I was on a plane and unable to watch Bill Clinton deliver his remarkable speech to the Democratic Convention last night. So I watched the speech on the NYTimes website today. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Here's what struck me: it was as close to a conversation as any major address I have ever seen. Clinton was able not only to deliver his message (has anyone at any time succeeded as he did in laying out a compelling reason to re-elect President Obama?) but he engaged the individuals in that Convention Center in extraordinary fashion. It wasn't just his asking rhetorical questions to which he got thunderous unanimous response. It was in sharing comments, lessons, observations in a conversational tone that made each person in that huge hall feel he was speaking to them. As the camera panned through the audience, you could observe individuals responding, nodding their heads, waving their arms, holding up their Medicare cards for all to see...as if he had personally addressed them and was seeking their response.
He got it. Full throated, emotional, committed response.
His speech was masterful. Nothing less.
A "two-way" speech disguised as a conversation. He nailed it.
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
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