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November 11, 2008

President Elect and Chief Communications Officer

A week has passed since the U.S. Presidential election, and a lot of what happened is fading into the distance.

But before it passes out of short-term memory, I think it’s useful to reflect on the lessons President-Elect Barack Obama can teach all of us about how to communicate effectively in today’s world. After all, one of Obama’s most significant talents is his ability to get his message across

So I thought I’d aggregate the best of these perspectives for you, so you can gain inspiration. Many of the techniques the Obama campaign used are applicable for any of us who communicate to any audience:

A clear, concise vision
As Jack and Suzy Welch write in Business Week, Obama’s mission was “clear and aspirational.” And he stuck to it.

Modern tools
Obama’s campaign was brilliant about using the Internet, including Web 2.0 and social media, to “reinvent the way campaigns are run,” according to Wired.

“A master of visual imagery.”
Don’t forget that Obama also used a relatively old tool—television—to bring his messages to life. As Variety reports, the debates, his commercials, and television interviews, Obama projected a message of hope and calm.

Moving Millennials
Voters age 18 – 29 voted for Obama by a significant margin. And part of the reason is that the Obama campaign understood how to reach this generation, according to Advertising Age.

Graphic design
It may seem trivial, but even Obama’s logo and campaign materials were effective, says The Guardian, at conveying a modern, forward-looking message.

Persuasion
Obama understood that people aren’t persuaded by the facts—they vote with their emotions. So, writes Al Ries in Advertising Age, the campaign used the principles of persuasion (and, by the way, marketing and sales) to make the case for change.

Remember my motto: Inspiration is everywhere. You just need to know how to leverage good ideas in your own work.

Posted by Alison Davis at November 11, 2008 03:41 PM