A or B: Do we appoint the best communicator?

Lawrence Glazer, managing partner of Mayflower Advisors in Boston, commented this week that whoever President-elect Obama picks to run the Treasury Dept., it was critically important that the Secretary be able to communicate clearly and simply about the impact of the ongoing economic predicament and the implications of any new policies.

"It's a very complicated financial landscape,” he said. “Being able to convey this in simple terms to the American public is key. Someone with political experience would be helpful," Glazer added.

Question: Was this a not-so-veiled swipe at Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and his technical and jargon-filled public comments in the 48 hours before Congress turned down the first rescue package?

Clearly a better politician than Paulson might have done a better job of selling Congress or would have had provisions in the rescue package that benefited more stakeholders than just the financial services industry. Paulson’s experience is a reminder that being smart and experienced in your field is only part of the skill set required in public policy/political arena these days.

What do you think about Glazer’s comment? Should the Obama administration take communications skills into account for the job of Treasury Secretary? Or should that job be left to the President so he can hire the best financial strategist available regardless of communication skills?

Advice for the incoming Communicator-In-Chief?

With just a few days left before the presidential election it's time to consider one of the most important tasks facing the President-Elect: taking on the role of Communicator-In-Chief.

Barack Obama and John McCain have revealed different styles, attributes and messages in a tough campaign.

How either Obama or McCain presents himself in their victory speeches, during the transition and at the inaugural speech will make a big difference in how a new admistration will be able to lead and govern. Its difficult to imagine a time when more Americans will be scrutinizing every word, nuance and gesture of a president-elect

Given what we know how do you see the communications challenges facing the winner? What advice would you give? Should they stick to what got them here, or adjust and adapt their communication strategy, tactics and tone? And what about the loser? Will boilerplate congratulations and pledges of bi-partisanship suffice, or is something more and different required in these times?