Best Public Speakers Series: Barbara Walters

by Michelle Davis

We included Barbara Walters on our "Best Public Speakers" list because of her iconic interviewing skills that transcend generations. She interviewed many of the biggest names in history. Barbara is an excellent listener, she always relates to her interviewees, and shows her care through her facial expressions and connected eye contact. She is a leader for all women as she started conducting interviews before many women on TV were doing so. Barbara asks impactful open-ended questions without being too pushy. She is level headed, calm, and compassionate. Her questions are direct and she asks them with confidence.

Barbara Walters is American broadcast journalist and television personality who recently passed. Known for her interviewing ability and popularity with viewers, she appeared as a host of numerous television programs, including Today, the ABC Evening News, 20/20, and The View.

We reviewed a video of the overview of Barbara Walters' top 10 most iconic interviews. These included interviews with Vladimir Putin, Dolly Parton, Barbara Streisand, and Christopher Reeves.

What are the main communication takeaways?

• Great open-ended, direct questions

• Strong and connected eye contact

• Able to connect with her interviewees on a deep level

• Relatable

How could she improve?

• Add more vocal variety

• Minimize furrow in the brow

• Allow interviewees to answer questions before asking another

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