The debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump provided examples and lessons of the most effective and riskiest ways for business leaders to communicate.
The first debate Tuesday night between Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump provided several lessons for business leaders about the most effective—and often riskiest—strategies, tactics and techniques to communicate their messages with the public.Strategy
It’s never a good idea to communicate with the public without first having an effective strategy in mind for getting your message across. That would be like going on a road trip without having a destination and route in mind.‘A Triumph’
“From a public relations standpoint, Harris’s performance was a strategic triumph. She communicated a clear, consistent message, using each of Trump’s blunders to reinforce her own strengths—her competence, experience, and grasp of the issues. With sharp alliteration, she branded Trump’s positions as ‘weak and wrong,’ a phrase that stuck in viewers’ minds. She further highlighted his lack of credibility with a biting quip: “Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people,” Lakesha Cole, CEO of she PR, observed via email.‘Defensive Posture’
Trump used a different approach that was not as effective and raised more questions than iwere answered.
“Trump’s defensive posture and repeated errors amplified perceptions of disarray and lack of preparation. Harris successfully flipped his weaknesses to her advantage, underscoring her own credibility and capability to lead. She dominated the narrative and effectively controlled the conversation, leaving Trump scrambling to recover,” Cole commented.Style
It’s best to use a style of communication with which you are identified, rather than presenting yourself as someone you’re not. Last night, Harris fell back on her background as a prosecutor.Prosecutorial
Harris was “engaging in less of a conventional debate, than in using prosecutor techniques to trigger Mr. Trump. Her prodding him on rallies really seemed to push him into increasingly incoherent and hyperbolic answers,” Keith Gåddie, Hoffman Family Chair in the American Ideal and professor at Texas Christian University, pointed out in an email message.‘Unhinged’
Trump used a style that people associate with him that did not serve him as well in the debate.
