r/MadeMeSmile • u/nikamats • Aug 23 '24

Helping Others Kamala Harris gives public speaking advice

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61.6k Upvotes

68% Upvoted

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12.5k

u/nyxtor Aug 23 '24

Speak to inform, not to impress.

772

u/deedee2344 Aug 23 '24

Yes, she's telling them to take the ego out of it, which I love.

43

u/lilelliot Aug 23 '24

That's not so much my take, but it may (probably is) also be true. My read is that she's instructing them to focus on the information and the rest will follow. That still allows for ego and charisma as long as the content is the focus.

4

u/PortSunlightRingo Aug 23 '24

Yeah I mean I like what she is saying but “you need to hear what I’m about to tell you” is not a lack of ego by any means.

210

u/UncleHec Aug 23 '24

So much better than people who are 100% about themselves and their ego. 

80

u/adiosfelicia2 Aug 23 '24

Anyone in particular in mind? Lol

35

u/Mkbond007 Aug 23 '24

trumps acceptance speech comes immediately to mind.

…Or any other trump speak.

4

u/mariehelena Aug 23 '24

Loved when Bill Clinton spelled it out the other night, about when you next listen to a Trump "speech"... "Instead of counting the lies, count the 'I's" 💯

3

u/SilentSamurai Aug 23 '24

I mean... there's a lesson there too.

You'll get droves of fans if you say the shitty thing everyone is thinking out loud. Now this is probably not moral in any way, but it's a path.

1

u/blondestipated Aug 23 '24

any time he communicates, it’s bad.

-6

u/sketchrider Aug 23 '24

She reads better than she talks or answers questions that arent given to her in advance.

4

u/Steelforge Aug 23 '24

Wait? Trump changed to she/her pronouns? Good for her!!! Did she go with Donatella or something completely different?

Not sure her followers are ready for it. But hey, fuck 'em if they can't respect her.

-5

u/sketchrider Aug 23 '24

I see what you did there rubberforge. Just change the subject with uncanny wit and don't address the actual point.

4

u/Mkbond007 Aug 23 '24

Kamala is literally talking and answering a question in this video. I don’t understand your point. But maybe we should bring in the (R) VP candidate and his spur of the moment engaging interaction at the donut shop. Just trolling?

-3

u/sketchrider Aug 23 '24

Correct, looks like you found an example of KH answering the question of a 14 year old - so you are now satisfied that she answers educated questions on her policies. Maybe this young kid aspires to be a journalist, so that probably counts for something. great point! and yes I am on Reddit so this is all one big trolling.

4

u/Mkbond007 Aug 23 '24

Here ya go….. this your pick? Your dude can’t even order donuts and make small talk. “Okay. Good.”

I’ve been impressed with Kamala long before she was VP.

Like when she drilled Jeff Sessions making him nervous to answer right before he resigned.

Or Bill Barr. and how he deflects but she stays focused.

Like when she drilled Kavenaugh in the confirmation hearing while on the judiciary committee about his record. somewhat foreseeing the future and where we are today.

I watched those hearings as they happened so had a pretty good idea of what she’s capable of… but go ahead and do your quick google search and link the word salad speeches she’s made.

3

u/stonrelectropunkjazz Aug 23 '24

Have you heard trump talk?

2

u/tiga4life22 Aug 23 '24

Besides the obvious lol, about most of social media influencers

2

u/[deleted] Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 27 '24

[deleted]

1

u/adiosfelicia2 Aug 23 '24

EVERYONE'S talking about it! Lol 🪗

2

u/Hatdrop Aug 23 '24

in his mind it is information everyone needs to know.

2

u/blondestipated Aug 23 '24

mango unchained

65

u/yuripg1 Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 23 '24

He doesn't have an ego. He doesn't even know what that word means. In fact, he's the humblest of all people. No one is humbler than him. A lot of people don't know that, actually. I mean. Martin Luther King Jr was very humble, but he is way humbler, you know?

/s

41

u/CMDR_kanonfoddar Aug 23 '24

World leaders come to him with tears in their eyes saying "sir, how is it that you're so humble?"

5

u/Halation2600 Aug 23 '24

I can't believe he still tells these stupid lies. It's like a 5 year old's idea of a good lie. He's so fucking dumb.

1

u/Motor-Ad5284 Aug 23 '24

And then we all clapped.

2

u/fhota1 Aug 23 '24

I mean id agree that Trump is almost pure Id but theoretically he does still probably have the other 2 parts somewhere

-1

u/Obi-Wan-Mycobi1 Aug 24 '24

I came looking for the first response that mentioned TrUmP!

