2008 Presidential Debate: Communication.

Obama explains troubled Columbian Labor Unions while McCain discreetly masks his incredulity at what is being said.

If you caught the third and final 2008 Presidential Debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, then you noticed a difference between this one and all of the other debates - the high level of energy led by John McCain.

Politics aside - the fact is that John McCain was on the offensive throughout the entire debate. His senses were so 'on' that when the moderator said he was going to change topics to "climate control" - McCain immediately jumped in with: "You mean 'climate CHANGE.'" It was the first and only time (as I recall) any moderator had been corrected.

McCain switched his style of communication and almost everyone agreed that his last debate was his best. 

Communication is King, and in the majority of instances in the business world - communication is more vital than traditional credentials.

• Why aren't you getting hired? 
• Why aren't you making sales? 
• Why does your dog not listen to you? 

It's all communication. 

Staying with the political parallel - did you know that Barack Obama has only been in the senate for 2 years? Do you know how he made a name for himself? He gave a speech - a really....good....speech. Now he's on the cusp of leading one of the most powerful nations on Earth. Communication OFTEN trumps credentials.

It's not a bad thing at all - but it DOES mean that if you want to be a leader in any field - you need to be an effective communicator. 

Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography that he would NEVER begin any sentence of opinion without the phrase: "I believe...", "It's my contention that...", or "As I've come to see it...." He knew that he couldn't afford to offend other people in his business and daily life. He knew the value of communication.

How is YOUR communication? If it needs a little work then watch people who ARE effective communicators and find out what they are doing that you are not. Write it down and most importantly - practice what you learn.

It sounds a bit ridiculous to say 'practice talking' - but this is surgical talking. You want your words to achieve a specific outcome. Practice with everyone you know. This is just an intro - I'll get into greater detail as we go.

By the way - if you think you're a great communicator - and your business is stuck - then you need to look at your DIRECTION. It's likely that you're lost in the field with your razor sharp blades - but you're headed in the wrong direction. Don't get so lost IN your job that you neglect to work ON your job.