Posted By Judy on February 3, 2012

Reception. It’s crucial in football and in speaking.

Reception is Critical in Football and Speaking

When the quarterback passes the football, the goal is for the ball to be received. The same is true when you speak. You make your point and the audience needs a moment to receive what you say. This is why the skillful practice of the “pause” is so valuable.

We call it the “Power of the Pause.”

Speaking Tip:  The Power of the Pause

Deliver a key point and allow your words to linger for a few moments.  Think of your words sailing – just like a football – through the air. The words need to meet their destination and allow those listeners a moment to “receive” your point. You will actually see the light in the audience’s eyes when your pass is received.

Use this tip to build pauses into your remarks and watch your impact improve. Remember, speaking for impact is not an accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

Did this exercise prove helpful for you? Have your found other useful tips for mastering the Power of the Pause? Please share your experiences and tips for improving speaking skills by commenting on this post.

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Tags: pause, power of the pause, speaking skills, speaking tip, Speaking Tips

Posted By Judy on January 14, 2012

Speaking at Conferences

Sharing your experience and expertise with industry peers is good for business and great for your career. Each year thousands of trade shows and conferences are held covering virtually every topic, industry and profession. These events provide you the chance to build your reputation as well as the reputation of the company or organization you represent by giving a keynote, a speech, or participating on a panel.

Of course, the quality of your content and delivery will determine just how valuable your contribution turns out to be. Good speakers are often asked back and receive invitations to present at other events. Your opportunities will grow when you build your speaking reputation.  Honing your speaking skills to maximize your impact can be invaluable.

Start now.

• Develop a core list of topics you are comfortable addressing and develop speaking points for each.
• Begin to explore speaking opportunities for those topics.
• Once you secure a slot, develop a schedule for preparation. Include time to develop your remarks; practice and revise; and for at least one dry-run.
• Use video to help identify areas for improvement.
• Consider getting a presentation coach to help you prepare.

Subscribe to this blog and enjoy proven speaking tips and advice. Remember, speaking for impact is not an accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

Are you planning to speak at an industry event this year? How will you prepare? Share your approach by commenting on this post.

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Tags: dry run, formal presentations, Keynote, panel, Practice, Presentation training, Presentations, presntation coach, speaking opportunities, Speech, Video

Posted By Judy on January 1, 2012

Our fresh take on classic New Year’s resolutions will help you communicate effectively as an executive and leader and to succeed in 2012. Sticking to these speaking tips will keep your communications sharp and clear and your team inspired, aligned and focused on the goals you’ve set for the year. Whether speaking during a meeting, giving a speech, addressing a customer or pitching an investor, the quality of your delivery matters.

Download the free poster. From all of us here at Grant and Associates, we sincerely hope you find these resolutions inspiring as you plan for a successful 2012.

2012 Communications Resolutions

This year resolve to:

1.    Get in Shape – Build your speaking “muscles” with regular exercise. Technique matters (perfecting poor skills is worse than not practicing at all!). Work with a professional coach privately or in a program such as our Speaking for Impact program. Practice weekly. Even 10 minutes three times per week will produce results.

2.    Lose Weight – Lighten up by using fewer words. Try this simple tip: state your points aloud 3 times in advance. You’ll trim, on average, 30% of the words. Remember, short is sweet. No one ever complains that a speech or remarks are too brief!

2012 Communications Resolutions

3.    Stick to a Budget – Setting and adhering to a time budget for a speech or presentation will reduce stress, increase your confidence, ensure your points are all made and provide adequate time for questions/answers. Include time for your opening statement, summary and closing statement as well as your main points and Q&A. Practice and, if necessary edit your remarks, until you can comfortably and reliably deliver them on budget.

4.    Get Organized – Prepare. While it sounds basic, it is common for people to “wing it.”  Don’t make this mistake. Organize your thoughts in advance. Try this simple exercise: take 10 minutes before your next meeting to identify your key points and put them in priority order. Write them down. Have evidence to support each and a story or analogy to help drive them home. Practice making your points aloud. You’ll

be delighted by how much more effective – and efficient – you will be in the meeting. For a speech or presentation, you can follow the same basic structure but allow more time to write/refine remarks, practice them and finalize the timing.

5.    Find a Better Job – Excellent speaking skills will help to generate new career opportunities and to secure a position you want. It is no accident that most senior executives and leaders are good – even great – speakers. Continuous cultivation throughout your life is an investment in your career. We work with many CEOs to up their game. They know that no matter how good they already are, they can get better. Follow their lead!

Take a positive step toward reaching your goal of becoming a superior communicator in 2012!

While on the subject of resolutions, Harvard Business Review bloggers John Coleman and Bill George share their Five Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders in their recent post. My personal favorite: ask more questions than you answer. You can follow John and Bill on Twitter @johnwcoleman and @bill_george

If you would like to elevate your speaking and media skills, consider coaching for you or your team. Our firm works with professionals both individually and in groups.  If you prefer private one-to-one coaching we offer our Executive Presence program. Our popular seminar, Speaking for Impact is available as a private program for your team or in a public seminar offered in cities around the country. We’d be delighted to work with you.

