Speak to Lead

Incumbent House member drops election results challenge to allow popular bill to pass

Eloquence of language. Eloquence of action.

In modern politics we get a lot of the former, a dearth of the latter.

So I was refreshed to read of a Congressman willing to sacrifice his election for a greater good.

In Grant and Twain: The Story of a Friendship that Changed America, author Mark Perry poignantly describes the financial troubles of former president Ulysses S. Grant toward the end of his life.

Defrauded, deeply in debt, and fearful he would leave his wife impoverished, Grant raced against terminal tongue cancer to finish his memoirs. That drama, and the part Mark Twain played in encouraging Grant and ultimately publishing the memoirs, is the main focus of Perry's book. 

One of the sub-plots, however, involves the campaign to have Congress pass, and the president sign, a bill restoring Grant's military pension. When Grant resigned his rank (instead of retiring) to allow other officers to be promoted, he automatically barred himself from receiving a pension. With Grant now terminally ill, the Speaker of the House sought to introduce the bill and get it passed with one hour before Congress adjourned.

Mark Perry describes what happened:

Persuasive techniques: Can you fake charisma? And why would you want to?

Charisma is a critical element of a persuasive presenter. But is it an innate characteristic, or can it be faked?

Executive coach and author of The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help - or Hurt -
How You Lead, Carol Kinsey Goman, PH.D., has the answer. 

Here it is, reprinted with her permission from her newsletter:

How to Fake Charisma 

Charisma has been described as personal magnetism or charm. To me, charisma is all about an individual’s infectious positive attitude and personal energy, as projected through his or her body language.

People are the most charismatic when they are genuinely enthused, confident and upbeat about themselves and their topic. And as a leadership coach, I help clients develop their own unique brand of charisma.

I also help them fake it.

Trying to display confidence when you’re actually feeling uncertain, or to be seen as upbeat and positive when (for any reason) you are feeling the opposite, is a tricky thing. From "The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help - or Hurt - How You Lead," here are two valid options:

Resonate: present visual stories that transform audiences is a "Must Read"

Transforming audiences. That's been my profession for over 30 years. I transform audiences by transforming the speakers who present to them.

In that time I have tried to stay current on books relating to public speaking and presenting. In the earlier years, before the proliferation of self publishing (when publishing houses served as a print spam filter), the task was close to manageable. Now that's no longer the case. Nonetheless, I make the attempt.

Here's what I find. Much of the writing about public speaking and speech writing is, to be polite, mediocre. Fortunately, there are still some fine works being written. Books that refine our understanding and broaden our view.

Then, every once in a while, a book comes along that transforms the dialogue. That demands we no longer tolerate mindless, emotionless, purposeless presentations disguised as state-of-the-art communication technology. 

Resonate is one of those rare books.

Nancy Duarte (who also wrote the highly popular Slide:ology) delves into the processes of creating audience transforming experiences with an enthusiasm, depth, and insight rarely seen.

Resonate is a joy to read. For every communication professional, this is a must read. Neglect doing so at the risk of being put out to pasture.

Smile to Connect & Succeed

One of the best "tools" for connecting with people is a genuine smile.

Note, however, the word "genuine." In a 30-year study, researchers began by going through 141 photos in a Mills College (Oakland, California) yearbook, and marking those with more genuine smiles. Study participants were then contacted at ages 27, 43, and 52 and asked about their marriage and life satisfaction.

Those with genuine smiles were more likely to get and stay married, and to experience a greater sense of personal well-being. (A Genuine Smiles Goes a Long Way, Vijai P. Sharma, Ph.D.)

Other studies suggest smiles may be one of the causes of success. Researchers who analyzed 225 studies involving 275,000 people have concluded that if there is a causation, it goes from smile to success. Genuine smilers tend to be fun, easy to work with, highly motivated, and willing to take on tough problems. A 2005 study published by the American Psychological Association suggests that this is what leads to their success.

So how can you obtain a meaningful smile? Here are 5 tips:

1. Cultivate your sense of humor. Funny things are happening all around us. We just need to know what to look for. I highly recommend you get...and use!...Jeanne Robertson's book, Don't Let the Funny Stuff Get Away.
2. Avoid smile killers. It's hard to smile when you're whining, for instance. (And conversely, it's hard to whine when you're smiling!)
3. Begin the day by deciding to be happy. Count your blessings. Look for the good in others. Be willing to laugh at yourself.
4. Practice. Some of us forget to smile. When you catch yourself frowning, lighten up.
5. Surround yourself with smilers. According to recent research, people who don't smile have a negative impact on both their friends and strangers. Grumpy persons can decrease your chances of happiness by nearly 10%; smiles can increase your happiness by the same amount.

So for positive connection and greater success, SMILE.

Create a Marketing Habit in 21 Days: A Guide for Professionals

This is for those of you who lead small or solo practitioner professional services firms, and suffer the frustration of not having time to market when you're busy.The solution lies in Paula Black's new book, The Little Black Book - A Lawyer's Guide to Creating a Marketing Habit in 21 Days.

Don't get distracted by the lawyer focus; the process applies to all professional services. Paula kindly sent me a pre-launch copy and I think it's terrific. (In the interest of Washington DC's new love of transparency, I should be clear that I do not derive any income from recommending, nor from purchases of, the book.)

Here are 3 reasons I like TLBBALGTCAMHITOD (just try pronouncing that acronym!)

1. The 21-day plan breaks marketing into easy to do steps, short enough that you can fit them into a tight schedule. 
2. Because the steps are short and clearly defined, they do become habit forming. 
3. The formatting, typography and page design are worthy of an award. Key meaning jumps out at you; the look of the pages energizes you.  

For further information, and to see the bonuses Paula is offering for purchases today and tomorrow, follow this link http://tinyurl.com/nb8z3j

Speechwriting: 3 Lessons for Crafting Memorable Speeches for Executives and Political Leaders from Winston Churchill

Still under the influence of Mays visit to Chartwell, I recently read Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat: The Dire Warning - Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister.

John Lukacs' account of Churchill's May 13th 1940 address to the House of Commons and subsequent speeches given that year has the page-turning qualities of a suspense novel.

Much of Europe had fallen to the Germans. Defeat of Great Britain by Hitler was a real possibility. Some of the British leadership were already discussing suing for peace. Churchill was widely disliked or distrusted by many in his own party.

But Lukacs shows how Churchill rallied the British people, turned political antagonists into supporters, and turned the tide of war. It's an interesting, insightful, and at only 147 pages, a quick summer read.

There are also lessons for speechwriters. (The first two would be especially useful for political speechwriters.) Here are 3:

1. Churchill's vision created the rhetoric. What a novel concept: have something to say before speaking.
2. He was willing to level with the public and let them know the difficulties and sacrifices they would have to make. He trusted the public rather than pandered to them.
3. Churchill often used conversations with friends and colleagues to try out phrases and concepts he was thinking about including in the speech. A trial run allows the speaker to refine content and increases the speaker's comfort and confidence.