200 years ago, Abraham Lincoln was born to two uneducated farmers in a tiny cabin in Kentucky. Of course, the Lincoln we have come to know is seen by many to be the most important President after Washington.
Lincoln’s name is popping up a lot in the media lately. Part of this is due to the ongoing, year-long birthday celebration that is being thrown all over America. Another reason is for the parallels that are being drawn between the 16th President and the newest resident of the White House.
One of the most obvious things Lincoln and Obama have in common are their charismatic, speaking talents. Abraham Lincoln’s speeches continue to echo through our culture, much the same way that Shakespeare’s dialog haunts our every day talk. Ultimately, we remember Lincoln’s words, but what about his manner? Clearly, living in the age before television and audio recording, we are left to hunt for clues to understand what made the bearded one such a powerhouse public speaker.
Have no fear dear reader. We at Ethos3 have done the hard work for you.
Long and Tall
One of the first things that struck Lincoln’s audiences was his appearance. Very tall, very thin, with dark, brooding features, Lincoln was one of those guys who looked 40 when he was a teenager. Conversely, he was said to appear to be about 35 when he was well into his 50’s. Although he was no Schwarzenegger, Lincoln radiated the sturdy physicality of his country upbringing. In short, this guy looked odd, but you couldn’t take your eyes off of him. What can you accentuate in your stature or dress that will turn you into a total eye-catcher?
Cool Customer
I have been mentioning “cool” in a few blog posts lately, alluding to both the calmly confident and the charismatically cocksure. Lincoln, it seems, was right up there with Antarctica when it came to remaining cool under pressure, and his ability to keep his audiences engaged for hours at a time puts him in a league with Springsteen. Emulate Kentucky’s favorite son the next time you take the stage. Lincoln kept cool as an entire country tore itself apart around him. What are you so nervous about?
Preparation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln was – obviously – a great speech writer, and his methods also reveal the meticulous, thorough preparation that would allow him to deliver his long, complex speeches seemingly effortlessly. Lincoln would formulate his ideas in quiet reflection, on long walks. As notions occurred to him, he scratched his ideas on small scraps of paper that he hid in his hat for safe keeping. As a speech evolved Lincoln wrote and rewrote his words, editing them as he said them allowed and honed his message. By the time he gave a speech, it was practically etched in his mind. If there is a magic bullet to successful presenting, it’s preparation. Know your project inside out and the rest will usually take care of itself.