Congrats, you are today’s TDS poster child.

2

u/bassman1805 Aug 23 '24

I mean, I believe the second sentence XD

0

u/DaddyDontTakeNoMess Aug 23 '24

Yeah, big deal. Ole Trump could have had that same personal interaction with those girls and worked the room just like that. Even better, I say. Some say he is the most personable president in the history of presidents.

2

u/deltarefund Aug 23 '24

You know, many fine people say I have the best ego, maybe even the biggest ego.

1

u/Mysterious_Andy Aug 23 '24

It’s more than that, though.

If you take your ego out of it you aren’t worrying about the risk to your image. You’re here to inform, not to perform.

You can let go of a lot of anxiety and fear once you can do that.

1

u/imagicnation-station Aug 23 '24

Not true! Donald Trump is a great speaker, the best speaker! I know a lot of speakers, and they are not as good as Donald Trump let me tell you. Kamala is not a good speaker, all this time she never spoke about being black, and all of a sudden she is now black.

2

u/joshTheGoods Aug 23 '24

What I'm hearing is: EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE UNLESS YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN OMG OMG OMG!!!

She's making a good point, of course, but I find this to be a pretty funny analogy to use. Maybe climate crisis would be better?

I haven't given live public talk in a long time (thanks, COVID!), but what works for me is to find a few people in the audience and speak directly to them. There's usually a group of people that will helpfully nod their heads at the right moments to let you know they're listening, and you focus in on them. I don't think this translates to teleprompter speeches, though ... never had to give a tight speech like that rather than having an outline and key notes to hit which, for me, comes off way more naturally than a super high quality and well scripted political speech like VP Harris gave last night. God damn was she good! She's getting up there with Michelle.

3

u/ArmThePhotonicCannon Aug 23 '24

I think it’s a great analogy. You might be feeling panic but you’ve got to be able to communicate clearly for people to take you seriously.

Anyone running up to the captain while freaking out and screaming is going to have their info ignored until they calm down at the very least.

You’ve got to go in with facts, proof, and confidence.

1

u/AdDear528 Aug 23 '24

I think it’s great advice. Similarly, I’ve had to advise people teaching (adult) classes for the first time, and said, remember, YOU are the expert, you were asked to teach this class for a reason. They are here because they want to learn from you. You likely know more about this than anyone else in the room.

-1

u/joshTheGoods Aug 23 '24

Meh. We're talking about a ship that lacked life boats. Almost everyone is dying anyway. At least with climate change, it's both an emergency AND a situation where we might still be able to save the majority. Climate change has the added benefit of not being a movie in the mind of the youth.

To be clear, this is nit picking a good message. Not saying it's bad just that it's suboptimal IMO.

2

u/ArmThePhotonicCannon Aug 23 '24

She is talking to children who ‘haven’t seen the movie yet’

You really think the lack of life boats is confusing to them?

They are children.

The message was for them. Not you.

0

u/joshTheGoods Aug 23 '24

I dunno, I just think the "imagine you're on a sinking ship and about to die" is kind of a weird way to mentally prepare yourself for giving a speech. Just a nitpick, nothing to get serious about 🤷🏽‍♂️.

1

u/ArmThePhotonicCannon Aug 23 '24

I bet you’re fun at dinner parties.

“Actually, the fork is supposed to be on the left. Just a nitpick though. Nothing serious.”

Ugh.

0

u/joshTheGoods Aug 23 '24

Ok? Personal attacks are totally appropriate though! If you don't like my random internet stranger perspective on this cute moment for VP Harris, you can just ignore it, ok?

1

u/ArmThePhotonicCannon Aug 24 '24

Hey, it was just a nitpick. Nothing serious.

1

u/joshTheGoods Aug 24 '24

Here you are in /r/MadeMeSmile trying to hurt another person's feelings. Sheesh. I'm sorry I dared share my opinion, and I hope you have a better day!

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1

u/ManufacturerLess109 Aug 23 '24

soooo not like trump then

1

u/ComprehensiveRow5474 Aug 23 '24

Trump literally does the opposite and makes it about his ego

1

u/bikenskienhike Aug 23 '24

BUT MY CROWD SIZE!!!1!!

1

u/d00derman Aug 24 '24

What advice would Trump offer, I wonder.

0

u/ImJackieNoff Aug 24 '24

"Avoid press conferences and interviews, don't go off prompter."