Coming across this aged article, the thought of “how do I speak?” blazed through my mind. The article takes a look at the speaking ways of US President Barack Obama with insight to his style by Michael Kelly. This article was press released by AFR.
Measured Manner a Winning Way
Jill Margo
At the best of times, public speaking can be daunting. In theses turbulent times it can be even more challenging, particularly for business leaders who have to talk about the impact if the financial crises on their enterprise.
Michael Kelly, a Sydney speech communication expert, says they can learn much from watching the US presidential race.
Almost every night on television, Barack Obama demonstrates techniques that underpin successful public speaking. He doesn’t rush. He takes his time to move, to pause and to search for the right words. He trusts himself to find the words and others trust he will find them too. His audience is not anxious that he will stumble. What they see is a self-possessed man, whose measured deliver signals authority.
Kelly says composure creates the impression of a person not easily ruffled, of someone who can be trusted. Obama’s body language shows a man who is comfortable with himself and who, in front of a crowd can occupy his space with ease.
“Early on, Barack wrote that he understood a key perception about himself. That is, that white people were relieved and pleasantly surprised to interact with a black man who was not aggressive and angry,” Kelly says
“He put that into practice in the way he moves and uses his body. He never moves quickly or ‘aggressively’ in order not to surprise or startle people.”
His smooth carriage reinforces the notion that he is under no time pressure and his gestures appear so natural they make him appear genuine.
Kelly describes him as graceful and says he meets the criteria for goo oratory set out centuries ago by Cicero, who wrote that and orator “ must practice an economy of movement, with not extraneous effort – the carriage of his body straight and lofty: his pacing measured and kept within bounds…. Governing himself in the expression of his whole body, with a manly torsion from the waist; using powerful gestures when moved, and none at all when calm”.
Obama is also bless with a smooth, deep and balanced voice that can become loud with little effort. Kelly believes his voice is rooted in the “preacher style” of the church he attended. But it also has a lyrical swinging cadence which is pleasing to the ear. : Barack expertly uses pauses and strings words together like a jazz musician.”
During the debates with republican John McCain, Obama listened with his eye. Regardless of what McCain Said, Obama kept looking at him.
“This ‘eye listening’ convey confidence and assuredness. It can be difficult to watch someone verbally assault but doing so, and not flinching, is akin to “taking it like a man”, Kelly says.
McCain averted his gaze when Obama spoke, almost creating the perception that he was not listening. Holding contact with calm eyes, particularly during disagreement, suggests you are not easily riled. When the stakes are high, the audience observers the speaker carefully, alert for subtleties of tone, expression and anything that can give a clue to what the speaker really thinks.
Obama’s facial expression appears to reflect what he is feeling, which helps to portray him as authentic. While McCain’s war injuries have affected his body language and restricted his ability to move and make gestures, both his face and voice lack passion.
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