Sunday, January 31, 2016
CEO WISDOM DISTILLED REGARDING YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS
HAPPY NEW YEAR… It was a pleasure serving you during 2015 and we at EC trust you will benefit during 2016 from the complimentary tips, tools and advice we will share during 2016.
To start this year a fresh, you will enjoy the following quote:
“Few things seem to get CEOs riled up more than lengthy PowerPoint presentations!
It’s not the software they dislike as the software is just a tool
What irks CEO’s is the unfocused thinking that leads to overlong (boring) slide presentations
There is broad agreement that a major presentation problem is, “Death by PowerPoint”, which term has become a cliché, yet this does not stop masses of business people committing this presentation crime”.
The above quote is listed under the heading of ‘A simple mindset’ – one of five qualities that Adam Bryant maintains the best CEOs share, in his article Distilling the Wisdom of CEOs.
The other four qualities are: ‘Passionate Curiosity’, ‘Battle-Hardened Confidence’, ‘Team Smarts’ and ‘Fearlessness’
The article was adapted from Bryant’s book, The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed, published by Times Books.
The phrase “unfocused thinking’ resonates for many business leaders. Many business people don’t think as they should! They don’t think prior to a business pitch or before a boardroom presentation – Many times there is not enough thought invested into audience centric, tailored key message(s) the presenter needs the audience/person to retain and/or act upon.
Of course, presenters also have to deliver the message with conviction, in a simple way at the start of the presentation. If they did think – they’d cut down, and in some cases not need PowerPoint slides when they present.
We at EC recommend you read Bryant’s book or at least his article and use this CEO insight for all business presentation preparation, meeting or interaction.
All the best with your business presentations!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
YOU ARE A BRAND!
How often do you buy the same brand of toothpaste, food, beverage, clothing, phone, technology device, vehicle etc. because you like the brand?
Maybe you know people who follow similar buying patterns by sticking to their favourite brands.
Most people are loyal to particular brands because of things like their effectiveness, taste, price point, durability etc.
According to Wikipedia, a brand is a name, term, design, or other feature that differentiates one seller's product(s) from those of others.
Whether you like to see yourself this way or not, YOU are a brand!!!
What distinguishes YOU from other leaders, colleagues, external competition etc. is you personal brand.
Obviously, you want to present yourself in the best light, but there are some things that chip away at your personal brand. Protecting your personal brand requires constant monitoring and improvement.
The skills listed below will strengthen and ensure loyalty towards YOU as a brand.
First impressions matter
A bad first impression is difficult to erase. Be nice, be friendly. Be genuine. Always show your best self. Work at building relationships with others. Your brand depends on how others view you.
Look your best
You undoubtedly have heard the saying, "Dress for Success," but in today's business casual environment, we often lose sight of what that means. Professional attire varies depending on your occupation and the company where you work.
Poorly manicured nails or toes, scrubby facial hair, spotted or wrinkled anything will be noticed and affect your image.
What works for an "after hours" event may not be appropriate at the office. A good way to ensure that your appearance is polished is to notice how the Executives in your company dress - then emulate them.
Be crystal clear
Don't over-talk an issue or connect multiple thoughts to each other. Let your sentences come to a definite end. Avoid using a lot of acronyms. Resist turning nouns into verbs or vice versa.
A simple explanation is always the best bet, but as Steve Jobs once said, "Sometimes, you have to work darn hard to keep it simple."
Double check for accuracy
People really despise mistakes. They are costly. Decisions rest on the data or analysis you provide. Without checking your data for errors, your brand is at risk.
Be prepared
Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared!!! Managers and Executives can always spot the person who is unprepared.
Unprepared people don't anticipate what will be asked. They forget vital information. They aren't sure of the risks involved.
Follow through
If you say you are going to provide or do something by a specific time, then do it!!!
If, for whatever reason, you are not ready, you need to update the person requesting/expecting.
Being overloaded with work is not an acceptable excuse for poor follow-up!!!
Listen up
Listening takes effort, real effort. Most of us listen effectively only about 25% of the time.
When we don't listen carefully, mistakes happen or we answer incorrectly. Poor listening skills tar your brand.
Don't argue
Some of us are quick to temper. We blame others for events. It's always somebody else's fault. Accept when you are wrong and learn from your mistakes. It's never good to have a reputation of being feisty.
