Back in May, the swearing in ceremony of D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, was described as “unorthodox” by Washington Post staff writer Allison Klein (May 5, 2007; B04). Lanier spoke of “her difficult past and her road to the top.” It was a good article – it sounded like an even better ceremony. But the most amazing line was towards the end. Let me pull directly from the article:
D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said the speech shocked him because he was expecting Lanier to talk about police policy or something relating to her position as chief.
"I was waiting for her to swing to the PowerPoint," Graham said. "To have the police chief in the nation's capital be so personal, so human, so revealed is startling. We were amazed. I left feeling a little more human myself."
What a great comment! Lanier was human – she revealed herself as vulnerable – and the audience (or at least Mr. Graham) responded. I’m not saying this approach is appropriate all of the time or even many times, but all too often, we don’t look for this kind of opportunity any time. Let's turn off the PowerPoint and get real.
About Me
- Ady Dewey
- Washington, DC, United States
- For 20 years, freelance writer Lisa “Ady” Dewey has been helping leaders tell their stories. With special capabilities in coalition building, research, and writing, she has worked to identify the intersection of interests among stakeholders to create strong, clear messaging and outreach strategies. An award-winning writer, she specializes in developing speeches, feature articles, and collateral materials so that even complex topics resonate with target audiences. (Get work history, education, etc., from December 2005 post)