Below is a 24:42 minute video clip of Michelle Obama delivering a speech at the 2012 United States, Democratic National Convention.

I give Mrs. Obama a 9/10 for her word usage, voice, face and body language. Overall, Obama’s delivery was a great example of ‘Perceived authenticity and enthusiasm sells’. It sold herself and her message well.

Of course this type of oratory plays well in the United States.

The things she did well included:

–          Beginning her speaking with low emotion, building to various points of high emotion and ending with a crescendo.

–          Gestures, body movement and facial expression naturally paired with her words.

–          Repetitive and rhythmic phrasing. For example: “surely we can . . . surely we can” and “he’s the same man . . . he’s the same man.”

–          Projecting a strong physical presence and posture while ‘owning’ and occupying the space in front of her body. Her well-toned arms are impressive and add to her projection of confidence and certainty.

–          Her ‘near-crying’ near the end of the speech conveying deep emotion and feeling. Obama has an uncanny knack of making this ‘near-crying’ genuine (ie. Not overplaying it into cheesiness).

Only when she started clipping her ‘ing words (eg. “Sacrificin’, gettin’ up”) did any hint of phoniness creep into her speaking.

Here is the LINK of the clip.

Own the Conversation

1. Choose and then watch a sentence or two from the speech.
2. Memorise the words and how Obama delivered the words (her voice and cadence, facial expression, body language and feeling tone).
3. Repeatedly video record, playback and watch your performance or these sentences until it ‘captures’ Obama’s performance while stamping your ‘signature’ on the sentences.
4. In safe interactions at first, and to make your speaking delivery richer, add element of Obama’s speaking into your speaking.

p.s. check out this post on what Not to do when shaking someone’s hand