are these leadership qualities obtainable? The answer is “Yes!” We get to help leaders, sales teams, entrepreneurs and high achievers develop these personal star quality transformations. The outcome depends on what’s at stake and the desire to stand out and influence others to make a difference.

For more on influence, Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama go to www.JudyJernudd.com and click “About Judy” to see the interview on FOX News. What is the first step? Self-awareness:

Self-Assessment: How Powerful is My Personality Appeal?

From The Startegic Assessment Process

On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high) how would you rate yourself?

1. <!–[if !supportLists]–><!–[endif]–>My charisma rating is…
2. My likability rating is…
3. My presence rating is…
4. My speaking skills ratings are…
5. My ability to connect with people is…
6. My ability to influence people is…
7. My confidence level is…
8. My ability to communicate is…
9. My listening skills rating are…
10. My family, friends, colleagues, staff and clients would agree with my self-assessment ratings…

If you scored a 50, congratulations! You are a charismatic, likability personality with powerful people skills who could lead anyone to anywhere.

If you’re in the 25 mid-range, you might want to consider making some improvements to become a more influential leader.

In this assessment, if you’re a 10, well, don’t be discouraged. There is hope!

Stay tuned!

Judy

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What will happen after the initial newness of John McCain’s VP choice wears off? Will Americans embrace what she stands for and her politics? How will the aggressive Governor fare with less enthusiastic folks than the crowd at the RNC? Will the reality hit that she could be one heartbeat away from the President of the United States? Answers to questions such as these will play out during the next few weeks. One thing is clear, she along with Fred Thompson, added life to the convention. Someone quick witted person stated before her speech, “The RNC was starting to look like an AARP convention!”

The Governor’s critics claim that she didn’t deliver any substance in her speech. Supporters talk about her style. Is anyone else surprised that she is getting as much press, if not more, about her looks as her politics or her speech? She claims her schoolmarm appearance is intentional to downplay her attractiveness. People want to buy rimless glasses like hers. Others want her to ditch ‘em altogether. The point is people pay attention to these things and they like to talk about them.

What worked for Mrs. Palin was her newness and the energy she brought to her speech. She seemed comfortable reading a Teleprompter. Critics are quick to point out her defiant attitude and the snarl. It will be interesting to see if the GOP find it an advantage to tone her down in certain situations such as media interviews. The slight snarl is something she might not be aware of, but a good coach can help her with some of the mannerisms that will distract from her messages as she gets into serious Q&A with the media and voters. She is visible on the campaign trail along with Senator McCain, but almost a week after her appearance on the national scene she isn’t saying much except excerpts from her script at the RNC.

The VP candidate’s voice could be one of problems. I remember an article years ago about voice analyzers who study voice quality. The article focused on politicians going all the way back to another woman VP candidate, Geraldine Ferraro. According to the research both Mrs. Ferraro’s and Presidential hopeful Walter Mondale’s voice would be more difficult to listen to over a period of time. Although subliminal, Mrs. Palin might be faced with the same challenge.

What are voice qualities that wear well to voters and your audiences? Think Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton: warm, comfortable and easy listening . Our voices play a subtle, but key role in our success.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: When we coach executives or speakers, we encourage them to develop their own speaking style. Lest anyone think all the talk about style is incidental. We want to see someone with a little magic. At the same, we want to hear some substance. There are speakers who think because they provide good content lack of style doesn’t make a difference. Same principle applies to all style and no substance. It isn’t a choice of either or. You need both to win your audience.

Stay tuned,

Judy Jernudd

What are your thoughts?

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Heart and humor sandwiched on both sides of a little ham sums up Fred Thompson’s speech. No doubt, Fred Thompson has the talking gene. His thunderous delivery combined with a professional speaker’s style, Thompson’s speaking ability was a highlight of the night.

Both Republicans and Democrats had to be moved by Senator McCain’s and all POW’s painful experiences. Taking us though a step-by-step account of Mr. McCain’s ordeal could have been a laborious narrative had Mr. Thompson delivered it like a reader or rushed through it. Instead, he talked to us as he walked us through one of worst tragedies of war. Anyone who heard his explanation of Mr. McCain’s bravery had to feel sadness for all who suffer under the name of freedom.

You might agree or disagree with the message, but there are plenty of pontificating pundits to ponder the content of all of the speeches at the RNC. Our focus is on the speaking style, the power of the speaker, or lack thereof, and how to deliver an impacting speech. Most of all, who connects with the audience and who can rally the troops?

