Where are moments of enthusiasm?
In the USA, the presidential elections are scheduled for November. And an intense election campaign is already raging, one debate follows the other and the all-important primaries are starting to start. Democrats and Republicans alike are launching their perfectly oiled and long-prepared campaigns, including polished campaign videos.
Also in Austria we will elect a new Federal President this April. And unfortunately, nothing is raging here yet. Only very hesitantly did the various candidates of the equally diverse camps come out of their "protective attitude". "Do I do it or don't I do it?" seemed to be the motto of all participants.
An independent candidate was the first to venture out of cover and announced her candidacy last year. By video message, which can be described as not really successful. A strong and convincing appearance looks different. Hesitantly, the other "usual suspects" followed. A long-favored candidate of a governing party apparently canceled at the last moment. A replacement candidate had to be found "last minute". His hastily launched website clearly shows that it was also created "last minute".
The same applies to the messages of this candidate, which do not yet exist. Another potential Hofburg candidate from another governing party did not announce his candidacy until 10 January ... He has long been considered a safe candidate. Nevertheless, there was still no official website on the day of the official announcement. In the live television interview, he did not seem very "lustful" to want to take up the office ... Only one candidate seems to be running a well-planned program, his campaign video is well thought out and successful, he already has over 44,000 Facebook likes and a well thought-out and coherent web presence.
I deliberately do not name the candidates here, anyone who is a little familiar with Austrian politics will certainly be able to assign these statements to me. I'm interested in something completely different ... Namely, this gigantic difference to the USA! Of course, the topic of election campaigning there is probably a bit exhausting in its intensity and goes over an immensely long period of time. But, everything is more than professional and, above all, strategically and long-term prepared. And this is the only way to create a convincing external effect! Entire campaign machines are available to push and support the corresponding candidates. I am very, very sure that all US candidates undergo intensive performance coaching regarding voice and body language before every important debate ... And that's the only way to do it!
I'm amazed and shocked at how lightly this is apparently still taken in this country. Those responsible for these campaigns seem to think that it is enough to hold a kind of impromptu press conference when the replacement candidate is finally found, or that it is enough to simply stand in front of a camera and announce: "I am a candidate". Where are the emotions through images, through touching films with content, through gestures and yes, of course, through the voice! None of the candidates has so far credibly conveyed to me through the enthusiasm in their voices that he – or she – really, really wants this office!
An election campaign can be you can't shake out of your sleeve, within such a short time! This is more than dangerous. The public, in this case the electorate, deserves an election campaign from the bottom of its heart, with the dynamic use of all means. Both personal and strategic in nature. If you don't understand this, you could be served the bill on election day ...
I will continue to monitor this topic closely and report about it here in the blog!
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Arno Fischbacher
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The author:
Arno Fischbacher is a business voice coach and rhetoric expert, speaker and author. He prepares executives and employees of the top companies in Germany and Austria for negotiations, presentations and media appearances. Fischbacher is the author of several books, past president of the German Speakers Association (GSA) Austria, chairman of the European Network of Voice Experts, stimme.at.
If you would like to learn more about specific training opportunities with Arno Fischbacher, make an appointment here free information talk.
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