Career & Success » Communications » A rhetoric expert analyzes the resignation of German President Christian Wulff:
A speech without applause

Emphasizing factual German President Christian Wulff announces his resignation. Put yourself in his position: After a successful political career he has only received the highest office in the State of relatively recently.

The end of his career!

Then allegations against him are public, more and more and louder. However allegations, about their weight much discussion was necessary. And accusations, is even convinced that Christian Wulff, that they may not apply to. And now he must go through this show, …

... which means the end of his career. According to this position, there is none more. He can go as a consultant to Gazprom or BMW, as this is a former Federal- Vice-Chancellor may or. He remains President, also with the addition of AD for "Service out of". On the video you can see, How big is the gaggle of reporters, that pushes in the area and who want to get hold of the best picture and best sound.

Emphasises objective, without any emotion

Wulff also enters the room with his wife. His gaze is a timid Security views to reporters, without directly looking at these. Measured pace he goes to the lectern and climbs to the small podium. Hectic nor timid, he begins his speech. This is however striking, "stressed factual".

He speaks in monotone and tried doing any own emotions to avoid. He also tried, to in his body language say nothing is. His fingers while nervously playing with the speech cards, on the edge of Rednerpults and brackets can sometimes easily at this fixed - and in the permanent change - but this visible nervousness is understandable, in the light of the situation.

Eye contact is difficult for him

His lightweight ranging from one to the other leg is probably due to this nervousness. I realize knowledge but on the markedly slow movements. That his eye contact goes each only briefly to reporters, makes sure crazy photographers, is it but pure luck, to get a good picture.

Only in the passage, in which he pronounces the resignation, is he trying, slightly longer eye contact to keep. It is obviously difficult for him. Overall, Wulff has very rigid, tense and how remote-controlled. He seems to be somehow not really present. There is no visible emotions.

Exit without applause

I will now analyze the contents of, in which he sent its aims and projects again brings. Rather interested in body language and vocal signals. However due to the Verhaltenheit of the entire performance sparse fall out.

Even if the going beyond – certainly the heaviest moment, because in such a situation there is no applause - there is only a half look to the photographer. Wordless disappearing through the door Christian and Bettina Wulff.