Win or Lose: It' s How You SAY the Game

Tennis star, Andre Agassi just played his last game. He lost his last match but still went out a winner. Overcome wth emotion, he blew kisses to the crowd and gave his parting speech:

"The scoreboard said I lost today but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I found. Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty, inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams...I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life. Thank you."

When giving a concession speech,be gracious. Thank the people who supported you, say something nice about the winner, remember the high points, and walk out with your head held high. Anyone can give a good speech when they win. But it takes courage, class, and style to give a good concession speech. Whether in sports, politics, or business, when you give a good presentation you'll always be remembered as a winner.

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The Power is in Being Personal.

The Bush Katrina Speech

On August 29th President and Mrs. Bush marked the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by giving a speech.
Both Laura and George Bush have improved in their rhetorical skills since they took office in 2000. While Laura Bush delivered her speech effectively, she was still reading from a manuscript.

President Bush, on the other hand, added a personal quality to his speech. At key moments he paused to look out at the audience. He spoke from heart when he lamented the "failure of government at all levels."

Bush adopted a conversational tone as he used his own words to explain that part of rebuilding the city of New Orleans requires moving tons of debris.
At one point in the speech he made his typical verbal faux pas of tripping over his words. His response was to roll his eyes, smile, and correct himself. This personal nonverbal reaction let the audience know he was aware of his mistake. His expression seemed to say "Here I go again." He was able to laugh at himself.

Being personal allows the speaker to go off message and to react to the moment. The impact is a more authentic person-someone who is just like us.