“The Chinese symbol for adversity contains a symbol for opportunity. Therefore, adversity brings opportunity.”
– Anonymous
How do you rebound after 10 straight losses? Is it possible? Theoretically, yes. Is it easy? Of course not. How do you do it? Stay in the game long enough to find your opportunity – and then seize the moment!
No doubt about it – Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign is on a losing streak. You can not “spin away” 10 consecutive losses. You can not discount the outcome of some state elections as “not that important.” A caucus or a primary? It doesn’t matter. A loss is still a loss.
But there is always tomorrow. Another opportunity. A chance to gain a foot-hold. A chance to debate. A chance to turn her ship around. A chance to turn adversity into opportunity.
All eyes will be on Austin, TX – the scene of the next Democratic Party Debate.
More precisely, the eyes of the camera will be focused on the eyes, the hands, the posture of the candidates. It is my opinion that the outcome of tomorrow’s debate will be determined more by style than substance. And specifically, I predict that the outcome will be determined by how Senators Clinton and Obama master their body language during the debate.
The audience will be “listening with their eyes.”
We will not require a political analyst to tell us who won the debate. We can throw away the scorecard that tallies points scored on policy matters. The only points that matter will be how the candidates react to each other. Non-verbal reactions to each other.
We will “listen with our eyes.” We will determine the winner based upon what we “hear with our eyes.”
My advice to Senators Clinton and Obama: Spend more time preparing your non-verbal communications than in polishing your 9-point policy positions. The outcome of this debate will be determined by what the audience sees!
This has been the case – at least since the first televised Presidential Debate in 1960 between Kennedy and Nixon. The outcome was determined by a “close shave.”Future President Kennedy came across as a tanned, vigorous, confident leader. Then Vice President Nixon appeared to be hiding behind his “5 o’clock Shadow.”
Who can forget these images? Moments when non-verbal communication decided the outcome of the debate: Continue reading “Defining Moments” »
