Say it Like Obama and Win!: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision, Revised and Expanded Third Edition, 3rd Edition

Book description

Updated to include speeches on the death of bin Laden, the Arab Spring, and other historic moments on the podium

In speech after speech, Barack Obama fires up enthusiastic supporters with his inspiring vision, rousing rhetoric, and charismatic presence. His outstanding communication skills gave rise to an unprecedented political movement and launched him to the top of the world political stage.

But inspiring and persuading millions isn't simply a product of innate ability. Barack Obama spent time and effort honing skills that have made him so successful. These techniques are vital not only in the political arena, but also for business executives, managers, and leaders from all walks of life.

This book is about the art of persuasion, the power of presentation, and the most effective methods of communication. From building strong arguments and facing tough issues to inspiring a team or workforce to new levels of innovation and productivity, Say It Like Obama and Win! gives you the tools to instill positive change at every level of your organization by teaching you how to:

  • Make a strong first impression
  • Use body language and voice
  • Establish common ground
  • Gain trust and confi dence
  • Win hearts and minds
  • Drive your points home
  • Convey your vision through imagery and words that resonate
  • Build to a crescendo and leave a lasting impression

Whether you're a manager, an executive, a public speaker, a business owner, or a community leader, Say It Like Obama and Win! provides you with presentation techniques that have inspired and mobilized audiences of every size.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. SAY IT LIKE OBAMA AND WIN!: THE POWER OF SPEAKING WITH PURPOSE AND VISION, Revised and Expanded Third Edition
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Introduction
  7. Chapter 1 The Speech that Started it All
    1. 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address, July 27, 2004
    2. Effective Use of Body Language and Voice Establishing Common Ground
    3. Speaking to Audience Concerns: Winning Hearts and Minds
    4. Conveying Vision through Personalization and Words That Resonate
    5. Driving Points Home
    6. Excellent Persuasion Techniques
    7. Building to a Crescendo and Leaving a Strong Last Impression
  8. Chapter 2 Earning Trust and Confidence
    1. Charisma of a Leader
    2. Creating Strong First Impressions—Image and Body Language
    3. Leveraging Second Impressions—Voice and Intonation
    4. Using Effective Gestures
    5. Maximizing Props
    6. Beginning Strong
    7. Conveying Admirable Ethics—Developing Teflon
    8. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Earning Trust and Confidence
  9. Chapter 3 Breaking Down Barriers
    1. Achieving Transcendence
    2. Acknowledging the Elephant in the Room
    3. Stressing Common Dreams and Values
    4. Drawing Attention to Shared History
    5. Illuminating Shared Experiences
    6. Employing Words That Resonate: The Historical and Political Lexicon
    7. Using Words That Resonate—Biblical Truths
    8. Leveraging Other People’s Words
    9. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Breaking Down Barriers
  10. Chapter 4 Winning Hearts and Minds
    1. Knowing Your Audience
    2. Knowing When Not to Enumerate
    3. Employing Details Effectively
    4. Personalizing the Message: “I” and Experience
    5. Connecting One to One: “You” and “I”
    6. Personalizing the Message: The “We” Connection
    7. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Winning Hearts and Minds
  11. Chapter 5 Conveying Vision
    1. Referencing History and the Familiar
    2. Using Descriptive Words as Visual Aids
    3. Drawing on Symbolism
    4. Leveraging Corollaries
    5. Personifying Ideas and Conferring Physicality
    6. Providing Just Enough Detail
    7. Creating Dynamic Images
    8. Leveraging a Backward Loop
    9. Illustrating with Anecdotes
    10. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Conveying Vision
  12. Chapter 6 Driving Points Home
    1. Prioritizing and Focusing on Themes
    2. Using Rhetorical Questions
    3. Employing Effective Repetition
    4. Leveraging Pace and Tone
    5. Communicating with Slogans and Refrains
    6. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Driving Points Home
  13. Chapter 7 Persuading
    1. Eliciting a Nod
    2. Sequencing Ideas
    3. Addressing Nonrhetorical Questions
    4. Addressing Objections
    5. Using Juxtaposition and Antithesis—Comparing and Contrasting
    6. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Persuading
  14. Chapter 8 Facing and Overcoming Controversy
    1. Knowing Your Goals: Rejecting and Denouncing
    2. Recasting the Tone: Humility and Gracious Beginnings
    3. Resetting Your Image: Leveraging Props
    4. Recasting the Dialogue: Language Choice
    5. Addressing Error Head-On: Accepting Responsibility
    6. Restating Ethics and Delivering Tough Messages
    7. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Facing and Overcoming Obstacles
  15. Chapter 9 Motivating Others to Action and Leaving Strong Last Impressions
    1. Inspiring Others to Great Achievements
    2. Creating a Sense of Momentum and Urgency
    3. Building to a Crescendo
    4. Repeating Takeaways and Slogans
    5. Directing to Low-Hanging Fruit
    6. Putting It All Together to End Strong
    7. What We’ve Learned—Practices for Motivating Others to Action and Leaving Strong Last Impressions
  16. Chapter 10 Speeches That Made History
    1. 2008 Nomination Acceptance Speech
    2. 2008 Election Night Victory Speech, Grant Park, Chicago
    3. 2009 Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
    4. 2009 Middle East Speech, “On a New Beginning”
    5. 2009 Remarks on Financial Rescue and Reform
    6. 2009 Remarks to the United Nations General Assembly
    7. 2011 Remarks on the Death of Osama bin Laden
    8. 2012 State of the Union Address
  17. Endnotes

Product information

  • Title: Say it Like Obama and Win!: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision, Revised and Expanded Third Edition, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Shel Leanne
  • Release date: August 2012
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071802710