No doubt, Barack Obama is an amazing speaker. Even his opponents grudgingly agree.
Yet he has misspoken on several occasions. His comment that mentioned "bitter" Americans took a toll on his campaign. And he is being lampooned in the blogosphere and on talk shows for his slip that he had visited all "57 states."
Entrepreneurs can learn from his talents -- and his slip-ups. In other words, when making a pitch -- or a speech -- you need to be very careful what you say. You need to think like a politician.
Of course, even top business leaders can make big-time blunders. Just look at Steve Schwarzman, the CEO of The Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX). At a private investor conference, he said the following about his aborted $1.7 billion buyout of PHH Corp. (from a piece in the NY Post):
Trying to buy a mortgage bank in the midst of the subprime crisis was the equivalent of being a noodle salesman in Nagasaki when the atomic bomb went off. Not a lot of noodles left or even a person -- and that's what happened to us on this deal.
It was certainly a puzzling and unsympathetic comment.
Schwarzman seemed to think that the speech would be private. But with the pervasiveness of social media, it's assumed that anything you say will somehow windup becoming public and be used against you (here's a blog post on it, for example).
Keep in mind that Blackstone is working hard to bolster its operations in Japan. Clearly, as businesses expand into global markets, it is becoming even more important to be watchful of what we say.
Here's some additional advice when making public comments:
Don't hype your company: Over the years, I've talked to lots of small companies. While many entrepreneurs have tremendous passion (which is critical to success), this can sometimes get out of hand. Often, they will hype things or even misrepresent their performance.
But it's fairly obvious. For me, it usually means I won't write about a company. For potential customers, it probably means they won't do business with you.
Now, it's certainly OK to emphasize your strong points. This is essential. However, there is a temptation to inflate stuff. And, if you are caught, it can be just as bad as the situation with Blackstone. That is, your comments may become a feeding frenzy for bloggers.
Be mindful of the blogosphere: Unfortunately, such gaffes will usually become top-page material for anyone searching Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) for your name or your company. In such cases, it's tough to recover -- since controversial material tends to be the most popular material.
So, before speaking, think about it. Make sure your message is consistent and concise.
This sounds like basic advice. Yet, I've seen many entrepreneurs who don't practice it. And, in the end, it could be harmful for the business.
Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements
. He also operates MergerBook.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
5-19-2008 @ 9:49PM
Kay said...
Cindy where does it say that this country has to provide for you?? We were taught to go to school, get a good education and a job. I am sorry that your parents did not teach you that but this country does not owe us anything. What is going on with people these days. If you can`t cloth your children then don,t have so many and go out and find a job.
Education will set you free people, not welfare
5-19-2008 @ 8:21PM
Maria said...
I am learning that the media focus in some blunders and could destroy a person and in other cases over look them ... Interesting!
5-19-2008 @ 8:29PM
Derrick said...
This slip is nothing compared to George Bush's rant and ravings for these passed 8 years. If you haters are in doubt check out David Lettermen every night. You silly conservative prejudice hypocrites; every time you throw a stone at Mr.Obama you make his path out the ditch just that easy for him, to rise out because you've thrown many stones for him to walk out, Thank You so much! To all the clear thinking Conservative let's work and change America!
5-19-2008 @ 8:37PM
Deirdre said...
I think Mr. Obama is a terrific speaker but I feel he lacks alot of experience in foreign issues and as far as a president is concerned, I think he will certainly be overwhelmed!
He has the best of intentions of course but this change he has for a "New America" will be very hard for him to accomplish!!
Look how fast Bush's hair went from brown to grey when he became pres.
I am not a republican BUT... I want someone in that White House that isn't going to do anything too drastic to put us in deeper shit with Iran or Iraq then we are now.
Yeah Bush got us into this mess but what makes you think Mr. Obama will be our Saviour and save the planet?
As much as I hate to admit it, I feel John McCain is the man who should be elected to handle this delicate situation right now. He is very knowledgeable in foreign affairs and he knows how to handle the situation we are in now because of his experience and know how!!
Don't vote because of this "for Change" bullshit.
Vote your gut and vote for experience! Vote to keep terrorism out of our country! Vote McCain
5-19-2008 @ 8:55PM
Ben said...
I guess you could say he's a good speaker if you consider stuffing your foot in your mouth on a regular basis good speaking.
5-19-2008 @ 8:55PM
Rene said...
Who are the looser?
with a president puting our money on war!
our people getting kill!
our family getting hungry day by day,
paying more for gas,
loosing our homes,
who are the looser...
We the poor..
don't let the rich sit on us..
5-19-2008 @ 8:59PM
David said...
