Hope and Virtue

For all leaders who desire to become more effective communicators, and truly reach into their people’s hearts and minds, take a lesson from our new President’s clear, concise, and direct Inaugural Address today.

1. Confront the Brutal Facts: President Obama’s speech was sober, to say the least, and fairly stern, in describing not only our current problems and also some of their root causes. Among them was, what he called, our “collective failure to make hard choices” to address the excesses of the recent decades. He was our truth teller, even if the truth might be hard for some to hear. Leaders summon courage, and tell it like it is to build trust.

2. Call us to Common Cause: The deepest, most motivating theme for all Americans is our common commitment to our common values: liberty, the worth of each individual, equality of opportunity, service to the community. Hope. Virtue. Can do. Leaders unite us to our common roots and engage us with a common cause.

3. Dream BIG: The President pointed to an America where our infrastructure, science, institutions and schools–and all of us–are renewed and refreshed not only to restore our prosperity but also protect our planet. He specifically addressed “cynics” who think too narrowly and cautiously in this moment of history. He properly pointed out that “the ground has shifted” under that type of outmoded thinking. 

4. The Emotional Intangibles: What do you think? Did the President’s body language exude confidence? Did he show conviction? Calmness, yet with boldness and urgency? Did you BELIEVE him? Was he believable? 

The next 100 days will bring us more clarity about what the President believes, because he will, if he’s half the leader I think he is, back his Vision with Initiative. He will build Trust through actions that continue to Align us and Engage us to that Vision.

Vision. Initiative. Trust. Alignment. Engagement.

A formula for effective leadership communication.