Did Palin Have Something in Her Eye?

As I watched the first 20 minutes of the debate last night (I’m on a low-information diet), I gasped as soon as I saw Sarah Palin wink at the camera.  I gasped when she asked Biden, “Can I call you Joe?” right before they stepped in place behind their respective lecterns.  Again, when Palin referred to the average American as “Joe six-pack” I thought back to her request to call Biden by his first name…and I gasped.  With every gasp, I began to wonder whether I will need an inhaler if Palin becomes vice-president.  I do understand that Palin is taking a lot of heat right now, but as an American voter, I’m looking for a leader with integrity.  Granted, that wink spoke volumes about her character – but I’m not here to talk about her character.  I would like to simply discuss the lesson I learned from the wink that lives in infamy.     

Winking is ok in certain interpersonal situations, but it’s not the best way to connect with a television audience filled with millions of Americans. Especially when you’re under the microscope.  There are better ways to connect with your audience.  Here are alternatives that Palin could have used:

• The “secret”.  If she wanted to position one of her statements to a particular group, instead of winking Palin would have done well to say “I’ll let you in on a secret.”  That way, she would have put everyone on notice that the next statement is not a widely known fact.  This is a way to reel listeners in and give them valuable information just for keeping up with you. 
• Call and catch.  The idea is to catch the attention of a particular group by addressing them just before giving them exclusive information.  Say “small business owners” or “young people in the 20s”.  By calling them out, you catch their attention and share valuable information with them. 
• Bad news/good news.  You’ve probably been in a situation where someone has really bad news but tries to soften it up by giving the good news first.  Professional speakers often reverse the order, giving the bad news first and then the good news. 

Given her down-to-earth and folksy speaking style, Palin could have really benefitted from this last technique.  Everyone likes good news.  So with the bad news, professional speakers address the real, everyday concerns of their listeners.  Good news directly follows the bad news in order to cast the vision of peace, hope or whatever feeling the audience needs at that time.  Then speakers will give steps to move from the immediate problem to the solution found in the good news. 

If you speak to small or large groups, please promise me that you will never wink at your audience.  Speaking is like driving – keep both eyes open at all times.  In fact, there are only two times a speaker should close his eyes:

1. While blinking
2. If a gnat flies in unexpectedly

Winking is a huge communication no-no.  Why? Because it sends a non-verbal message to your audience that you’re giving away secret information to one group at the expense of another.  Or it may suggest what some would call being “double-sided or two-faced”.  I applaud Sarah Palin for her desire to connect with the people of America.  She seems to be an unconventional leader who may be able to learn from leaders like FDR and his fireside chats.  Winks, however, will not win the hearts of Americans – especially in times like these.

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Giving Credit:

“Palin Winks, Biden Chokes Up” courtesy of AOL

“Fireside Chats” courtesy of Wikipedia.com