{Diplomatic Style}
In honor of todays VOTE, I thought you would all enjoy a bit about how Personal Style can be effectively harnessed to send clear communication. Think about what is in your Style Arsenal...
In North Korea, October 2000 Albright wore this pin to a meeting with Kim Jong-il.
Madeline Albright- former Secretary of State- was well known for her brooch collection.
"Before long, and without intending it, I found that jewelry had become part of my diplomatic arsenal. Former President George H. W. Bush had been known for saying "Read my lips." I began urging colleagues and reporters to "Read my pins."
Here's how she did it...
"It would never have happened if not for Saddam Hussein. When US Ambassador to the United Nations Madeline Albright criticized the dictator, his poet in residence responded by calling her "and unparalleled serpent." Shortly thereafter, while preparing to meet with Iraqi officials, Albright pondered, What to wear? She decided to make a diplomatic statement by choosing a snake pin. Although her method of communication was new, her message was as old as the American Revolution - Don't Tread on Me."
Madeline Albright was the first woman to hold the position of US Secretary of State. One of her favorite pins was the Glass Ceiling in it's ideal condition: shattered.
According to Albright, "not every diplomatic encounter demands a sunny attitude. If she wanted to deliver a sharp message, she often wore this bee brooch. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee"; her message was that America would try to resolve every controversy peacefully, but if pushed into a corner, we had both the will and the way to strike back."
Yasser Arafat and Albright speaking by phone with President Clinton. Albright spent many hours wrangling with the Palestinian leader about the need for compromise in the Middle East. Her pin reflected her mood.
What is in your Style Arsenal that helps you send a clear message? If you need help figuring it out, get in touch with me! I'll help you put your personal style to work for you. 919.601.6299
And get out there to VOTE today!
Content quoted from "Read My Pins- Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box" by Madeline Albright.