Recently an executive client relayed this scenario . . .
His CEO was coaching him to deliver an important presentation for a customer. The CEO had scripted the presentation and then demonstrated how he wanted the presentation to be delivered.
He then said to my client, ‘Do it how I did it – word for word – mimic me’. That is, the CEO wanted my client to deliver the presentation using the exact scripted words, and vocal tone and cadence he had used.
My client was extremely frustrated with this instruction.
He knew, and other members of the team knew, his mimicked delivery would come across as false, and that it would be perceived that way by the client. (as had been confirmed by prior CEO mimicked, client presentations).
How would you handle that scenario?
I didn’t have any stellar recommendations for the client.
p.s. Watch this ‘bad’ presentation for a few minutes (if you can bear it) as example of how NOT to present. p.p.s. Check out this post on success from former U.S. Senator, Robert F. Kennedy. # You might want to trial my Confident Personal Communication video learning programme because it will give you practical techniques to ‘Own the Conversation’.
His CEO was coaching him to deliver an important presentation for a customer. The CEO had scripted the presentation and then demonstrated how he wanted the presentation to be delivered.
He then said to my client, ‘Do it how I did it – word for word – mimic me’. That is, the CEO wanted my client to deliver the presentation using the exact scripted words, and vocal tone and cadence he had used.
My client was extremely frustrated with this instruction.
He knew, and other members of the team knew, his mimicked delivery would come across as false, and that it would be perceived that way by the client. (as had been confirmed by prior CEO mimicked, client presentations).
How would you handle that scenario?
I didn’t have any stellar recommendations for the client.
Still – here are suggestions for handling the situation*
- If possible enlist a peer of the CEO to bring up the matter with him.
- Here is a good article Dos and Don’ts: How to tell the boss he’s wrong which contains seven techniques that you can adapt for handling the above/similar scenarios.
- Leaders can be untruthful and get away with it – because many times their transgressions don’t have negative impacts. They don’t lose their jobs. Sometimes they are promoted.
- At times, aggressive leaders earn more money and status.
Own the Conversation
What difficult conversation do you need to have with your CEO or other senior leader? In the next seven days, with the above suggestions in mine, start charting a course for how you’ll handle the matter.p.s. Watch this ‘bad’ presentation for a few minutes (if you can bear it) as example of how NOT to present. p.p.s. Check out this post on success from former U.S. Senator, Robert F. Kennedy. # You might want to trial my Confident Personal Communication video learning programme because it will give you practical techniques to ‘Own the Conversation’.