Some people think if Mr. Thompson had delivered his presidential campaign speeches with the same verve, he might be accepting the Republican nomination for Prez. The same could be said for Rudy Giuliani. You might have issues with Mr. Giuliani’s content, but no one can deny he was enjoying himself.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: Most of us won’t be speaking at either convention, but wherever you speak look at the audience. If you look like you are enjoying it, your audience will be more receptive to you and your message.

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Cindy McCain, while clearly nervous reading her plea speech to help the victims of Gustav, looked stylish and sophisticated. It is evident that Mrs. McCain is not comfortable in the glare of TV cameras, but with practice and experience, she could look and feel more confident. If we were coaching her though, we would suggest she lose the jewelry. It is a distraction on television and it reminds us again think about her wealth. Oh, and her husband’s recent remark that he doesn’t know how many homes he owns.

The following night of the RNC Laura Bush introduced the President via satellite. Her demeanor and appearance reminded me of a comment Ann Richards made about her. The late Governor once called the First Lady the “real star” of the family. It is no secret that the vocal democrat didn’t favor either of the Bush Presidents, but she sang the praises of the First Lady. And once again, Laura Bush looked and projected a presidential team image without being co-president. Confident, articulate and vibrant in a stunning red–a power color–suit she seemed at home on the national stage talking to the world.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP #1: If you find yourself in a position of reading a speech that somebody else has written for you, find a way to personalize it. Reading a speech is not for beginners. It takes skill and practice to sound natural. The majority of people come across as if they were, well, reading a script. Mark it up, change words and phrases to make them your own.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP #2: Reading from a teleprompter is another skill that takes practice. Insist on several rehearsals until you feel comfortable with it. Read lines of copy rather than individual words and you’ll sound more natural.

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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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Day Three of the Democratic National Convention

Love him or not, voted for him once, twice, or never, Bill Clinton delivers an impacting emotionally charged speech like nobody else. He lived up to the Bill Clinton speaking magic on Wednesday night at the DNC. No one, not even the “Great Communicator,” President Reagan or any of this year’s pack of presidential hopefuls can top the former President. Barrack Obama is the only person who is on the list of powerful communicators.

Developing speaking skills anywhere close to the former President’s is an investment and commitment in one’s future. But if history repeats itself, the stakes are worth it. We like our leaders to be charismatic communicators; Reagan, Clinton and Obama.

President Clinton’s speaking abilities are challenging for most politicians, CEOs, leaders or anyone in the public spotlight to develop. The first skill to learn from Bill Clinton about successful speaking is the look he projects. He’s enjoying being in the spotlight. Let’s face it. He’s comes across as a man in his element when he’s in front of a crowd or a gaggle of TV cameras.

Cameras zoomed in on him at every opportunity as Senator Hillary Clinton delivered her “support Obama” speech at the DNC. In every camera shot he looked confident, cool and comfortable. He’s at home with himself – with more than 22 million people watching him. You could say Bill Clinton loves a camera and equally important, the camera loves him.

From the time he hits the stage, he’s in control, relaxed and beaming at the same time. He knows the key element of speaking mastery; he connects with people. It’s both powerful and winning. I had the opportunity to hear him speak in person just once during his presidency. The impact he had on that SRO crowd is one of those moments you always remember.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: If you are in a position of leadership, sales or influence develop your speaking skills as though you were running for President. You have nothing to lose and the prize to win.

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What happens when yet another politician gets caught having an extramarital affair? Americans are no longer shocked by infidelity in people with power and influence, but if the accused happened to be running for President of the United States it becomes a breaking news story.

Everyone in the media has varied emotions about John Edwards’ affair. The first concern is for his cancer stricken wife, Elizabeth, and their family. Supporters are disappointed while others close to Mr. Edwards’ talk of betrayal. Others are asking, “What if he had won the democratic nomination for President and the whole thing blew up?”

Mr. Edwards decided to take the path of confession to ABC’s Nightline with Bob Woodruff. The interview failed to offer much insight to the one-time presidential candidate’s feeling of remorse or regret. When one of his supporters was asked her reaction to Mr. Edward’s interview she stated, “His face didn’t look like he was telling the truth.” The only person who knows how truthful he is or isn’t rests with Mr. Edwards. None of us is his morale judge, nor will any speculative diatribe be offered here about the state of his marriage. What is apparent is that he lost an opportunity to express emotional sincerity.

