In the last publication, I wrote that, in many public speaking situations, it is often appropriate to be strategically silent in order to be better understood. What about those situations where one SHOULD speak?
Whether you are expected to give your opinion at the end of a meeting you are attending or invited to say a few words to employees of your organization or in another branch, take this opportunity to offer the following:
Que vous soyez invité à une rencontre à la fin de laquelle on vous invite à donner votre opinion ou invité à dire quelques mots à des employés/salariés de votre organisation, saisissez cette occasion pour offrir les éléments suivants:
• CLARITY:Clarify the organization’s position on the issue or project before us.
• SUPPORT: Give your vote of confidence to this important project or to a new strategic direction.
• FACTS: Map the strategic issues your organization faces to realign the facts.
• RECOGNITION: Be lavish in your praise of employees' successes and highlight behaviours that support your organization's values.
• RALLY: Speak to your audience members’ strengths and past successes to set targets they can reasonably reach.
• LEADERSHIP BRAND: Reinforce your leadership brand and/or confirm your reputation by sharing your own story to make yourself known to them and inspire your listeners. Branding de leadership. Faites-vous connaitre.
If speaking off the cuff means, by definition, that you have nothing prepared, follow these simple steps for a successful talk:
- PERMISSION
Ask permission to speak. Example:: If I may, ladies and gentlemen... - EXAMPLE ANECDOTE/EXAMPLE/BUSINESS CASE
Example: : When I started here at XYZ Inc. in 19XX... or Last year at this date... or 80% of our profits come from 20% of our customers, the adage is once again verified... - REINFORCEMENT AND CONCLUSION
Share the lesson learned from the anecdote/example/business case you just presented and call for action: Example:: There is a strong link between the level of or our investments in training and our financial performance... Let's invest today in developing the skills of our front-line people to surprise and retain our customers. financière…Investissons dès aujourd’hui dans le perfectionnement des habiletés de nos employés de première ligne pour surprendre et fidéliser nos clients.
When employees of an organization are asked what makes their organization tick or not in company-wide surveys, lack of communication and lack of clear direction are often at the top of the list of grievances and important sources of employee frustration. Don't miss an opportunity to exercise your leadership and harness the most important capital of your organization, human capital.