八年磨一剑：希拉里•克林顿的今与昔
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希拉里•克林顿宣布将第二次竞选美国总统，本次竞选纲领的核心是帮助中产阶层走向繁荣，她自称为一个“顽强的斗士”，必能完成使命。这个宣传口号和八年前希拉里首次参选时别无二致。但是除此之外，有很多方面都发生了重大的变化。今时今日，希拉里已成为一个更好的沟通者，她传达出一个更美好的理念，而且其身处的竞选环境尽管个别领域还待改善，但现在也比过去好多了。 上世纪90年代，我曾采访过希拉里，2000年在她竞选参议员前的倾听之旅中我也见过她，希拉里一直很有领袖气质。看了十几盘过去10年她的录像带后，我觉得希拉里的领导风范在提升。对领导者来说，领袖气质是必不可少的。那么什么是领袖气质呢？那是一种庄严得体的气场；待人接物，与人沟通，言谈举止，以及外表都包含在内。 我们就从衡量领袖气质的三个标准入手，来看看今天的希拉里和2008年她竞选总统时分别有了哪些长足的进步。 举止庄严 研究显示，举止庄严是所有领导者最重要的素质。它包括外表充满自信——这是让别人对你有信心的关键。还包括“受到攻击和批评时展现出优雅姿态”的能力。对希拉里来说，后者一直有些问题。第一次参加总统大选时，她表现得很有信心，但比现在急躁，在辩论中更咄咄逼人。如果有人用过往经历刺激她（比如2008年记者蒂姆•鲁赛特对她的采访），她经常会打断对方，气势汹汹又恼怒。当时她身边应该有人在提醒她要放轻松，多笑一笑。所以她经常放声大笑，但攻击者戏称为“咯咯笑”，说她笑得不合时宜而且虚情假意。 说起回答记者冗长尖锐的问题时表现不佳，还真不止希拉里一个人。共和党方面的候选人兰德•保罗最近就和几位女记者发生了言语冲突，甚至在其中一位记者提问时让她“住嘴”。无论你喜不喜欢，但这会影响一个人的受欢迎程度，尤其是受女性欢迎的程度。就这一点而言，希拉里这几年已取得进步。当有人就最近的电邮事件向她发难时，希拉里看起来像被激怒了，好像在说这个问题没必要回答。但她意识到了应该注意这一点。如果人们都想知道答案，她就必须尊重这种需求。这次她等着别人问完问题，回答得镇定而坚决，偶尔露出笑容但没有大笑。 沟通力 沟通力是领袖气质中第二重要的品质。它包括向别人传达什么信息以及如何传达。2008年，希拉里重点强调自己的优势以及她为何是合适人选。她的贴身顾问后来承认，希拉里应该在情感沟通方面下更多力气。这次她肯定会加强情感交流，而且这事应该不难，具体来说有几个原因。 首先，她要证明的东西少了，反对者也没那么多话可说。担任国务卿这一要职对她来说意义重大，而且多数人都认为她在国际舞台上表现良好。其次，由于她更有自信，更加放松和自然。最近在谷歌总部接受采访时，她发现身后有人生病了，虽然身在台上，她还是立刻提出并坚持让那人去看病。这种突发情况下表露出善良，抵得上跟人握几十次手。 最后，希拉里有了外孙女夏洛特。2008年时，她很少提到母亲身份或者家庭。当时奥巴马对希拉里的描述是“还算讨人喜欢”，《纽约时报》最近报道称，希拉里聘请了一位教练训练自己，打算提高亲和力。目前，评论期待她站在一位祖母的立场上发表某些观点，听她讲述为后代塑造未来的重要性。 外表 外表是构成领袖气质的很小但很重要的一部分。这方面，希拉里比首次参加竞选时优势更明显。时间过去近10年，她的面部曲线变得更柔和，体态也有些发福。对我们这代上了年纪的人来说，老去的现实自然没人乐意接受，但对希拉里来说，伴随着衰老而变柔和的形象或许是件好事。有谁知道一位女士的几根白发会带来什么样的新价值？又有谁知道这样的价值对所有美国选民有什么影响呢？（财富中文网） 本文作者玛丽•西维罗是一位高管沟通教练，也是Civiello Communications Group公司总裁。她服务的客户包括世界顶尖大公司、非营利组织以及知名初创企业的领导者。她也是《沟通很重要：忙碌人士的商业推介法》一书作者。 译者：Charlie 审校：夏林 |
Hillary Clinton’s announcement on Sunday that she will seek the presidency for a second time centered on helping the middle class prosper and described herself as a ‘tenacious fighter,’ able to get the job done. The theme and characterization are the same to when she announced her first run for president 8 years ago. But beyond that, there are significant differences. Hillary today is a better communicator with a better message, in a better environment, although there’s room for improvement in a couple of areas. Clinton has always had good executive presence — certainly since I interviewed her in the 1990s and saw her on her listening tour before her run for the U.S. Senate in 2000. After viewing dozens of tapes of her over the past decade, it has improved. Executive presence is essential for leaders — what is it? It’s that special mix of gravitas; how you come across; how you communicate; how you speak and appear; how you look. We look at three measures of executive presence, and how Clinton stacks up on each today versus her last run for the White House in 2008. Gravitas Studies show gravitas is the most important ingredient for any leader. It involves the appearance of having confidence — key to winning others’ confidence. Gravitas also involves the ability to show “grace under fire.” The latter has been more of a problem for Clinton. In her first run for the