In this particular address he is in his element. He strolls onto the podium, all trademark grin and lanky limbs. He leans into the mic, takes in the room. I L L he says. The audience respond, putty in his hand. I L L. He repeats it. Call and response. I L L. Three times. He looks delighted. It’s good to be home. He says. They cheer. Good to see corn. They cheer again. I said on the flight over. That’s corn. That’s wheat. They were very impressed…. A beat while the audience cheer. He finishes the sentence. At my agricultural knowledge. The audience go wild again.

The more observant amongst you will notice that there are very few words spoken in the first 2 or 3 minutes of the Obama Illinois speech. Of the words spoken, very few of them have more than 2 syllables or can be said to be great or imposing words. Yet this is a master, master of his game, master of his delivery, master of appealing to absolutely everyone in that room as if they were personally the only person in his vicinity. This is the ultimate example of someone exhibiting secure high status.

Secure high status is what someone shows when they are having a brilliant time. Viv Groskop in her incredible book “How to own the Room” tells a brilliant story about George Clooney at a black tie party. Someone mistakes him for a waitor and asks him for a drink. Instead of being put out he beams at the poor mistaken person, says: Absolutely. And gets him a drink.

A high status person doesn’t ever need to say: Do you know who I am? They don’t need to use long words or business jargon. (Yes, yes, I know. “Secure high status” Sorry.) They break sentences up. Why land one sentence when you can land it twice and get more juice out of it. They were very impressed is cheeky at my agricultural knowledge is self mocking. They don’t rush because they are having far too good a time. They don’t worry about where their speech is going because they trust that their coordinator brain is in charge of the satnav. In the meantime they, their true, immediate, present creative self is going to hang out and enjoy the view. And allow us in to enjoy it too.  

Think of the speech you gave at your wedding.  

Maybe we could all learn to be Obama at the podium surrounded by a crowd of thousands of home turf supporters. At a time in his life where he has nothing left to prove (and much less responsibility than before). We may have to earn it more, people may not even know who we are to start with but if we show a willingness to be playful and let them in we will earn their trust very quickly.