Political Idol:  The Soundtrack to Your Success
By Karen Nussle

Ever wonder what would happen if Ryan Seacrest hosted the reality show that is American politics? Well, you don’t have to wonder – you experienced it in 2008.  Barack Obama is our first “American Idol” president. He understood the judges’ expectations. He played to them. He won the prize.

In the age when millions of Americans are spending time watching “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars,” politicians, need to understand that the performance expectations and the rules have changed. The reality TV phenomenon has changed the way we “judge” those whom we see in public. We have different expectations – we expect them to be better than we could be, and we expect to be entertained. And secretly – we all want to be Simon Cowell—brutally honest, telling people when they are an utter disaster. But we don’t have the guts to really tell them to their face the way Simon does. So in politics, we just vote against them.

So what does it take to be an effective communicator in the “American Idol” age? Here
is a 10-track playlist that anyone running for office should listen to.

10 Principles of Political Communications

1. Soul-Man  The Blue Brothers
	Why are you running? I’ve seen many candidates who don’t seem to have a soul – they’ll take any position or be for any policy that has popularity. Voters are pretty savvy and know bad karaoke when they hear it. Have a soul and speak from it. You need to be genuinely passionate about why you want to serve and what problems you hope to solve.
2. Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It  Will Smith
	You know what you’re passionate about, so develop your core message around those concepts and work it. Remember, this is about being persuasive. You must convince voters and motivate them to act. What makes you different from your competitors?  Why should they believe you? You can’t just make this up (although some politicians do).
3. Something to Talk About  Bonnie Raitt
	The best advertisement for yourself is when someone meets you or sees you and then tells a friend or neighbor about you. So organize your message and keep it simple so it can be easily shared. Have your “elevator speech” down cold and stick to it even when you’re sick of it.
4. I Wanna Talk About Me  Toby Keith
	This may shock you, but it’s not about you (get over it).  Good communications is about 3 things -- audience, audience, and audience. Meet the audience’s expectations. As Simon would say, don’t be self indulgent. Give the audience what they want, not just what you know you can deliver. Know who you are communicating with at all times – even in you campaign propaganda. Be smart, be genuine and have something to say that they care about.
5. Sharp Dressed Man  ZZ Top
	Look the part – not only your words communicate. This doesn’t mean you need to be slick, but everything from what you wear to the venue you choose to how your staff manages your appearances communicates your values and the type of public servant you’ll be. This is part of your “brand,” make sure it’s consistent with who you are.
6. Jumpin’ Jack Flash  The Rolling Stones
	Get their attention. You must be entertaining—keep it real, but entertain. In the “American Idol” age, expectations for being entertained have never been greater. Tell interesting stories, be engaging, be personal, have a sense of humor.
7. Listen  Goo Goo Dolls
	If you’re in politics, here’s a really tough tip: Know when to shut up! Seriously, not enough politicians spend time listening. Because you’re expected to have an opinion on everything doesn’t mean others don’t have opinions or ideas that are worthy of your consideration. Spend some time listening.
8. Oops! … I Did it Again  Britney Spears
	Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t. Don’t keep doing something that’s not working. How do you know if it’s working??  You actually need to practice (even Tiger Woods spends time on the practice tee). You should also constantly solicit candid feedback and calibrate accordingly.
9. Where You Lead  Carole King
	Remember that you are a leader. In American politics we actually value leadership. If you’ve done the “Soul Man” routine, taken a stand, been smart and articulate, then go ahead and lead. We will follow.
10. Breakaway  Kelly Clarkson
	Having said all of the above, while we are drawn to look at the train wreck, Americans also are always for the underdog. We want the “regular guy” to succeed. Why? Because it makes us believe we can succeed too—it gives us hope that we each have a chance to achieve the top of our game. Just look at Susan Boyle.

Karen Nussle is President & CEO of Ripple Communications