The POWERful FUEL of RETELLING

A powerful way to embed new learning – that I share with my clients, my executive communication coaching One-on-One modules – is to teach someone one of the techniques they’ve learned in the module. This is why. You don’t really know something until you can teach it to someone else.

Here is a passage from an excellent book A Mind for Numbers which explains the power of sharing whatever you’re learning.

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GESTURE & SPEAK like you OWN the room – MASTERclass

Matthew Walker’s TED presentation –  Sleep is your superpower  – is a masterclass in gesturing and speaking. In ‘owning’ the physical space.

Below is my analysis of Walker’s non-verbal communication at various time points in the presentation:

Start > 2:00 minute point

– If you imagine a semi-circular space in-front and at the sides of Walker’s body, you’ll observe him making measured, definite gestures and hand movements within that metaphorical space.

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What MAKES for a TOP executive COMMUNICATOR

Recently a client asked, ‘What makes for a top executive communicator?’
Here is a list of traits I compiled for the person (that are continually revised, and are in no particular order).

A top executive communicator:

– projects energy and certainty through their body, face, voice, feeling tone, cadence, words, message structure.
– is light about themself while serious about their topic (but not too serious).
– is never perceived as rushing.
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STOP Press: NEW Video – PLAN and DELIVER memorable presentations

Delivering presentations can be daunting, even if you’re a seasoned veteran. Often, there’s a lot at stake… perhaps you are selling a product or business case, perhaps you are trying to position yourself for career growth.

To win over your audience, you need to deliver a winning presentation.

My crew and I have produced a video of a live Plan and deliver memorable presentations workshop. In the workshop – conducted for Caltex Australia – you’ll get insider access to how I conduct a live training session.

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You’re JUDGED on the QUALITY of your QUESTIONS

Senior executives will make judgements about you – not of the quality of your answers – but on the quality of your questions.

Consider this, if tomorrow you had a short slice of potential face to face time with a senior executive to tap their wisdom, or ask a topical question about your business – would you have a ‘ready-to-speak’ thought-provoking/insightful question to ask them? As the philosopher Seneca is reported to have said:

‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity’.

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GENERAL C. Powell’s BEST under-PRESSURE techniques

Colin Powell, former United States four star general and Secretary of State, lists 15 lessons on handling the media on pages 132-133 of his book, It worked for me. He shared these Lessons with a person named Cal, whom he was mentoring.

Many of the techniques can be applied to other-under pressure situations.

Media handling techniques:

  1. They get to pick the questions. You get to the pick the answers.
  2. You don’t have to answer any question you don’t want to.
  3. Never lie or dissemble, of course; but beware of being too candid or open.
  4. Never answer hypothetical questions about the future.
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Are you being bluffed?

Some of you may know of this famous letter. The American writer E.B. White wrote it in response to a letter he received from a man who had lost faith in humanity. The letter is one I turn to when times are tough. +++++++++++++ North Brooklin, Maine 30 March 1973 Dear Mr. Nadeau: As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness. Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out. Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely, [Signed, ‘E. B. White’]

TOUGH-guy look, OVER-PLAYED

If you need to ape a tough-guy look – are you really that tough?

In the featured image of this post, the two Union officials – with their stern, facial expressions and the thumbs out, hands in pocket stance of the person on the right –

seem like caricatures of how a tough union officials should look.

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