Home
>
Public Relations
>
Three Communication Secrets of The Great Communicator

Three Communication Secrets of The Great Communicator

I've worked in media and public relations for 20 years, and experience has taught me that communication is an essential skill to master in order to be successful in all aspects of one's life. No one person can do many things without the involvement of other human beings; having superior communication skills, then, is a highly enviable quality, and those who manage such a feat serve as role models to the rest of us. Ronald Reagan, "The Great Communicator", exemplified this quality so well that people elected him President.

1. Confidence, such as Reagan had, is one of the essential non-verbal aspects of communication. Confidence can help one talk to others with ease and makes people want to listen to what one has to say. One way to gain confidence is to gain understanding. If one has a firm grasp of what it is one wants to say, one will have fewer reservations about speaking out. Reagan had confidence in what he was saying. He believed in his material and was familiar with it, which gave him the confidence to communicate well and be well received by his audience. Similarly, believing in one's own goals and ideas, communicating them without doubt, will gain them a better reception than an uncertain, mumbled communication would.

2. Reagan's confidently-delivered speeches were crafted to give his American audience hope and a sense of optimism. His 1984 re-election campaign slogan, "It's morning again in America," exemplified his vision of a better future for the country, especially after the traumas (Watergate, Vietnam, etc.) of the sixties and seventies. No one likes hearing bad news, and a positive attitude inspires one's listeners, improving their outlook on the topic and on the speaker. Reagan's use of symbolism- "morning"- is a particularly effective method of communication, as it solidifies an abstract concept in the listener's mind with an image, making Reagan's idea of a positive future more real. In communicating an idea, one would best be served by finding a positive expression for the idea, and finding an evocative symbolic form for the positive idea.

3. The third key to being a great communicator is wit. One must have a sense of humor and be able to tell stories, jokes and anecdotes. Telling a joke will help break the ice and get people interested in what one has to say, enabling a better connection with them. Doug Gamble, one of Reagan's speech writers said, "Unlike Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, whose use of humor often seemed less than heartfelt and somewhat mechanical, and George W. Bush, who is uncomfortable doing it, humor glowed from Reagan's very soul." Reagan expertly used his genuine sense of humor and excellent comedic timing to not only amuse his audience, but also to convey his political points. For example, Reagan illustrated a key principle of his political philosophy with the quip, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

One effective manifestation of wit is the strategic deployment of self- deprecating humor. Making oneself come across as more human and down-to- earth will more readily draw people's interest in one's message. Returning to a Reagan example, the late President enjoyed poking fun at himself, not only for entertainment purposes, but also to disarm his opponents. When Reagan's opponent in the 1984 campaign, Walter Mondale, described Reagan's reign as "government by amnesia," the president reacted, "I thought that remark accusing me of having amnesia was uncalled for. I just wish I could remember who said it." Similarly, Reagan jested about his alleged tendency to fall asleep on the job, "I've given my aides instructions that if trouble breaks out in any of the world's hot spots they should wake me up immediately - even if I'm in a Cabinet meeting." Self-deprecating humor is a very effective communication tool.

With "The Great Communicator" no longer with us and with no role model to replace him, it remains up to each of us to become our own great communicator. Be confident, be witty, be optimistic, and you can interact effectively enough with others to realize your goals.

Michael Levine is the founder of the prominent public relations firm Levine Communications Office, based in Los Angeles. He is the author of 7 Life Lessons from Noah's Ark: How to Survive a Flood in Your Own Life. GuerrillaPR.net is a resource for people that want to get famous in the media, without going broke. http://guerrillapr.net

recurring maid service Lake Forest ...

In The News:

Americans average 10-plus hours online daily, according to recent survey, splitting time between streaming shows on TV and browsing websites on multiple devices.

Boost your smartphone privacy instantly with these security tweaks for iPhone and Android that limit ad tracking, hide notifications and prevent unauthorized access.

Platforms like Hoax Tech and JS Click Cloaker help cybercriminals bypass detection systems using machine learning to selectively display scam content to victims.

A new battery recycling technique transforms old lithium-ion batteries into high-performance components that retain 88% capacity after 500 cycles with minimal waste.

Google's Android operating system can warn users about earthquakes before the shaking even begins – and there are ways to do it on your iPhone, too.

Meta's new gesture control wristband might just be the most seamless way to control a computer yet. And no, it doesn't require surgery, a camera, or even a touchscreen. All it needs is your wrist.

Long-haul trucks are now being upgraded with a surprising twist, thanks to California-based startup Revoy. Their electric boost doesn't replace diesel but works alongside it to cut emissions and fuel costs without major disruption.

PayPal and Venmo just rolled out something big: AI-powered scam alerts for Friends and Family payments.

As data centers multiply across the United States, energy demand is increasing at a rapid pace. This has not escaped the notice of large investment firms from Wall Street.

The Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit organization that maintains the Unicode Standard to ensure emojis work across devices, has announced Unicode 17.0, which includes nine new emojis slated for release this fall, in September 2025.

OpenAI is one of the world's leading AI research labs. Founded in 2015, it's behind some of today's most talked-about tools, including GPT, DALL·E, and ChatGPT.

Ever catch your dog staring at the screen during movie night and wonder if they're actually watching? Turns out, they might be. A new scientific study from Auburn University found that many dogs really do engage with television, and not all pups react the same way.

Stop the scammers from making contact in the first place. They're getting your parents' contact information and much more personal data besides, from somewhere.

The Walker S2 robot from UBTech autonomously exchanges its batteries in just three minutes, allowing continuous operation in car factories operated by BYD, Nio and Zeekr.

The FX Super One electric MPV from Faraday Future offers flexible seating, zero-gravity recliners and an AI system that creates a personal connection between driver and vehicle.

Practical solutions for reducing unwanted charity mail, political texts and email spam by opting out of shared lists, replying "STOP" and using data removal services.

Delta's new AI pricing system eliminates static airfares for personalized rates based on individual data, raising questions about fairness while promising optimized revenue.

AI data centers are straining the power grid across 13 states, contributing to a $9 billion increase in electricity costs, and PJM customers face monthly bill increases of $25 or more.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the music industry as AI-generated bands like The Velvet Sundown earn substantial streaming revenue, prompting lawsuits from major record labels.

Microsoft phishing scams use fake security alerts and links that redirect to credential-stealing pages with warning signs, including urgent language and unusual senders.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Tesla vehicles manufactured since mid-2021 with AMD Ryzen processors can now access Grok 4, xAI's witty conversational assistant designed to make drives more engaging.

Understand how technology affects mental health through five concepts, including blue light exposure, screen time management and algorithmic bias.

Electric vehicle maker Lucid adds hands-free driving through an over-the-air update for Air sedan owners with the DreamDrive Pro package and Gravity SUV support coming later.

Protect your home network from hidden dangers, including router vulnerabilities, ISP tracking and smart device weaknesses with proper encryption, firmware updates and VPN technology.

Three Communication Secrets of The Great Communicator

Public Relations