The roar of the crowd is quieted, the excitement quelled, the streets of DC swept and cleaned, but enveloping so many of us are the exciting feelings of hope, optimism, and a sense of renewal.
Our new president is obviously very bright, young, and fit--three positives, but there is more, a lot more than appeals to so many people all over the world.
As I observed President Obama watch the marching bands from the viewing stands on Inauguration Day, I got it--HE CONNECTS WITH PEOPLE. What does that mean?
Many years ago my husband and I received free tickets to a very expensive dinner for a candidate for the senate. We were delighted. The dinner was excellent, and the humorous comedian, Henny Youngman, was the master of ceremonies.
When dinner was over, the guests lined up to shake hands with the candidate. I felt so honored--until I got within two people of him. As he shook each person’s hand, he looked over their shoulder to the next person in line. I never once made eye contact with him; he was too busy looking over my shoulder and mouthing the correct words as he shook my hand. He never saw me! I wasn’t important enough to warrant his attention. What’s Maya Angelou say: "People may not remember what you did or what you said but they will always remember how you made them feel."
Barack Obama innately follows Maya Angelou’s sentiment. From the viewing stand, he applauded the marching bands, but even more, he CONNECTED with them, making eye contact, pointing, making the band members feel as if they had been seen. That was my “aha” moment, seeing him look with such kindness and appreciation at each group and they walked by.
His oratorical elegance, his grace, his confidence, and his quick-witted sense of humor add to his specialness, but what brings that specialness home is his ability to CONNECT.
CONNECTION implies acceptance, even if not in agreement. It implies respect.
The difference between eye contact and CONNECTION lies in one word--sincerity. People feel it, sense it, know it when they see it. That’s what I perceive as President Obama’s great attribute, his ability to CONNECT.
As teachers, speakers, presenters, we know how important it is to CONNECT with our audience. CONNECTION makes the difference between success and failure.
I feel certain that we have in store for us a fantastic opportunity to fine-tune our skills just by carefully observing our new president over the next eight years.
Comments