I hear the message well ... but I lack faith

Überzeugend wirken ist nicht nur in der Politik ein Gebot der Stunde. Immer öfter kommt es in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung weniger auf das “Was” an, als auf das “Wie”. Signale der Körpersprache, der Mimik und ganz besonders der Tonfall und die Nutzung der Stimme bestimmen, wie kompetent oder glaubwürdig jemand wahrgenommen wird. In Vorwahlzeiten bieten sich uns dadurch viele kostenlose Lehrstunden, speziell beim TV-Schauen.

BLOG-ILLU_Israel_PolitikerIn our federal capital Vienna was elected last weekend, in the province of Upper Austria two weeks earlier. For Vienna, a duel between two parties was full-bodiedly announced, which then did not take place in the form hyped by the media ... I do not want to and will not make any political comments about the result here in my blog. What I am happy to share, however, are my various observations around these elections. Observations on the type of communication, rhetoric, voice and, of course, regarding the overall effect of the political protagonists.

The central question here is, were the various politicians of various "colors" able to convince? During the election campaign and also afterwards, when the results were already known? An overview.

Uncertain look

I especially liked that Chancellor Werner Faymann's behaviour in a television interview when he was asked about the loss of his party in Upper Austria. His eyes kept wandering away from the camera and got stuck outside the frame to the right or left. A new interpretation of the already familiar "escape foot", the new "escape eye".

The effect and also effect on the voice is disastrous, I think. This refusal of eye contact with the camera, i.e. with the television audience, will most likely be perceived as weakness by all the people who watched here. Some who are familiar with media appearances will be able to assign it directly, but even those who have no idea what exactly is going on will very unconsciously, but very clearly, notice that this is someone who is unsure ... Maintaining eye contact with the camera is in itself lesson one and the basis of any media training. I don't even want to ask myself the question of whether the Chancellor didn't have one or can't implement it, both alternatives are rather unpleasant.

E-Book-Download "7 Praxistipps für die Macht der Stimme im Business"

When the voice seems penetrating

The fact that a Fairness should prevail is clear to me and yes also an aspect of the good nursery. This did not stop some participants in the big TV discussion in advance from trying to exceed the speaking time to which they were entitled. The representative of the Neos party became unpleasantly loud and even penetrating, which I took note of with some surprise.

What body language can reveal

The prime example of a However, Mayor Häupl provided body language that reveals everything at the end of the TV appearance of the top candidates on election night. When asked by the moderator whether a handshake between him and Karl Heinz Strache (the party with which the duel was announced) was possible, Mr. Strache answered very directly "yes, of course" and turned to the mayor with his entire body, including his head and outstretched hand. Häupl did respond to the handshake, but clearly turned to the right, i.e. away from his counterpart, even turned his face in the other direction and thus offered his hand ... So we saw the message of a handshake, but it was not credible from one side. Understandable, under these circumstances, but it was precisely this gesture that once again clearly showed that we cannot outwit the body and its language!

Politicians, so if they and want to set an example, would do well to make their Rhetoric , body language and voice. I actually thought that this would have been received as a message. But, there seems to be a lot more to do ....

Blaue handschriftliche Unterschrift auf transparentem Hintergrund, die Bände spricht und mit Raffinesse verkauft.You Arno Fischbacher

 

 

 

 

Read Also:

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.

30 min kostenlose Beratung mit Arno Fischbacher