What stood out in his interview were the conflicting demeanor and his body language. They didn’t match his words or the situation. Reporters, supporters and politicians appeared to be taking the whole situation more seriously than Mr. Edwards. He took the blame for the affair, claimed full responsibility, but it stopped there. We didn’t get the sense that he has come to grips with the impact of his actions or the damage fall out. It didn’t seem clear that his confession was one of a man in pain or that of a man who got caught.

If you analyze the interview he did teach some lessons of what not to do when trying to repair damage. His mixed messages and body language undermined, rather than helped. He smiled inappropriately several times during the interview. While his ever present mega watt smile served a persuasive purpose on the campaign trail it didn’t serve him during his answers to tough questions about lying to the media and cheating on his wife. His expressions and responses seemed in direct contrast to the professionalism of Bob Woodruff who never faltered from his direct style of questioning. Nor, at any time, did he smile along with Mr. Edwards.

Mr. Woodruff provided him several opportunities to acknowledge his remorse, regrets and or issue an apology. One question asked, “Do you think your political career is completely over? Mr. Edward’s response, “I’m not sure I had a political future anyway.” Rather than a dismissive answer, he missed the opportunity to say, “I am sorry that my actions and poor judgment disappointed my family, supporters, allies and friends. I regret that I caused them pain and embarrassment. I don’t have answers yet regarding my political future, but I know I will always continue to help people who can’t help themselves. Right now, my focus is on my wife, my family and the people I’ve disappointed. I have work to do in their healing and in regaining their trust.

He repeatedly castigated the “supermarket tabloids” for making outrageous allegations or being sensationalistic. It turns out, their allegations were true. He was the one not being truthful. His tone suggested the whole mess could be blamed on the media for the affair and confronting his denial.

He did get one thing right. The interview focused on his admission of his wrongdoings instead of Elizabeth Edward’s sadness being put on public display. He elected not to have her sitting by his side holding his hand. Reminiscent of Kobe Byrant and his wife during his news conference responding to his rape charges, and who can forget Eliot Spritzer’s wife standing at his side as he confessed to his prostitution scandal? Her pain, humiliation and sadness spoke louder than his words. She said nothing, but her demeanor tugged our hearts. It made Elliot Spritzer appear more villainous in character than another high profile cheating husband whose actions collapsed their world.

While there are no formulaic contrived rules for handling damage control, there are some behavioral actions to add to the credibility of an apology. First, the public does not want to see a smiling face in any crisis or damage control situation. Second, to gain credibility the demeanor of the accused must match his or her message and words. Third, remorse or regret is an emotion words alone cannot convey. Believability comes when people feel what you’re saying. It is rare for anyone to feel “your pain” unless you genuinely feel it and allow yourself to express it.

JUDY’S ACTION TIP: The majority of us are not public figures. It is unlikely we will face a crisis played out in the media, but the same principles apply to anyone who finds themselves on the receiving end of tough questions. We all make mistakes. These public scandals present a valuable lesson to be learned. Forgiveness comes when we admit it, apologize, sincerely express the regret, take action to improve the situation and don’t make the same mistake again.

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We’re in the heat of the election season with November 7th looming around the corner, so politicians might want to heed the advice from the column I wrote for The Daily Business Journal prior to the memorable election between John Kerry and George W. Bush in 2004:

It hasn’t happened yet, but here’s how it might go. “Hello, John. You don’t mind me calling you John, do you? In fact, it’s a good place to begin our work together. Addressing you by your first name helps convey a subtle ‘you’re one of us’ message. And that’s one of our goals today.

“Now, don’t be nervous — I am a former television talk show host and newscaster, and I’ve coached hundreds of government and corporate executives on how to improve their leadership images. A lot of clients start out quite apprehensive, but this can make a big difference in their lives.

“And people are saying, John, that you need help. “We will begin today by focusing on television. TV is your national stage. If you don’t make it in that medium, it might not ‘happen’ for you. Let’s pause to look back at the turning point that changed the way we vote. Almost every professional media coach has studied the historic televised 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate, and every politician should, too. John F. Kennedy’s vitality, charisma and energy soared right through the TV screen, while next to him Richard Nixon looked tired and unapproachable. Kennedy’s performance touched our emotions. And the proof was in the vote.

“That’s what we’re missing here. Think about the last few presidential campaigns. For instance, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. Remember Bob Dole’s famous, ‘I’m a doer, not a talker’? Well, that’s a problem. We want our leaders to talk to us with clarity, passion, vision and hope. Clinton is the master messenger. But Al Gore had some of the same challenges as you do.