White House, she appeared confident but edgier than today, more desperate to have the final word. When battered with questions on her record (for instance, her 2008 interview with journalist Tim Russert) she often interrupted and appeared aggressive and angry. Back then she no doubt had people cautioning her to lighten up and laugh more. So she often came out with a loud laugh dubbed a cackle by detractors that seemed misplaced and inauthentic. Reacting poorly to reporters’ tough, prolonged questioning is hardly peculiar to Clinton. Witness Rand Paul’s recent tirade at a couple of female reporters, even shushing one mid question. But like it or not, it can affect one’s like-ability factor, especially for women. On this score, Clinton has improved over the years. When challenged over her emails recently she looked irritated like she shouldn’t have to answer. She has to watch that. If there is a chorus wanting an answer she has to respect that. Still, she waited for questions to be asked, and calmly, firmly responded, with occasional smiles but no guffaws. Communication Communication is the second most important quality in executive presence. It involves connecting to people with what you say and how you say it. Hilary’s message in 2008 was focused on strength and fitness. Close advisers later acknowledged she should have done more to connect emotionally. There is no doubt she will try to do that this time, and it should be easier for several reasons. First, she has less to prove and more muted enemies. Having been U.S. Secretary of State is huge and most agree she did a fine job on the world stage. Secondly, as she is more confident, she is more relaxed and has become more spontaneous. At a recent interview at Google headquarters, she noticed someone fall ill in the back, and she noted it on stage trying to ensure the person got help. Unscripted kindness is worth dozens of handshakes. And finally, there is Charlotte, her granddaughter. In 2008, Hillary rarely mentioned motherhood or family. The New York Times recently reported Hillary had hired a new coach to get her beyond how Obama characterized her in 2008 , “just likable enough.” Critics now expect to see and hear a grandmother’s perspective and the importance of shaping the future for generations to come. Appearance Appearance is a small but important part of executive presence and this is an area where Clinton has an edge over her first run. Comparing anyone from almost a decade earlier will yield softer facial lines, and a more rounded figure. While unwelcome for most of us baby boomers, it could be a boon to Hillary who is looking to literally soften her image. Who knows what a new value placed on a few gray hairs on a woman will do for all of us. Executive communications coach Mary Civiello is president of Civiello Communications Group. She works with leaders at some of the world’s largest businesses and not-for-profit organizations, as well as high-profile startups. She is also author of Communication Counts: Business Presentations for Busy People. |
