Comments on: Gordon Brown’s problem isn’t performance – it’s the words! http://www.creativityworks.net/gordon-browns-problem-isnt-performance-its-the-words/ public speaking, speech writing, speech coaching, presentation skills training, messages that stick. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:43:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Martin Shovel http://www.creativityworks.net/gordon-browns-problem-isnt-performance-its-the-words/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Martin Shovel Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:17:40 +0000 http://www.creativityworks.net/?p=325#comment-5 Thanks for your thoughts, Max. As I wrote in my piece, Brown's definitely no Obama or Blair. And it's also true that he does possess his fair share of physical quirks. But I'm still convinced that with help - from professionals like us - he might have developed into a much more effective speaker, and leader. Thanks for your thoughts, Max. As I wrote in my piece, Brown’s definitely no Obama or Blair. And it’s also true that he does possess his fair share of physical quirks. But I’m still convinced that with help – from professionals like us – he might have developed into a much more effective speaker, and leader.

]]> By: Max Atkinson http://www.creativityworks.net/gordon-browns-problem-isnt-performance-its-the-words/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Max Atkinson Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:30:42 +0000 http://www.creativityworks.net/?p=325#comment-4 I agree entirely about his language, which is not only abstract but is packed with too many numbers, too much detail and is very long-winded. But I do think that he has some performance problems too - one or two of which were touched on in my first ever blog posts at http://bit.ly/1MhFa4 and http://bit.ly/pnVVO In addition, I've heard quite a few people complaining about his intonation lacking light and shade, his curious jaw twitch and the fact that he looks to the left far more frequently than to the right - maybe because he's only got one eye, but that's no excuse for ignoring half the audience for lengthy periods! I've also heard people going on about his gestures being too robotic and/or contrived. Apparently trivial details, I know, but, coupled with his abstract and verbose language, they tend to stack up together on the negative side when it comes to gleaning an 'overall impression'. Then there's the most delicate question of all: does it help to have a Scottish accent, however less marked it may have become over the years, when the vast majority of voters are English. I don't think it Kinnock's Welsh accent helped him (providing for the creation of the nick-name 'Welsh windbag' - which I heard again on the news today). Blair, on the other hand, though he was born and went to school in Scotland, sounded as English as David Cameron. I agree entirely about his language, which is not only abstract but is packed with too many numbers, too much detail and is very long-winded.

But I do think that he has some performance problems too – one or two of which were touched on in my first ever blog posts at http://bit.ly/1MhFa4 and http://bit.ly/pnVVO

In addition, I’ve heard quite a few people complaining about his intonation lacking light and shade, his curious jaw twitch and the fact that he looks to the left far more frequently than to the right – maybe because he’s only got one eye, but that’s no excuse for ignoring half the audience for lengthy periods! I’ve also heard people going on about his gestures being too robotic and/or contrived.

Apparently trivial details, I know, but, coupled with his abstract and verbose language, they tend to stack up together on the negative side when it comes to gleaning an ‘overall impression’.

Then there’s the most delicate question of all: does it help to have a Scottish accent, however less marked it may have become over the years, when the vast majority of voters are English. I don’t think it Kinnock’s Welsh accent helped him (providing for the creation of the nick-name ‘Welsh windbag’ – which I heard again on the news today). Blair, on the other hand, though he was born and went to school in Scotland, sounded as English as David Cameron.

]]>