Which language does the world’s most popular leader speak?
I believe it is the language of emotions that has helped president Lula of Brazil to attain a rating of 80% - the highest on the planet.
I watched him yesterday being interviewed by Fareed Zakaria on CNN’s GPS.
When he talks about his background, he does it in such a way that you are instantly transported to the humble hut that used to get flooded. When he remembers being unemployed for 1 ½ year, you can almost touch the despair and see the kitchen table with no food on it, covered only by an old, worn-out oil-cloth.
While until recently his style would have been relegated without much further thought to the Latin-charm section, communicators in the global North now need to pay attention.
Blogging and citizen journalism are changing the way people relate to messages and information. Emotions are the new entry point. Only if you are able to connect to people’s deepest passions and hopes, will you be able to capture their attention and make them stick to your post long enough for them to digest it and decide to come back to your site in the future.
When asked by Zakaria about his recent meeting with president Obama, Lula answered simply by saying that “he prays for Obama more than he prays for himself”.
What a powerful way to sum up a situation that can no longer be described with words. Too many words have already been spent in an attempt to make sense of the current crisis … What people want to hear is something closer to their heart, something that can give them comfort.
Lula believes that the world is changing. Emerging markets like Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa are gaining influence in world politics. He is calling for international institutions to open up to their participation, starting with the UN Security Council.
Here is another reason why the global North should listen.
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