Communication (or not)

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House of Pain - 7 Missteps from a Communication Perspective

Akron, OH
Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Leave it to the Karl Rove's of the world to look into their crystal ball and see Sarah Palin's future. To review her communication style does not take a crystal ball. It requires an objective eye and ear in addition to an expertise in communication.

Sarah Palin's 7 Missteps from a Communication Perspective

1. No script

Apparently she likes to jump off the deep end without a script. Although, observable evidence is that when she is on script she is a much stronger speaker. The no script approach allowed her to go off on her unending tangents. The problem with a tangent is that not even the speaker knows how long it will last, and then the speaker has to get back to the message from some far off point.

2. Shrillness

I believe that the lack of script contributed to the shrillness in her voice. This already looked like an emotional not well thought out decision. Add the shrillness and would you want this person with their hand on the button of nuclear warfare?

3. Lack of clarity

You don't have clarity of thought and word just because you say you are clear. The audience decides clarity not the speaker. No one was any more clear about her reason for leaving her position after she spoke. The reason you call a news conference is to answer questions not raise more uncertainty.

4. Too Rushed

The news conference was called so quickly that not even her own spokeswoman was in attendance. What was the urgency to call a press conference on a holiday weekend? The reason that you hold a press conference is that you want to get something out to the press. So why call it with little notice and on a holiday weekend?

5. Overuse of analogies

An analogy is supposed to help clarify not confuse. Her overuse of analogies adds to her what even Republicans are starting to refer to as kookiness. An analogy is only helpful if everyone understands it. When her spokesperson tried to continue Palin's basketball analogy in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, he told her, I don't know basketball I only know politics.

6. Incorrect consulting

While it may be touching that her family voted unanimously for this decision, from a leadership standpoint, the answer falls short.

Do you want your future decided by the family of your banker, lawyer or doctor? Or do you want to follow a leader with your best interest at heart?

7. Audience Mis-Analysis

In the world of communication, and within the rules of communication, the audience decides success not the speaker. The audience drives everything is the way the rule reads. While Palin may say her decision does not represent quitting, it is what the audience decides is quitting not the speaker.

Leslie Ungar
President
Electric Impulse Communications, Inc.
Akron, OH

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