Computer skills are considered essential in today’s business environment, as are skills at project management, planning, and problem-solving. But, according to LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, the number 1 skills gap in business these days is communication. We tend to believe that technology has improved our communications, and in some ways, it has. However, it’s a
Executive presence is the hallmark of successful leaders who assert influence, drive change, and inspire organizational excellence. Their insight, judgment, and decision making are constantly being evaluated by stakeholders who look for integrity and wisdom in all their leaders say and do. Executive presence is the “x-factor” that defines how outstanding leaders think, act, and
Have you ever found yourself sitting through a presentation and wondered what does this have to do with me? Or, why was I supposed to come to this presentation? While you may have been interested as an observer, you probably felt on the outside, and not as engaged as you would have been if the
If you present with any frequency, you know the day will come (if it hasn’t already) when you’ll be asked to present without slides, or the topic or situation doesn’t lend itself to slides, or there is technical meltdown. It’s OK, no need to panic, you can still give a memorable and effective presentation. The first
“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” John Wooden In Part 1 of this post, we looked at how to prepare for a presentation to the C-Suite, which involves more than just creating a presentation ”“ it involves understanding your listener and their needs. You can
It’s high-stakes when you are presenting to the C-suite. Decisions made at that level resonate throughout the company, and can have a lasting effect on your own career. To work effectively with CXOs (an abbreviation for any C-suite executive), you’ll need to be very aware of your reasons for being there, be exceptionally well-prepared, give
Virtual meetings are all the rage these days, and for good reason. They put a group of people in far-flung locations into what seems like the same room. This is a major boost to communication, especially if you are using video, since it allows people to see each other. The umbrella term “body language” covers
“There are two ways to speak the truth: as bullets or as seeds. Use the truth as a bullet, and you will kill relationships. Plant the truth as a seed, and it will take root and grow, influencing the person in whose heart it was planted.” ~ Gary Chapman Inspirational and influential communication happens when
From Intention to Action To Results in 2018 A new year inspires us to review our habits and spend time planning the year ahead. We make resolutions, and set intentions, but that’s only the first step. An action plan needs to follow. Are you inspired to move your listener to action, to be engaging and
