Page 131 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF HILLARY CLINTON

eration will be up against those challenges. . . . But I am
absolutely convinced that you and we are up to the task. . . .
Our challenges are ones that summon the best of us, and
we will make the world better tomorrow than it is today.”
Hillary has a theme in much of her communication, and
that theme is “We can do this! We can make this better!”
During hard times, this is what people want and need to
hear. It’s the optimism and positive communication that
reengages people, gives them hope, and motivates them to
take some kind of action, as opposed to being the victims
of unfortunate circumstances.
Another way to inspire action is to use the power of lan-
guage to create a shared vision of the future. For example,
Martin Luther King Jr., used a number of visual images in
his speeches, such as “the prodigious hilltops of New
Hampshire,” “the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylva-
nia,” and “a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” These
examples create a mental picture that a diverse audience
can identify with. We can all enrich our language by using
stories, metaphorical expressions, and figures of speech to
actually create visual images. I was told once that if we can
picture it, and if we can put ourselves in that picture, we can
make it happen.
But I don’t want you to think that only superstars can do
this. I remember coaching a business leader whose com-
pany’s stock price was tanking. Morale was low, people
were stressed, and many feared that they would soon lose

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