Maybe not enough to win back certain voters from his budget cuts to the arts, but definitely enough to make him resonate with a much wider group who needs to see their Prime Minister as warmer and more personable before the next election.
Two thumbs up Prime Minister Harper.
Click here for the full video of Stephen Harper making a surprise appearance at the National Arts Centre gala and singing With a Little Help from My Friends.
A slightly shorter version is here on YouTube:
Showing posts with label Stephen Harper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephen Harper. Show all posts
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
It's often not what you say but how you say it that matters: thoughts on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's interview with CBC
I was very keen to watch Peter Mansbridge’s interview with Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week. Admittedly, the problem with me watching any interview is that I often end up dissecting the person’s ability to communicate rather than fully paying attention to what is being said. So, here are some of my distracted thoughts and, therefore, humble advice for our Prime Minister.
1) Be careful of what I call the President George Bush smile. This is a slight smile (or smirk) that comes out at inappropriate times (like when talking about the economy). Likely, this is a subconscious nervous habit. The problem is that it risks being mistaken with insincerity.
2) Get personal. Connect with the audience by showing that you are one of them. There was nothing “wrong” with the answer regarding the job loss in the auto sector. It possibly was even a very good answer; but it didn’t give the impression of personally understanding and sharing the pain of people facing unemployment. I don’t know if President-elect Barack Obama understands either, but he sure makes Americans feel as if he does. A simple anecdote can go a long way.
3) Lastly, try to avoid starting answers with “Look,….”. This can very easily be interpreted by the reporter and viewers as an irritated response. In addition to it not sounding very polite (which usually doesn’t win points with voters), showing aggravation can suggest a lack of control over the interview.
As I teach in our media training course, it’s often not what you say, but how you say it, that makes all the difference.
1) Be careful of what I call the President George Bush smile. This is a slight smile (or smirk) that comes out at inappropriate times (like when talking about the economy). Likely, this is a subconscious nervous habit. The problem is that it risks being mistaken with insincerity.
2) Get personal. Connect with the audience by showing that you are one of them. There was nothing “wrong” with the answer regarding the job loss in the auto sector. It possibly was even a very good answer; but it didn’t give the impression of personally understanding and sharing the pain of people facing unemployment. I don’t know if President-elect Barack Obama understands either, but he sure makes Americans feel as if he does. A simple anecdote can go a long way.
3) Lastly, try to avoid starting answers with “Look,….”. This can very easily be interpreted by the reporter and viewers as an irritated response. In addition to it not sounding very polite (which usually doesn’t win points with voters), showing aggravation can suggest a lack of control over the interview.
As I teach in our media training course, it’s often not what you say, but how you say it, that makes all the difference.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Facebook is good politics
Full credit to Prime Minister Stephen Harper who has embraced web 2.0 - well, almost - with his Facebook profile.
The best part of the profile is his inclusion of three fabulous videos that show a less formal and personable individual. I also like the top of his profile that lists him as Stephen Harper, Member of Parliament rather than Prime Minister - this too goes a long way to bringing him to a level that voters can relate to.
He's so close to connecting with me and you when ....his communications department seem to have bust open the door. The language falls back into:
Could one of his 7,623 supporters at the time of this writing help him with the social part of this social media tool? And, after you fix the language, how about suggesting he take a question a week from his Facebook supporters, or start a discussion topic 'Insights From 24 Sussex'?
At least there is room for a comment after each video...this one is my favourite:
The best part of the profile is his inclusion of three fabulous videos that show a less formal and personable individual. I also like the top of his profile that lists him as Stephen Harper, Member of Parliament rather than Prime Minister - this too goes a long way to bringing him to a level that voters can relate to.
He's so close to connecting with me and you when ....his communications department seem to have bust open the door. The language falls back into:
Mr. Harper has spent his political career standing up and speaking out for Canadians who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules.....
Could one of his 7,623 supporters at the time of this writing help him with the social part of this social media tool? And, after you fix the language, how about suggesting he take a question a week from his Facebook supporters, or start a discussion topic 'Insights From 24 Sussex'?
At least there is room for a comment after each video...this one is my favourite:
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