Recently quoted in the Scotsman (14 March 2008) were Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell, themselves quoted in the FBI’s leadership course. These luminaries were cited by Gordon Meldrum director general of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.
His summation was as follows: “You can be light years ahead of everyone else, but if you don’t actually have an ability to turn around and communicate it to the people who work for you and with you, you just end up leading yourself”.
Teams have to be persuaded to follow and whilst threats and intimidation may achieve something in some settings, in a business setting they are most likely to lead to a claim for constructive dismissal.
So persuasion it is!
A team inspired by a leader can achieve great things but only if the leader can impart his or her ideas clearly to the team. When the leader can inform the team of the key ideas and inspire them to follow through, inspiration can’t be far away. This takes time and effort but ultimately adds value to the company and with economic storm clouds gathering inspiration is going to be a much needed quality.
Presentation skills and the ability to understand the component parts of successful communication are essential pieces of kit for any leader.
MG
Skillpresentations.com
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Off the record…
Recent political events in the American Presidential campaign have raised the question of off the record comments.
In public speaking there is no such thing, the luxury simply does not exist of saying something and then commenting to the effect ‘this is what I think, but it isn’t what I want you to hear’.
Presenting to a room of colleagues, a board or a group of customers it is essential that you say what you meant to say. To achieve this it is clear that you must know what it is you wish to communicate to your audience. Having identified your theme you must be focused on this key idea.
This is achievable through preparation and practice, note however that ad libs and off the cuff comments represent real danger areas for the speaker (or interviewee).
Make sure your message gets through, prepare, rehearse, rehearse and then rehearse some more.
MG
Skillpresentations.com
In public speaking there is no such thing, the luxury simply does not exist of saying something and then commenting to the effect ‘this is what I think, but it isn’t what I want you to hear’.
Presenting to a room of colleagues, a board or a group of customers it is essential that you say what you meant to say. To achieve this it is clear that you must know what it is you wish to communicate to your audience. Having identified your theme you must be focused on this key idea.
This is achievable through preparation and practice, note however that ad libs and off the cuff comments represent real danger areas for the speaker (or interviewee).
Make sure your message gets through, prepare, rehearse, rehearse and then rehearse some more.
MG
Skillpresentations.com
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