How Gen. Colin POWELL projects CERTAINTY when he communicates

In my One-on-One Leadership communication training work, the most bang-for-time activity is drilling the

Message, Flesh-out the message, Repeat the message (MFR) schema.

The schema has many applications; from introducing yourself at a networking function, to delivering a boardroom pitch, to giving a message to a colleague in your office. Using the schema well, will help you communicate your ideas and vision with confidence and certainty.

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34 MISTAKES I see EXECUTIVES make

After chatting with a coach of mine, I came up with an in-depth list of mistakes I see executives make in their leadership communication.

In no particular order, here’s the list:

  1. Entering a room (Virtual or In-person) with no radiation of warmth and energy and calm enthusiasm.
  2. Rushing/lack of knowing how to own time, in either movement, gesturing and speaking. Doesn’t know how to own time.
  3. Lack of awareness in what is open and encouraging body language.
  4. Lack of awareness of how they’re perceived when under pressure.
  5. Not knowing how to pair gestures with a word or phrase.
  6. Not knowing how to determine their key message(s) for a presentation and frame it in a simple way.
  7. Not having key questions to understand what senior leaders want from them in presentations.
  8. Unsure of the real reason they’ve been invited to present to Leadership team and boardroom meetings.
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