Meetings Blog Apr 21, 2016
In April 2015 at the 7th Summit of the Americas, Obama became the subject of harsh criticism. The aim of the Summit was to bring the presidents from the region together to engage in political debate. However, for scheduling reasons, the President had to excuse himself and not listen to the rest of the leaders speak, provoking scathing criticism, especially since he had just expressed his desire to foster cooperation and respect between countries.
Who can forget this story? During the speech at politician Nelson Mandela’s funeral, a fake sign-language interpreter was positioned next to the American president. Perhaps it’s through no fault of his own, but the reality is that Obama had a fraudulent collaborator at his side for a period of time – a person he didn’t know who had even been accused of crimes in the past.
Lesson: Take the opportunity to meet everyone who will take part in your event. Get to know the team that will be closely involved in its unfolding and you will end up communicating perfectly.
Gaining the complete trust of your audience is no easy task. As a political leader, Obama makes constant use of rhetoric in an effort to persuade the audience, but this tactic can be a double-edged sword and can have the opposite effect: diminishing your credibility.
That’s why it’s important to be careful during your speech, ensuring that it is consistent and reflects your natural source of inspiration. Without a doubt, you should try not to let your audience feel like you’re all smoke and mirrors.
Some years ago, Obama was in the spotlight on everyone’s television screens. In this instance, there was a technical failure that did not go unnoticed by the media. In the middle of a speech, the teleprompter suddenly stopped working.
Obama is known for his frequent use of the teleprompter and as such, there have been many occasions when unexpected technical issues or slip-ups have put him in a tight spot during his speeches.
Therefore, in addition to conducting technical testing in advance, it is important to have some tricks up your sleeve: being prepared with an anecdote, having some key phrases ready, or even showing a sense of humour about the issue will help you get out of the situation successfully.
It is essential to avoid these types of situations. Before planning an event, set the timetable and dates. Events are attended by many people who are also spending their time and money, so you must try to make the most of it.
At NH, our team of professionals will ensure that you have everything you need in place and they’ll guide you in correctly planning your event to delight your attendees and avoid unexpected problems, especially these US presidential mishaps.
