Whew! The long march to the White House is over. We now know who the President-elect is.
Politics aside, who could dispute that Barack Obama is a masterful orator? And that those rhetorical skills propelled him from the streets of Chicago to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
All leaders don't need to be masters of oratory, but they do need good speaking skills. There is a lot that can be learned by studying how Obama used his communication skills to present a vision of organizational change and energize the stakeholders.
I expect the new book Say It Like Obama [McGraw-Hill] to be a hot motivational self-improvement book for CEOs, board members, and leaders of all stripes. In it are copies of Obama speeches, including the speech that started it all — his 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address — and what the book terms "the speech that made history again," his 2008 Democratic National Convention Nomination Address. Leadership development coach Dr. Shel Leanne dissects the speeches and rhetorical techniques and shows how to construct an argument that is persuasive and motivates others to action.
My previous post on Oct. 30 was a recommendation for a book that will equip you to navigate perilous financial markets. The "market" for organizational change will be huge at the tail end of this year and into 2009. This book will better equip you to motivate your key constituencies to do the job that needs to be done so as to still be here to enjoy the better days ahead that the new President has envisioned.