Be a good-finder, not a complainer
If you work for a company, be proud of what the company does. If you're not then do your leaders, colleagues and clients a favour... Simply leave in a professional and agreeable manner!!!
Don't whine about your managers to co-workers, relatives and neighbors because this is unprofessional. And, whilst the majority of people you complain to will not tell you the truth about your negative brand impression, the truth is... Complaining gets you nowhere!
Be honest.
Tell the truth every time. Don't gloss over events or hide bad news. People know things can go wrong, but they have little tolerance for someone not being honest or for someone who bends the truth.
Look people in the eye
People assess trustworthiness by whether or not you look them in the eye. Having fleeting eye contact is not okay. If you are guilty of this, you have again damaged your brand, maybe even irreparably.
Be helpful
Some people seem to hang a "Do not disturb" sign around them. Colleagues frequently have questions about a process or a procedure. They need help. Don't be the person people avoid.
Companies who are in business for a long time have worked hard to perfect their brand. They never risk their image. Your personal brand is who you are! Guard it. Protect it. Keep a close eye on what you do on a daily basis.
All the best with your personal branding!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
LEADERSHIP - DO YOU HAVE THE X FACTOR?
It's no wonder that talent contests like the international TV franchise 'The X Factor' is popular across so many nations and viewed by millions and millions of people.
Why?
Well one key reason is that many viewers like to witness, listen to and watch someone carry and demonstrate the natural gifts plus, learned and practiced skills that give a person the edge, or what commercially minded people call a differentiation!
Trust is a leader's X factor to accomplishing things faster, better and with fewer resources. However, trust must be earned. It cannot be taken for granted. A lot of leaders give lip service to wanting to build a trusting environment, but yet they do very little to actually promote it.
Establishing a culture of trust takes a top down initiative
A necessary element in building trust is open communication. People need their leaders to share the company's priorities and what they need to do. As an employee, they want the opportunity to voice their concerns and get their questions answered. When workers feel they are "in the know," they become more satisfied and productive. They contribute ideas that will lead to things like greater efficiency or cost savings.
Some executives think because they have an annual meeting, they are building a trusting environment. Communication that is effective should happen often, whether it is done formally or informally, face to face or virtually.
The retiring CEO of RW Baird, Paul Purcell, has promoted open communication throughout his 22 year tenure at RW Baird. He makes a point to respond to any email within 24 hours. One of the reasons people see RW Baird as a great place to work is because employees feel they can communicate all the way to the top and be heard.
When and if there is a crisis, some Executives mistakenly believe the best course of action is not to say anything until everything is known or decided. The opposite is true. Communication should be done early and often; otherwise, the rumor mill will take over.
Employees should never hear about their company through the news media. Every employee, whether they are in India, China or Chicago, needs to know what the company's situation is and how to respond when asked.
Real leaders build trust through the way they communicate. They walk the talk and create channels of communication that give employees the opportunity to discuss issues of concern at any time. They are open to feedback and solicit it.
When leaders need to listen, they do so objectively. When they respond, it is in a respectful, non-defensive manner. Trusted leaders demonstrate respect, integrity and compassion in what they say and do. Because of this, their employees are more collaborative and innovative. Their companies are more successful.
All the best with your leadership!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
WHY SOME CAREERS STAGNATE WHILST OTHERS ACCELERATE
Don't think because a person has an MBA or Advanced Certifications that they will automatically rise in an organisation.
We all know people who move up quickly without such credentials
When someone fails to move up, we notice the following problems:
Small Networks
"Stuck" professionals are not well known. They may have developed some networks, but typically these are within their own work group, not so much across the organisation and their industry. They rarely reach out to their network to ask for advice, share insights or ask for referrals. They shy away from joining professional groups or becoming actively involved, stating they are too busy.
No Mentor(s)
Senior leaders share that they sought out someone to mentor them and help them with their career development. With the help of a mentor, they were able to shortcut the time it took them to be successful, to learn how to get things done or who to go to for help.
Stagnators don't seem to ask others to mentor them.
Weak Leadership Qualities
Those that don't move up don't seem to take charge. They are happy "doing their thing." They prefer implementing a task. They rarely volunteer and don't take on additional responsibilities inside or outside of their organisation.
