Is the GOP standard-bearer a crisis communicator’s dream client or an impossible nightmare? If you’ve read the New York Times report, on why Donald Trump is unlikely to change his toxic verbal style despite widespread condemnation and sagging polls, it’s the latter. Well-placed campaign sources tell the Times that Trump is “beyond coaching.”
The assessment suggests that Trump is an outlier, a man whose character is so flawed that he can’t be rehabilitated. But does this mean that there are no teachable moments for CEOs and other leaders who don’t tweet or …

Roger Ailes, the wizard of Fox News knows what sells. And it seems that Sarah Palin isn’t a hot commodity any more.  She was the GOP’s distaff voice of “no,” railing against the “lame stream media,” President Barack Obama and just about everything that happened since she and John McCain lost in 2008.  But the hockey mom didn’t turn on the red light for audiences and so she and Fox called it quits.
The problem? Palin never learned how to carry a conversation. Whether she was on the Q side or the A …

While campaigning in Pennsylvania yesterday, Congressman Paul Ryan was asked if abortions should be available to women who are raped.  This has been the hot topic since Congressman Todd Akin, linked the words “legitimate” and “rape” in his notorious interview.  Ryan distanced himself, repeating President Obama, word for word, with “rape is rape.”
It’s never a good sign when you’re quoting your opponent except to draw a contrast. Besides, it was not apparent that Ryan recalled where he first heard the words as he spoke them.  And he had an interesting back-up message. …

Most people are smarter than they sound. And they are often a lot smarter than they sound when speaking on the record. That’s because interviews are less about what you know and more about how you present yourself. They reveal character.
That said, what have I learned about Mitt Romney? How, as a business leader and presidential candidate, does he presents himself? Number One: This is a guy who is use to being in charge. Even as controversy swirls around him, Romney seems unaware of the fact that he’s not the boss of the …

Soldiers are not sent into battle in the hope that they will “wing it” or “rise to the occasion.” They perform at the highest level of training. And that’s exactly what it takes to ace media interviews and debates. Don’t count on your past accomplishment or a flash of verbal inspiration to get you through. On the spot, you are more likely to freeze up or overreact.
Psychologists say it was “brain freeze” that caused Texas Governor Rick Perry’s much-parodied moment during the GOP debate on November 9, 2011. Perry struggled for 10-20-40-60 …