Lynn Espinoza is a broadcast news veteran with more than a decade of media, presentation and executive coaching experience. She has developed personal coaching sessions for Fortune 100 C-level executives, corporate communicators of all kinds, doctors, lawyers and leaders in non-profit.
A Media Training Invitation for Barack Obama
Posted on March 23, 2009. Filed under: Latest News
Sometimes I think I’m losing my sense of humor.
Then, I realize that the whole country - maybe the whole planet - is feeling pretty serious. The world economy is in the crapper; jobs are gone; we are at war.
That’s why, when President Obama grins and giggles when talking about the economy, the state of the auto industry and such - I cringe. I would like to think he’s just being natural and real; unstaged. I fear he’s being natural and real; cocky.
This occured to me with his Special Olympics comment on Jay Leno. It was an off-hand, silly public slip. And I think it’s probably exactly what he would say in private. Then, watching him break into that trademark smile on 60-Minutes, I got the same feeling.
He chortled when talking about money needed to keep the car industry afloat. There are thousands of ex-auto workers who fail to see the humor. Obama explained it as “gallows humor”. I’m sure that, within the walls of the Oval Office, he needs a laugh or two to keep his sanity. Still, “gallows humor” hardly provides that tone of reassuance that we need.
Barack Obama needs a communications coach - someone far from his inner circle - to help him bridle his humor, and to show him how a mis-placed smile can do a heap of harm. He needs someone to help him connect both authentically and appropriately with the American people.
Sign me up.
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