Rarely Speak Up
When they have a good idea, they don't necessarily speak up. If they do, they may bury their ideas in too much detail or get off track. They aren't proactive about reporting their accomplishments. Thus, they don't get recognised for their good work.
Weak Communicators
Stagnators do anything they can to avoid presenting. They don't look for opportunities to get in front of senior people so that they can display their good qualities or be remembered. When forced to speak, they are uncomfortable and show it. They do things like read from their slides, look at the floor, speak quickly or stumble with filler words. No one would describe them as confident.
Poor People Skills
Those that are successful are very careful of ever offending, whether speaking upwardly or downwardly. On the other hand, those that seem to stagnate have a tendency to "step on toes" or work around a person that seems to be in the way. They don't necessarily work well with others. Their poor behavior is noticed and becomes a black mark working against a promotion.
No Career Plan
If asked, Stagnators don't really have a plan for how to get the next promotion. They haven't set goals or measured their progress against them. They may not have discussed with their boss that they want to move up or asked for feedback on what it would take.
Moving up isn't automatic. Gone are the days of keeping your head down and doing your work. Employers today want to see passion, leadership and a "can do" attitude, not someone who whines or complains. Those that get promoted are mindful of what they need to do and, most importantly what they should avoid doing.
All the best with your career!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
PRESENTING VIA CAMERA - Don't Be Camera Shy
Video is undoubtedly a powerful way to engage with your target audience, especially online!
It is also true that not everyone jumps out of bed eager to get in front of a camera. In fact some people are just plain scared witless about it. They’d rather play in traffic blindfolded.
In business during 2015 and beyond, you also need to be in the media creation business. It might be blogs, podcasts, videos and or, other types of visual media.
So what if you are determined that video is for you?
Here are 5 Tips:
1. Practice
Most things we are afraid of we haven’t done or have rarely done. We are not talking about jumping off a cliff while wearing a flying suit – that’s scary stuff. We are talking about fears that can be overcome simply by being exposed to them in gentle increments.
You could start by using your phone to film yourself privately. Record a sentence – delete it. Don’t even watch it. Do it a few times and then watch a few. Do it more often and maybe show someone who will always say the right thing.
Pretty soon, you’ll start getting better at it. And sooner than that you’ll become comfortable with it. And later you’ll actually start enjoying it.
2. Stilted delivery
It’s not always easy to deliver smooth lines in a confident compelling manner. Some people get halfway through a sentence and forget what they were talking about. If that’s you then don’t try to deliver a long detailed presentation in one go. Do it sentence by sentence.
If you do one recording of you with a wide shot and another close up, then you can edit between the two. You can also use graphics or visuals to hide your face altogether.
3. Need to be seen
What if you’re the CEO and need to represent the company but hate having to present to camera? In that case get someone to interview you. Practice Tip 1 above to get used to have a camera record you. Interviews allow you to have a conversation. For many people who suffer on camera, an interview is a more real experience.
Many times EC has advised clients to apply an interview style when it's obvious the presenter just isn’t convincing when talking straight to camera.
4. Use a tele-prompt
A tele-prompt allows you to read the script as it scrolls in front of the lens. You’ve probably seen them being used in TV newsroom style shows. They are easily accessible these days. They allow the presenter to focus on how they deliver their lines and less on what they need to say next.
Most people are able to master reading a tele-prompt after a couple of goes. It enables them to look and sound a lot more confident with their delivery.
5. Record a live presentation
If you are presenting on behalf of your industry or your business then have the event recorded. Chances are, you’ll be so focused on the audience you won’t have time to worry about the video camera. This can then be used to help promote your expertise and provide shareable content.
Don't be camera shy because your business promotion these days requires you master or at least improve this skill.
All the best with your future business communications!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
THE ART OF INFLUENCING OTHERS
The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority - Ken Blanchard
Regardless of your role in an organisation, you need to persuade others to your point of view.
Being able to win people's cooperation is a critical skill for any business professional. In fact, some say leadership means the ability to influence. The good news is that influence is a skill that can be learned.
Influence requires paying attention to following seven (7) all important principles:
1. View your idea from your listener's perspective
Before you open your mouth, consider the impact of what you propose on your listeners. Will this inconvenience them? Frighten them? Cause an increase in work load?
When you see things from others perspectives you become more sensitive.
2. Look for common ground
People are less resistant when you can show them that your idea considers their way of thinking. Your idea can help them gain what is important to them.
