by Steve Adubato, PhD

We all have different communication styles and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is no exception. I’ve interviewed Chris Christie on many occasions and like most New Jerseyans, I have heard him deliver a variety of speeches, the biggest of which was his recent inaugural address. So, how did the governor communicate under pressure and what can the rest of us learn?

--Brevity matters. 26 minutes. That’s how long Chris Christie’s inaugural address lasted. I like that. Many speeches of this kind go on much longer. Our attention span is a lot shorter than people think, particularly in a Twitter driven, TV remote control, TiVo world (who has time for commercials?). When communicating, you must get, and keep, people’s attention. This wasn’t easy getting this speech down to 26 minutes, which included time for applause. It takes editing. Not everything we want to say should be said. Fewer words usually equals better communication.

--Scripted versus “off the cuff.” Chris Christie is naturally an impromptu speaker. He is comfortable communicating this way. But an inaugural address requires a greater degree of control. Therefore, this was the first time Christie used a teleprompter. I spoke to the governor after his inaugural address, and he talked about how much time he spent prepping and getting used to the prompter, as well as his own pacing. It paid off, because Christie was deliberate. His cadence was conversational, but created lots of pausing, which allowed him to breathe and allowed us to let his words sink in. Also, practice and preparation are key. You need to not just KNOW the words, but FEEL the message you are communicating.

--Own your speech. Of course there were communication advisors who had a hand in this inaugural address, but in the end, Chris Christie’s imprint was all over it. Case in point, it was Christie who came up with the idea to call up new Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and asked them to join hands. This was clearly the high-mark of his presentation. This non-verbal gesture got nearly a one minute ovation from the crowd. Christie then said; “Handshakes of commitment to stand for our principles — but to never abandon our duty to serve the people. We have shaken hands as a symbol for our citizens of all that is possible in a future that demands that who gets the credit finally takes a back seat to doing something worth getting credit for. Senator Sweeney and Speaker Oliver, that is my commitment to both of you.” This was a powerful moment, not just for the words, but because the gesture was dramatic and felt very real. Being real is a key to successful communication.

--Experience matters. There is no substitute for communicating in public as often as possible. The more you do it, the more confident you become, plus, the less likely that you’ll be thrown off no matter what happens. (Including losing your place.) The fact that Chris Christie has been on his feet communicating to all kinds of audiences for many years was a big plus in his inaugural address. This holds true for all professionals. Seek opportunities to speak in public, to be in potentially challenging and yes, uncomfortable, situations. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will become.

Finally, Christie’s inaugural speech had a recurring theme “change has arrived.” I liked it, but the key to using a recurring phrase is to not do it the same way every time. Mix up your delivery, change your intonation as well as your pacing. You don’t want your audience to see it coming every time.

In terms of style, delivery and overall effectiveness, new Governor Chris Christie’s inaugural address was a communication success.