Say It Like Obama: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision (Hardcover)

~ Shel Leanne (Author), (Author)
Key Phrases: triadic extension, earning trust and confidence, conveying vision, Barack Obama, United States, John Kerry (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Includes Obama's historic acceptance speech from the Democratic National Convention

In speech after speech, Barack Obama has “fired up” millions of enthusiastic supporters with his inspiring vision, rousing rhetoric, and charismatic presence His outstanding communication skills gave rise to an unprecedented political movement and fueled Obama’s success in becoming the first African American presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party.

But inspiring and persuading millions isn’t simply a product of innate ability—Barack Obama honed techniques that made him a highly effective speaker before audiences numbering thirty to 200,000. These techniques are vital not only in the political arena, but also for business executives, managers, and leaders from all walks of life.

This book is about the art of persuasion, the power of presentation, and the most effective techniques of communication. From building strong arguments and facing tough issues to inspiring a team or workforce to new levels of innovation and productivity, Say It Like Obama gives you the tools you can use to instill positive change at every level of your organization by learning how to:

• Make a strong first impression
• Use body language and voice
• Establish common ground
• Gain trust and confidence
• Win hearts and minds
• Drive your points home
• Convey your vision through imagery and words that resonate
• Build to a crescendo and leave a lasting impression

Whether you’re a manager, executive, or public speaker, a teacher, business owner, or community leader, Say It Like Obama will provide you with presentation techniques that have inspired and mobilized audiences of every size.

From the Back Cover

Reach Out, Fire Up, and Motivate Like America's Most Audacious Speaker

Barack Obama has brought the power of oration back to American politics. Using well-practiced public-speaking skills, he not only rouses roaring applause but inspires real change in his listeners.

Leadership expert Shel Leanne explains how to combine oratory, body language, and the fine art of persuasion into a seamless presentation that builds trust and stimulates action. You will come away with the skill to motivate individuals, teams, or an entire workforce to embrace your vision and put it to work.

"Whether you're Republican or Democrat, this book provides useful information for anyone wanting to improve one's speaking skills...it isn't a political book, but rather one that focuses on that Obama Magic: just how does the man do it? There are a number of things Leanne addresses: things such as body language, mannerisms, alliteration, repetition, pacing, and most importantly, how to tie the speech into one's own life. One of the techniques Obama is known for is his ability to relate to his listeners by using his own life and struggles and then comparing such to that of the struggling American. One is also shown the ways in which controversy can be avoided, and dealt with in such a way that is both assertive, yet non-aggressive."­--BlogCritics.org

"There are plenty of lessons to be learned from this book even if one doesn’t agree with Obama’s thoughts and beliefs. Dr. Leanne succeeds in thoughtfully mixing public speaking and politics to produce a useful guide for all."--Dallas South Blog

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

C H A P T E R 1: THE SPEECH THAT STARTED IT ALL
C H A P T E R 2: EARNING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
C H A P T E R 3: BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
C H A P T E R 4: WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS
C H A P T E R 5: CONVE YING VISION
C H A P T E R 6: DRIVING POINTS HOME
C H A P T E R 7: PERSUADING
C H A P T E R 8: FACING AND OVER COMING CONTROVERSY
C H A P T E R 9: MOTIVATING OTHERS TO ACTION AND LEAVING STRONG LAST IMPRESSIONS
C H A P T E R 1 0: THE SPEECH THAT M ADE HISTORY . . . AGAIN

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007161589X
• ISBN-13: 978-0071615891
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,541 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Persuasion Primer, October 11, 2008

By	Michael P. Maslanka (dallas, texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whatever your political views, you will learn a lot from this book, which decontructs his talks and explains why they work so well. Learn the rule of threes; understand the power of rhetorical and non-rhetorical questions; exploit the use and nonuse of "and" in a sentance. Lots more, including the key one of "show, don't tell. She ends with his acceptance speech and challenges you to deconstruct the speech and spot the techiques. And, in a clever marketing move she does not give you the answers, but directs you to her website where she provides them. First rate stuff.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding! A must read..., September 20, 2008

By	S. Richardson (Seattlle, WA) - See all my reviews

I don't think anyone can dispute the fact that Senator Barack Obama is an amazing speaker and has the power to move people with his words of hope. Shel Leanne has been able to clearly and meticulously analyze some of Obama's most well known speeches and highlight for the reader various aspects of his oratory gift and the brilliance of his delivery. This is definitely a must read for anyone who wishes to connect with their audience irrespective of the setting.
-- S.G. Richardson

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great dissection of some powerful speeches, May 14, 2009

By	Greg Ferguson "Author: How to Give Your Best ... (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

I never noticed how structured some speeches are before reading this book. After looking at several annotated speeches in this book, it is quite clear why Obama's speeches resonate so well. When I listen to him now, I recognize that he speaks in threes and fives. Read this book to find out more.

The author's love of Obama comes through in this book. However, it does not matter whether you are a fan of Obama or not. If you are trying to improve your speaking skills, this will be a great help.

Try also Speak With Confidence : Powerful Presentations That Inform, Inspire and Persuade, 101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers, 3rd Edition: Controlling Fear, Commanding Attention, and How to Give Your Best Speech or Presentation Ever: A Step-by-Step Manual for Speaking in Public.