Decker Communications, Inc. (http://www.deckercommunications.com), a leading communications training and executive coaching firm, announces its annual list of Top Ten Communicators. This year's list highlights notable individuals from business, politics, sports and entertainment -- and shows how their communications helped make or break them in 2007.
The Ten Best
1. Gov. Mike Huckabee -- probably the fastest rise ever from relative obscurity to the cover of the weekly news magazines. A front runner for the Republican Presidential nomination,
Governor Huckabee is open in style, authentic, natural and amazingly great at thinking (and speaking) on his feet. He tells stories, and connects with people. Powerful tools when you have
to build trust and credibility visually, quickly and mostly through TV. And powerful tools for a leader.
2. Dr. Mehmet Oz -- He became "America's Doctor" in one short year, because of his communications (and Oprah of course). The communication experience he delivers is a man of the people -
trusted by the people. He is able to synthesize complex health/medical discussions into something tangible. Add to that straightforward and down to earth advice, funny and real - you have
a real (and media) superstar.
3. Al Gore -- In a few short years he transformed himself as a speaker by becoming open vs. closed, vulnerable vs. distant, fluid vs. stiff. He worked at it, and even though he did not
'invent the internet,' he did invent 'global warming.' Or his film "An Inconvenient Truth" gave it the exposure to get in the popular vernacular. But it was Gore himself as narrator of
the film who did the job. Even if he hadn't won the Academy Award, Al Gore would get the communicator's comeback of the year award.
4. Ben Zander -- He speaks on leadership, teamwork and creativity in an original style -- yet he is a world-renowned musician and conductor. A master at creativity - he expresses himself
with reckless abandon - and makes the case as well as anyone that communication rides energy.
5. Maria Bartiromo -- She knows her subject well, and has ridden her stint as financial commentator to a news anchor and respected interviewer on CNBC and nationally. Her distinctive
style, with a slight New York accent, powerful voice, and eye communications are even more causative of her rise to fame than her full lips. Even when confronted with recent controversy,
her confident communicating enabled her to overcome adverse publicity.
6. Tony Dungy -- the first NFL Coach to defeat all other 32 NFL teams. He won a Super Bowl and his Indianapolis Colts are contending again this year. Author of the best selling "Quiet
Strength," Tony Dungy is forceful as a person, coach and man. When his son James tragically died in 2005, he spoke up about it, and was vulnerable. When he wanted to put his beliefs up
front, he did so with firm conviction. For when he speaks, he is low key but carries a big stick.
7. Glenn Beck -- "First Brain Friendly" is a term almost invented for Glenn as he always has a ready smile even amidst strong diatribes. The first communicator to get his own steady hour
show on the instant and pop-corny CNN Headline News, he interviews extremely well, is fast on his thinking feet, and is personally vulnerable -- great communication attributes.
8. Dr. Jim Dobson -- This conservative Christian commentator speaks out on unpopular issues with a force and power of content that belays his soft and humble style. He has amazing impact
without seemingly raising his voice. He embodies our leadership concept of "forward lean."
9. Steve Jobs, Guy Kawasaki, Garr Reynolds -- here we have three top notch communicators at varying degrees of public impact, but ALL sharing brilliant use of visuals as PowerPoint (or
Keynote) support. Steve Jobs was singled out as #1 of the Top Ten two years ago, and could justifiably be so again with his brilliant introduction of the iPhone. Guy Kawasaki was in the
Top Ten last year, and deserves it again for consistency of speaking, knowing speaking, and knowing human impact. Garr Reynolds is new to the list, but probably is the best at knowing all
there is to know about design, and is just out with his great new book "Presentation Zen," following his blog of the same name.
10. Oprah Winfrey -- she probably deserves to be on each year's Ten Best Communicators list since she is so good, so versatile, and rather than reinventing herself she builds on what she
has already created. She spoke up sharply and with power when there was scandal in her Foundation, and no doubt will continue to be a role model for great communications because of her
energy, vulnerability and consistency.
To view the Top Ten Worst Communicators of 2007, please visit http://www.301url.com/2007topten
For additional information on the subject of this release, contact Kelly Decker or visit www.deckercommunications.com.