Comments on: Why Pausch, not Obama, is Best Communicator of 2008

By: Do You Move Your Audience? - Example Randy Pausch | Rhetoric Blog Speech-Coach.de

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:13:12 +0000

[...] But if you do Randy Pausch´s Last Lecture is an extraordinary example. The blogger Andrew Dlugan (Six Minutes) declares him as THE best communicator in year [...]

By: Rühren Sie Ihr Publikum? | Rhetorik-Blog Speech-Coach.de

Rühren Sie Ihr Publikum? | Rhetorik-Blog Speech-Coach.de — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:18:31 +0000

[...] doch, ist Randy Pausch´s Last Lecture ein hervorragendes Beispiel. Der Blogger Andrew Dlugan (Six Minutes, Englisch), bezeichnet ihn in seinem Beitrag vom 31.12.08 sogar als DEN besten [...]

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:18:58 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the top ten speakers, scandal/bad speakers, and Obama’s oratory skills. I really enjoyed Randy Pausch’s book, and thought he demonstrated an innate ability to tell a good story. Overall, this is a great commentary.

By: Warwick John Fahy

Warwick John Fahy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:09:49 +0000

Good analysis. I also tend to steer away from political figures when talking about best communicators. A communicator should be someone who can handle themselves in any situation – not only the keynote addresses most politicians give. Who would be some of the best debaters ? George Galloway would be very high. How about comedians then? They communicate in engaging ways. George Carlin. We need to think of communication and public speaking in a much broader lens beyond just politics.

Warwick

By: Linda Schellenberg

Linda Schellenberg — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:49:10 +0000

I agree 100%.
Randy Pausch definitely earns the #1 Title. His speech will be remembered for years to come and will be still relevant years from now.

On the other hand, Obama’s speaking ability received much greater praise because his opponent’s were so bad. But thinking back to the many times I heard him speak, the only message I can recall is “Change is coming”. He’s just not memorable.

In my opinion, it’s unlikely in my lifetime that any ordinary person will touch the hearts of millions the way Randy did.

By: A. M. K. He

A. M. K. He — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:22:08 +0000

You’ve articulated an interesting case supporting Pausch as the best communicator. I agree that his framing and overall presentation of ideas in the lecture is a model from which we can all profit. However, we need to consider the definition of a ‘communicator’ and then re-evaluate speakers.
My working definition of a communicator is one who has a *reasonable* amount of information to communicate and *seamlessly* utilizes technology to convey it to an audience. Pausch’s “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” (aka “The Last Lecture”) is a compelling view for any number of different reasons, chief among which is it is entertaining and poignant. However, at almost 90 minutes in length, it is too long. A week after the first viewing Pausch’s speech, how much does the average viewer remember of *most* of the points he was communicating?
As for the seamless use of technology to present the ideas, his speech fails on two glaring points: his use of the microphone
and his failure to confirm
the technical support level prior to making the speech. His microphone
is not positioned correctly. It seems attached to the open placket of his polo shirt which is not completely buttoned up. After his spontaneous display of push-ups at the beginning of the speech, the weight of the microphone pulls the placket to one side so the microphone is aimed toward his chest and not his head/mouth. Even after his wife readjusts it for him, its position isn’t completely corrected. This poor microphone placement makes his voice come across as muddied and muffled at times, and we can hear the microphone brush his shirt at one point.
A good communicator needs to have all his/her technology aids in optimal condition prior to the date of the speech. When Pausch shifts gears and shows video of previous class projects, he seems hesitant and uncertain about whether the venue’s projection system (including the audio system) can work with his videos.
Problems with positioning microphones correctly and using them professionally abound on the Internet. On TED.com at least 70% of the presenters don’t have the microphone placed correctly, so the microphones picks up their breathing, their popped ‘p’s and sometimes a brushing or two against clothing. At least two TED presenters accidentally dislodge their earpiece microphones during their presentations!
During the US presidential campaign last year I can remember at least two Obama speeches where the lecturn microphones weren’t positioned correctly, too.
Good communicators refine their skill at honing their message so it can be appreciated fully by their audience. They edit out distracting details from their speech so they can stay on-message as much as possible. They should also hone their use of technology.

By: John Watkis

John Watkis — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:09:53 +0000

Hi Andrew,

Like you, my list of the top 10 communicators isn’t the same as Bert Decker’s. We all have our preferences, so differences in opinion are to be expected.

That being said, I agree that Barack Obama was the #1 communicator in 2008.

You suggest that it’s “overkill” to say Barack was elected president because of his communication ability, but the statement holds water. The only reason Obama was even considered to run against Clinton was because of his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Before that, he was a relative unknown to the world. For the record, he wrote that speech by himself.

His “Yes we can” concession speech in New Hampshire was the driving force behind his win over Hillary Clinton. It inspired a song that was viewed by over 3 million people in 3 days on YouTube.

Yes, his fundraising and strategy were superior, but people gave because they believed. And they believed because Obama communicated hope. Do you really think any politician could have used the same strategy and raised the same amount of money?

As for Randy Pausch … he was no mere “computer science professor”. Within the context of his speech, you’re made to understand that he accomplished a lot in his life and had a huge network.

To say he had “no fame” and “no reputation” is incorrect. He was introduced by Steve Seabolt, VP for global brand development at Electronic Arts. He also appeared on Oprah. And you know what appearing on Oprah can do for anyone.

You also said “He had nothing to guarantee an attentive audience other than a particularly timely lecture and a death sentence of pancreatic cancer.” Not true.

Randy Pausch had lived a life that made you want to listen. To have accomplished what he accomplished earned him a standing ovation before he even spoke.

I would say Randy Pausch is the best example of how to live a meaningful life, but Barack Obama was the #1 communicator of 2008.

By: edandriessen

edandriessen — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:48:20 +0000

“Randy Pausch, not Barack Obama, is the Best Communicator of 2008″ – Observations from Andrew Dlugan of Six Minutes – http://bit.ly/EKFY

By: Posts about Internet Marketing Experts as of December 31, 2008 | The Lessnau Lounge

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:57:38 +0000

[...] there’s lots of advice from quite a range of people — from Seth Godin to copyrwriter Bob Bly Why Pausch, not Obama, is Best Communicator of 2008 – sixminutes.dlugan.com 12/31/2008 [ Randy Pausch: Last Lecture]I am a Bert Decker fan. I subscribe [...]

By: Michael Cortes

Michael Cortes — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:23:28 +0000

Excellent job! Sorry, Burt. I immediately noticed the overabundance of politics in Burt’s list and also thought that Obama should have been on the best and worst.

I also believe that communication is a skill found in every occupation, vocation, and tribulation. Being a star doesn’t make Hollywood’s elite more valuable than someone else, and politics does not make one a better communicator than a non-politician.

To top it off, Randy Pausch. Influence? Influence is the mean by which you move people to action. How many will be moved to action by Randy Pausch? I suspect that number will always be underestimated.