Book Review
Say It Like Obama: The Power Of Speaking With Purpose And Vision
Leanne, Shel (2009). New York: McGraw Hill.
Reviewed by Karen Toole
All of us have seen or heard President Obama speak and have observed the magic that happens. The way his words inspire passion and commitment and how he engages all of the senses when he speaks is something to behold. President Obama can persuade an individual, a group, or a crowd to not only understand, but feel his vision by the way he puts words together and the tempo of his speech. He uses words to engage people so that we feel that he is speaking to us as individuals. Through my years in HR working with leaders of all skill levels, I developed an instinctive sense as to how a leader can inspire with words and coach to that innate knowledge. However, I truly did not understand the mechanics of it all until I came across the book Say it Like Obama.
This is a book for anyone who personally wants to succeed at public speaking or who is a coach for senior leadership. The author, Shel Leanne, utilizes Obama’s speeches beginning with his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and ending with the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Address at the 2008 Convention to demonstrate his unique style in engaging and winning the hearts and minds of his audiences. She shows the reader how he utilizes the words within his speeches to earn trust and confidence (chapter 2), break down barriers (chapter 3), win hearts and minds (chapter 4), convey vision (chapter 5), drive points home (chapter 6), persuade (chapter 7), face and overcome controversy (chapter 8) and motivate others to action and leave strong last impressions (chapter 9).
Surprisingly, many of the techniques are already familiar to us such as knowing when to use a pregnant pause to focus attention on important themes, how to use gestures precisely to underscore key ideas and when to enumerate points or ideas. Also, what if there is an elephant in the room? The author demonstrates how Obama, and a speaker, acknowledges it right from the beginning.
Then there are the techniques demonstrated the day I missed English class, such as using a “triadic extension”—three words, phrases or parallel paragraphs to underscore a point. The author provides the following example from Obama’s announcement to run for President on February 10, 2007: “I know how hard it is. It comes with little sleep, little pay, and a lot, a lot of sacrifice.”
This truly amazing book provides you an understanding of the mechanics behind helping yourself—or the person you may be coaching—become a powerful, visionary and effective speaker. You will find the techniques slipping into your own writing shortly after completing the book.