“In fact, some of your supporters and foes use the same adjectives to describe you both: ‘wooden, stiff, uninvolved.’ Our staff conducted an unscientific study with 30 people and heard many repeats of those descriptions. Plus some people added ‘grim and tired’ to their description of you. Ouch!

“Think about your early opponents in the Democratic primary: the passionate Howard Dean and the charismatic John Edwards and Wesley Clarke. They showed us they have what it takes to be media stars, yet they fell by the wayside. This proves that these qualities are not all it takes to win the presidential bid. But they are essential if you want to inspire, influence and persuade. And they are key to your success in November! So how are we going to improve your communication skills?

“TV types love to use the expression ‘Pump up the energy!’ with guests to get ‘em to crank up the wattage. The challenge you have, John, is that low energy brings us down. Effective leaders not only exude energy but also have the ability to transfer it to others. Get some rest. Do some exercises or whatever it takes to get your adrenaline going before ‘show time,’ whether it’s for the TV cameras or a crowd. Psych yourself up to make every appearance count as though your life depends on it. Your political future does depend on it! Show us some excitement. Energize us with your presence. We want to feel your enthusiasm to be talking with us!

“And no more moseying up to the microphones. We’ll work to develop a more commanding presence for you, with you carrying your tall frame with a purpose and posture that suggests, ‘Look at me. I’m in control of the situation.’ Each time you enter a room or approach a lectern, you want to project a definite, purposeful demeanor.

“And remember that halfhearted gestures appear wishy-washy. Tune in on Sunday to watch those TV evangelists. Wow! They really know how to put their hands in motion, don’t they? Our goal is a more moderate version. And we’ve also crafted a personal slogan to help you remember what we’re working on here: Make a commitment. Be definite. And enjoy it!

“Soon, we’re going to videotape you several times while you practice your walk and gestures until they feel natural. You’ll feel a little uncomfortable at first, but when you see the difference it makes, you’ll embrace it. Powerful body language projects confidence.

“Now, let’s work on your voice quality. You’ll notice a difference in your voice once you start using your gestures effectively. You’ll begin to hear inflections and sound more natural. Our goal is to add some variety! Vary the pacing, the pitch and the power to sound more interesting. Consider a conversational, non-stilted tone.

“Here’s an exercise that will help you: Get out footage of your media interviews and speeches, and listen to your voice without watching yourself. It’s an ear opener to learn what others hear when you talk.

“Next, reverse that process, and watch your TV appearances and speeches without the sound. Can you tell whether you’re talking about good, bad or sad news? The goal is to match your voice, your gestures, your demeanor and your body language to your messages. This skill translates into believability and credibility.

“You’ve got a warm smile, John. We just don’t get to see it often enough. Smiling enhances your approachability. We suggest you look for opportunities to flash those pearly whites. It helps people get to know you when they see the other aspects of your personality.

“And part of projecting leadership presence, John, is your appearance. Fellow Democrat Howard Dean took the casual approach when he flung off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves. This visual image translates as Joe Average, and it suited him. But somehow, you don’t look as comfortable. Maybe it’s time to create a new image, with a hipper, more colorful direction.

“Back to Bob Dole: It was reported that his ‘people’ tried this approach, but he declined. In certain situations, we want our president to act and look, well, presidential. You have a definite advantage here. Perfectly tailored suits were made for your long, lean physique.

“Next, let’s talk about your messages. People are confused. Your critics say you waffle, flip-flop and talk out of both sides of your mouth. They grow tired of the negatives. You and your team have now begun adopting a more positive direction. Capitalizing on your accomplishments and strengths is an effective approach to help people learn more about you. Your supporters say you’re smart but too professorial. Your messages need clarity. And we can improve your delivery. Let’s start by putting some meaning into the messages. Believe it yourself before you say it.

“Did you know that some people perceive you as aloof? The downward tilt of your head and eyes suggest shyness, which an be interpreted as not warm or caring. Research tells us that 70 percent of the population is shy. You wouldn’t be the first leader who is more of an introvert than an extrovert but who changed his or her M.O. to match the job description. If you think this has merit, we have some exercises we can do the next time we’re together.

“November is approaching faster than it seems. Some people theorize that you’re holding back, waiting to see what happens with the Iraqi war and President Bush’s popularity. But we need to rev up your heart and mind with passion now! It’s difficult, if not impossible, to get people passionate about you or your message until we feel it from you.

“If what we’ve covered sounds like too much work or unnatural, just think Clinton-Dole and Bush-Gore. Helping people connect emotionally to their messages, to others and to themselves is our specialty. That’s our next session.”

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