Written Assignment

Group Deliverables:

Review the results and learnings from the initial critique of the case; review results of research to date.

What made Landrieu’s speech significant, according to many people? What techniques did Landrieu employ that others could adopt when delivering a speech? In order to complete this deliverable, your team will need to analyze the following articles in the “Other Recommended Readings” section:

· Catherine Carr, “What Made ‘I Have A Dream’ Such a Perfect Speech,” Fast Company, January 19, 2015, accessed January 15, 2018,  www.fastcompany.com/3040976/what-made-i-have-a-dream-such- a-perfect-speech .

· Mike Myatt, “10 Communication Secrets of Great Leaders,” Forbes, April 4, 2012, accessed March 6, 2018,  www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/04/04/10-communication-secrets-of-great- leaders/#753cc26822fe.

· Mary Crossan, Jeffrey Gandz, and Gerard Seijts, “Developing Leadership Character,” Ivey Business Journal, January/February 2012,accessed March 6, 2018,  https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/developing-leadership-character.

· Gerard Seijts, Jeffrey Gandz, Mary Crossan, and Mark Reno, “Character Matters: Character Dimensions’ Impact on Leader Performance and Outcomes,” Organizational Dynamics 44, no. 1 (2015): 65–74.

Post a summary of these results under “Experiential Exercise 2” on the course platform.  

What made Landrieu’s speech significant, according to many people?

· According to research (Myatt, 2017), a leader needs to speak not with a forked tongue. Trust is best created by earning it with the proper acting, thinking, and decisions. This aligns with the trust condition from the course presentation (Lesson 1). Landrieu had built trust based on a consistent set of actions and principles; therefore, his speech was significant and touching.

· Landrieu’s character as a leader and his commitment to the people of New Orleans made his speech significant. Landrieu had the drive to establish stretch goals and a plan to achieve them. Removing the monuments was not an easy topic to speak about as a mayor. He had the lead character of accountability. He accepted the consequences of giving that speech. He had consideration, empathy, and compassion for the people, which were essential to develop followership.

· The article “Developing Leadership Character” focuses on good character as an influential and respected leader trait. As a white male, the fact that Mitch Landrieu stood by against injustice and racism during his speech on removing segregation-era monuments in New Orleans displayed a tremendous number of virtues and values. These virtues, such as humanity, integrity, and justice, could be adopted by other speakers for an effective and successful speech. Humanity is about empathy and the understanding of others, integrity is a crucial factor to building trust, and justice allows for decisions that are considered legitimate by others (Crossan, 2012).

What techniques did Landrieu employ that others could adopt when delivering a speech? 

Here is a summary of Landrieu's speech techniques that shared similar ones from the MLK's famous "I Have a Dream.":

1. Powerful words related to location

· Adapted them to their setting and location to amplify the message.

· Provided the imagery, inspiration, and historical context into the presentation.

1. Included touchstones that spoke to both the head and the heart 

· Intellectual – Indivisibility, the Constitution, etc. These references give the weight and credibility of his words.

· Emotional - Quoting the passages from the successful historical leaders to balance between intellectual and emotional, making his speech compelling and satisfying.

1. Created solid and memorable images by delivering vivid and metaphorical language

· Pictured the plight of African-Americans – the long-time history of slavery.

· His faith - "Instead of revering a 4-year brief historical aberration that was called the Confederacy, we can celebrate all 300 years of our rich, diverse history as a place named New Orleans and set the tone for the next 300 years."

· Vivid imagery, evocative language, and on-point metaphors are robust tools for making the message clear and memorable. Landrieu asked rhetorical questions to support his points: "Can you look into that young girl's eyes and convince her that Robert E. Lee is there to encourage her? Do you think she will feel inspired and hopeful by that story? Do these monuments help her see a future with limitless potential? Have you ever thought that if her potential is limited, yours and mine are too? "

1. Sharpened ideas through contrast

· Many compelling ways to employ contrast–problem/solution, past/present, present/future, us/them, ideal/reality.

· Contrasted what is against what could be.

1. Reinforced key points through repetition 

· Repetition on the important message that he would like the audience to remember and take away. In this way, it could improve the presentation's rhythm, structure, and flow. E.g., "Instead of revering a 4-year brief historical aberration that was called the Confederacy, we can celebrate all 300 years of our rich, diverse history as a place named New Orleans and set the tone for the next 300 years." 

1. Ended on a hopeful note 

· Filled his listeners' hearts with a hopeful and aspirational message. E.g., Quoted Abraham Lincoln's words, "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds . . . to do all which may achieve and cherish—a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Landrieu’s speech was personal, specific, and empathetic. He knew the history of this town and was open-minded to listen to different opinions; afterward, he came up with a speech that included everyone’s concerns and targeted his goal. Based on research (Myatt, 2017), Landrieu’s speech employed every technique that made it powerful and memorable.