Are you a great communicator?

Relatively unknown, Marco Rubio was trailing Florida’s incumbent Governor by double digits and went on to beat him in the Republican primary for Senate and went on to beat both the Democrat opponent as well as Governor Crist as an independent in November

The Five Worst

1. Tony Hayward–Appalling

“I want my life back,” said Hayward as a complaint for his extra stress as BP CEO during the Gulf Oil spill. Unbelievable comment, when people had lost their lives, literally, and millions more were terribly affected by BP incompetence.

2. Dick Fuld–Never learned

Ex-CEO Dick Fuld was right at the top of our 2008 Top Ten Worst list for his pitiful congressional testimony about the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, of which he appeared to be a very guilty leader. You think he’d have learned some communication skills in the intervening two years, but, no. He’s back this year–different testimony but same story. He never learned how to not be defensive, look guilty, not answer questions, show arrogance, etc. Hope he doesn’t go before Congress again …

3. Christine O’Donnell, Joe Miller, Alvin Greene–Not ready for Prime Time

Shooting stars who quickly flamed out. These three candidates were representative of many new faces in the November elections who were bright and newsworthy but not ready for the glare of the lights.

Christine O’Donnell speaks well and with a smile, and Sarah Palin helped her cause, but she couldn’t hold it together what with the witch talk–and a very unfortunate witch ad–poor media and, many felt, a lack of content. You need sizzle and steak. Joe Miller in Alaska let controversy and mis-handling of the press stalk his Senatorial campaign, and thus allowed a very rare write-in campaign victory for incumbent Lisa Murkowski. Good communicators don’t lie. And Alvin Greene in South Carolina remains a mystery–little credentials and little campaign adds up to no victory. In all cases, people who initially appear as rockets fizzle out without the right fuel–substance.

4. Gordon Brown–Consistent stumbler

I suppose if this list originated in the UK ex-Premier Brown might be the No. 1 worst, but he’s a close second. Much has been written on Brown’s poor speaking by UK author and communications expert Max Atkinson, several posts referenced here. He was made fun of on the floor and he was disparaged behind the scenes. Never very energetic or accomplished as a communicator in the first place, he proceeded to make several gaffes in his election campaign.

5. Mel Gibson–Rant after rant

Where’s a publicist with some duct tape when you need one? Gibson has managed to morph himself from respected leading actor to a raving madman through his communication in a matter of years. We thought he had learned, as he was on our Top Ten Worst in 2006, but, no, this year was even worse. Instead of thinking before he speaks, Gibson lets venom burst out of his mouth, leaving anyone who still watches him in awe. His personal rants have damaged his professional career, and now people view him as a loose cannon with a questionable character.