3. Thoughtfully and logically outline what you want your listener to do
Your job is to order, clarify and intensify for your listeners.
Illustrate your message so people can see it and hear it. Resist saying too much. Follow the Rule of three (3) main ideas, not ten.
Avoid acronyms and buzz words that blur meaning. Steve Jobs said, "When ideas are simply explained, decisions are easy."
4. Demonstrate value
Show listeners why an idea is appropriate, necessary and in their best interests. What proof can you offer to show your idea is worth it?
Define and quantify benefits, not just for the organisation, but for the individual.
5. Be yourself
Be genuine, sincere, and approachable. Demonstrate openness through your body language. Pay attention to crossed arms, clenched fists, and intense facial expressions. Watch the tone of your voice. Little things matter and will be noticed.
6. Invite questions
Carefully listen. Show you really want to understand any concerns.
Listen without interrupting or talking over
Avoid patronising statements
Validate or acknowledge the other person's way of thinking. Then, find the best way to answer without being arrogant.
Be brief.
7. Inspire
Help people to believe
Passion is everything in the influence game. You can't inspire unless you are inspiring.
Feel your idea. Taste it. Passion causes a tidal wave!
Think Steve Jobs... Project a commanding presence. Look, act and sound confident.
Influencing others doesn't happen by accident. It takes carefully paying attention to what you say and how you say it.
All the best with your future business communications!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
STAND OUT WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH EXECUTIVE LEADERS
Connecting with Executives doesn't happen automatically.
Understanding what is important to them and learning how they think is of the upmost importance.
For more than twelve (12) years that EffectiveCommunication.com.au has served multinational organisations and their leadership. Here are some of the comments Executives have shared as to how you can stand out and make a difference.
A lack of preparation is always obvious
Executives stress that preparation is critical. Their advice is to do your homework thoroughly. Understand what is going on in their world / business right now.
Tip: Learn all you can by about the Executive leader by talking to mutual contacts, check the Internet, check for press releases or analyst reports etc
If you want to play in my sandbox, you cannot seem nervous
You must look, sound and act confident. The Executive will hesitate or delay if your body language does not back up your message.
Tip: Practice your conversation ahead. Make sure your posture is open and you lean into the table. Be sure to sustain eye contact for a full sentence or thought. Pause for a breath at the end of your thoughts. Envision your success!
Set the context for the meeting. I may have forgotten
The Executive has a lot on his or her mind. They may have forgotten the purpose of the meeting so be sure to define the issue and its impact.
Tip: Executives appreciate knowing what you ultimately want them to consider. State your "ask / outcome" upfront.
Be brief and then be gone
Executives have a lot on their minds. They run from meeting to meeting. Time is very important to them so get to the point quickly. Do not go into unnecessary details. If there is an analytical base that is necessary, email it to them in advance for review.
Tip: Focus on what the Executive needs in order to make a decision. Have any supplemental information, charts, graphs, extra slides etc. at the ready.
More words are not an indication of more thought
Often, it is just the opposite - Keep your points simple. Do not over-talk an issue. Be very concrete and very specific. The simpler your points, the easier it is for them to make a decision.
Tip: Executives always want to know the risks and the scope of the opportunity.
I appreciate just having a conversation. I am not a fan of big slide decks
If slides are not critical, do not use them. Slides that are your speaker notes diminish your impact. The more slides you have, the more things can go horribly wrong.
Remember, anything that is on the slide is open for discussion. Your slides must tell a complete story. Executives hate when they have to dig to find the story.
Tip: Your transition statements from one slide to the next are critical. They provide context for what you are about to say.
Expect push-back
Executives don't want to make a mistake. They typically will have questions or need more information to help them decide. You should not be thrown by questions but rather view them as an opportunity to demonstrate your conviction or commitment to an idea. They are not trying to trap you or derail you.
Tip: Make a list of the questions you think the Executive will have ahead of time and determine how you will answer them.
Try to figure out what is key to the decision. That is where the bulk of the questions will come.
Making an Executive connection takes time and effort. Your Executive level conversations and presentations are a moment of truth. If you do a good job, you advance your cause and the perception of you as a leader. If you do a poor or mediocre job, you fall into the abyss.
All the best with your future business communications!
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by effectivecommunication.com.au