Can you imagine years for now looking back and someone asking Obama Hessian Barrack how he became president of the United States after a Jimmy Carter type disaster of a presidency? "Well, it was a time in America when political correctness was out of control, and my opponents could not ask any questions, no real questions and I was able to fake out America." You know, my wife hates America and as first lady she final got revenge."
5-19-2008 @ 9:02PM
Ed said...
You know how to tell when Obama is lying, his lips are moving, but it's that way with any politician.
5-19-2008 @ 9:34PM
maurice d'argent said...
Note to Obama:
When speaking of southern whites, it would be a good idea to refrain from calling us 'crackers.' Only crackers can call each other cracker; kinda like blacks calling each other nigga. But if cracker slips out, smile when you say it.
5-19-2008 @ 9:48PM
TINK said...
Anyone can be a good speaker if yo have a good speach writer
OH ! and leave his wife (who is finally proud to be American) alone WOW!!! what a first lady she's going to make
5-20-2008 @ 12:11AM
WAYNE said...
Obama is NOT a great speaker! During my speech class in college, I was taught not to say "uh" "Umm" or pause a great deal between my words. Obama does this accessively. It gets really annoying to sit and listen to him for too long. Hillary is a GREAT speaker. She is very articulate. She says exactly what she's thinking. She does not ramble on like Obama. If we are to have a great president in the Whitehouse, then we need one that can articulate to the world the wants and needs of Americans without putting the world to sleep. Other than Obama lifting up his voice, he has absolutely no substance when the hot air is gone. Vote Hillary!
5-20-2008 @ 1:05AM
M.Anderspm said...
In reading many of these blogs on this subject, I would remind the majority of readers that we cannot afford to elect a person on as little knowledge of who his true friends have BEEN and ARE now. Who is REALLY behind his campaign and cleverly planning his every move? Who is rebuffing and refuting every idea almost before it can be presented by Hillary? Who is "white-washing" his off remarks and turning them back to what public opinion has expressed? Who is crying for Hillary to quit? Wake up America. Who wants a person who was under the influence and mind set of the Muslim teachings as a CHILD and then spent 20 years, with his family, in a church that is expousing the black race without realizing or knowing about it. Why was he going to this church if he was not paying attention? As well as having this minister as his mentor! UNBLIEVABLE! The Catholic church says to give them a CHILD until he is a youth with their teachings and he will not depart from it. Will you apply the same statement to the upbringing of Barack? As an example, the mouth denies all this and eloquently!! But who is writing his speeches? We have had enough of the present person who cannot even speak correct English and cannot seem to complete a sentence or thought without a teleprompter!!! The teleprompter is the boss, is it not, to forward the thoughts of the reader? We know that the teleprompter is theoretically Cheney in the Bush administration for the last eight years. Do we Democarats want to make the same mistake again for another four years? We know who was Barack's mentor for years, who finally decided to marry him and they have laid out a plan to make it to the White House and why does he look past our problems and keep mentioning "running the world"? Why did she have the audacity to say that "this was the first time she had ever been proud to be an American?" Why didn't she find another country to be proud of?
Do you really want this type of attitude to grace the halls of our White House and to represent the phiilosophy of our line of presidents and forefathers? We have had some really great ones. Just look at our country and where it was when Pres. B. Clinton left office and look where it is now. What a disgrace! This is a perfect opportunity for someone to step in and give us the coup de gras! How will you like returning to the Middle Ages, when no woman has a say in anything, even in her own home?
You must think about the fact that Hamas et al have been at work in Europe. Why do they not speak up against the Muslims in their own countries. They have allowed enough into their societies that now the great number is threatening them and they can't say or do anything about their plight. Do we want this fear to creep over our nation? No, you say, but remember it is possible. Think hard when you go to the polling places and remember what a responsibility you have to keep this great nation on the path that it was begun. A great nation, indivisible and under the teachings of God.
We need people who salute the flag, wear the flag in their lapel (and not after it was made public over the world that you did not) and can AND WILL sing all four verses of our National Anthem. The children I am teaching in an Academy can, can you? GOD BLESS AMERICA (or is it MexamerKa?) tee hee Please hit the right button at the polls, Hillary Clinton! This plea comes from a 10th generation of first-borns from an English gentleman who settled in Jamestown in the 1600's, owned land and helped as a government officiall to FOUND this great land. THINK wnen you vote!!!
5-20-2008 @ 1:58AM
mon said...
the fact that obama stated that president bush was in the israel "independence" celebration is a misspoken or is a gross ignorant statement?
5-20-2008 @ 1:57AM
mon said...
the fact that obama stated that president bush was in the israel "independence" celebration is a misspoken or is a gross ignorant statement?