So on Wednesday night I popped along to an event where Alastair Campbell was talking about his new book, all about winning.
| What I'd found interesting during the day was the reactions to him from some of my peers on the Psychotherapy course. They loathed him. Absolute loathing. For a guy who has campaigned forthrightly for mental health. And who... what? Supports Burnley? Is friends with Sir Alex Ferguson? Is a republican? Hardly the basis for a loathing. |  |
Personally I have some issues with describing Campbell as a winner. I don't agree with his politics. When you look back though, he was authentically him. And those who ran the country at the same time (Blair, Brown, Mandelson, Prescott) were authentically them as well. They weren't perfect, Lord knows they weren't perfect, but they set out their stall and went there. Their objective, strategy and tactics were clear and organised.
We've an election in the coming months, and Campbell was asked who had the clearer message from the Tories and Labour. Neither was the response, in essence. And here's why, according to me, not him. There aren't any real people leading the parties. You have an occasional one. Hague, for example is honest and witty, but even he lost out badly to Blair and co in the spin stakes. Almost every political figure in Britain currently doesn't have a clear strategy or objective, they let the media of any given day dictate what they're talking about. And if you change whenever the wind does, you can't be authentically you. After all, who are you?
One interesting question was whether Boris Johnson should be considered a winner....
We've an election in the coming months, and Campbell was asked who had the clearer message from the Tories and Labour. Neither was the response, in essence. And here's why, according to me, not him. There aren't any real people leading the parties. You have an occasional one. Hague, for example is honest and witty, but even he lost out badly to Blair and co in the spin stakes. Almost every political figure in Britain currently doesn't have a clear strategy or objective, they let the media of any given day dictate what they're talking about. And if you change whenever the wind does, you can't be authentically you. After all, who are you?
One interesting question was whether Boris Johnson should be considered a winner....
 | Campbell was less than effusive, and rightly so. What does Boris stand for? He's a brilliant communicator, but what does he communicate? Not a huge amount. He's certainly not up there with Blair, Thatcher or even Brown in terms of having a core strategy and a belief system to match. He illustrates the power of being a great communicator though, as the public adore him, without knowing him. |
I dread to think how powerful he could be if he nails who he is and manages to communicate that in his unique Boris way. And I'm probably not the only one, politicians from every side must be scared witless.
So next time you doubt the importance of communicating, cast your mind back to Boris, and just contemplate what he's achieved purely through the power of communicating.
By the way....
I'm 312 pages through the book, and I really like it. He writes very personably and draws from people who are unquestionably winners. He's also self-depricating. And insightful. I'd thoroughly recommend it!
So next time you doubt the importance of communicating, cast your mind back to Boris, and just contemplate what he's achieved purely through the power of communicating.
By the way....
I'm 312 pages through the book, and I really like it. He writes very personably and draws from people who are unquestionably winners. He's also self-depricating. And insightful. I'd thoroughly recommend it!
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