Share your thoughts

We hope you enjoy these free top five communications resolutions. Speaking for Impact is not an  accident. It’s a skill. For more presentation tips, check out other Speaking for Impact blog posts. Stellar communication skills pay off in income, opportunity and achievement. We’re confident they will help you succeed in 2012.

How do you plan to elevate your speaking skills in 2012? What are your communications resolutions? Tell us in a comment to this post.

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Tags: 2012 resolutions, communications, communications resolutions, executive presence, grant and associates, Meetings, pitching an investor, Presentation, resolutions, Speaking for impact, Speaking Tips, Speech

Posted By Judy on December 5, 2011

“Rapid Speak” gets a lot of people in trouble. What is rapid speak? Speaking uncomfortably fast for the listener.

A number of years ago, FedEx ran a famous, amusing commercial that illustrates the tension produced by rapid speak.

For some, rapid speech is their natural speed.

For others, it’s a by product of anxiety.

And for some, it’s a way of compensating for being less prepared or being unsure of the content of their remarks.

It is never good when speaking to a group. Your friend or colleague may find it invigorating but in a group there will be more who find it annoying, exhausting, overwhelming or ineffective. You will undermine your “command” of the room and almost certainly reduce the content people can remember from your remarks.

So where do you start?

Listen

Record yourself and listen to the recording. Identify new or different opportunities to slow down, add pauses for emphasis or cut content. Use whatever recording device you carry with you – Smartphone, small handheld video cam, or Smartpen. All you need is the audio.

Use the audio recording when trying the following exercises:

Set a 10% goal

Consciously slow down your normal speech by 10-15%. Before you answer the phone, greet someone, or respond to or ask a question deliberately slow your speech just a little bit. This exercise will help you to be conscious of your rate of speech and slow down your delivery. The more you practice, the more control you will have over your rate of speech.

Mirror a friend

Find a friend who speaks at a normal or somewhat slow pace. Have you both read, simultaneously, the first few sentences of your remarks.  Your job is to match your pace to your partner’s. You’ll be amazed at how hard it actually is!

Place the Pause

Before your next presentation or meeting, identify specific places in your presentation where you will pause.  And practice those pauses. For example, insert a brief pause at the end of a sentence. Pause prior to making your important point as it will serve to emphasize your important point. Listen to the recording and adjust the location of your pause reminders to create the greatest impact.

Go short

Practice delivering prepared remarks at a slower-than-usual pace. Time your delivery. If you find your remarks are too long to cover in the allotted time at the new, slower pace, cut down your content. Less information delivered at a digestible pace will be more effective than more information delivered at record speed.

Remember, speaking for impact is not an  accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

Then let me know how things changed by making a comment on this post. What was the impact of slowing down?

Category: Speaking Skills, Speaking Tips | 2 Comments »
Tags: anxiety, nerves, Paue, Practice, rapid speak, slow down, speaking skills, Speaking Tips, unprepared

Posted By Judy on November 7, 2011

John Chambers Video Introducing New Product

More and more executives are inquiring about training for video presentations. Organizations are using YouTube, video interviews, webcasts and website videos to reach a wide audience with key company messages delivered personally by the corporate leaders.

If you’ve done some video you know it’s not as easy as it looks.

To get you started:

With video, the viewer wants to sense that he or she is in the conversation with you. That intimacy is best suited to a warm and approachable demeanor and attentive posture.

Sit still. Nodding, fiddling and excessive gestures distract the audience from you! Stay steady and let your voice – not your head — convey energy.

Smile with your eyes more than your mouth. As when engaged in a one-on-one conversation, smile in response to something that’s said rather than holding a smile on your face the entire segment.

Do not speak too quickly or rush to make your points. You’re better off saying less in a calm, animated and interesting way than to try and fit every possible point into your statement.

Prepare. Video is forever so you don’t want to ramble or misspeak. Prepare your key points in advance and practice them until they are second nature. This will free you up to focus on your delivery rather than formulating what you want to say on-the-fly.

For more suggestions

Secrets of Successful Video

Click here to register for: Secrets of Successful Video.

Review the Secrets of Successful Video prior to the shoot.

Video is pervasive and powerful and here to stay. Every executive and professional must be ready to leverage this engaging medium. Remember, speaking for impact is not an  accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

Is your organization using video today? Have you been on-camera? Share your experiences, good and bad by posting a comment to this blog.

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Tags: executives, gestures, speaking skills, Speaking Tips, Video, video presentation, video secrets, webcast, website video

Posted By Judy on October 3, 2011

“Command” is one of the top ten Speaking Strengths™ we have identified in our work with executives and leaders. For a copy of all ten Speaking Strengths, click here.

Command - Powerful presence, in control

Tony Robbins Speaking with Command

The hallmark of speakers with the “Command” strength is the ability to project they are in control. As the listener, you “know” you can rely upon the speaker to be in charge. This strength makes the audience comfortable with the speaker and confident he or she has something meaningful to say.

This strength is complex and developing it will require a multi-faceted approach. But you may begin by working on some of the physical aspects of “Command”. Here are three tips:

• Posture: Stand tall and still. Pull your shoulders back and distribute your weight equally on both feet. Hang your hands loosely at your sides. Keep your eyes facing front. This position signals the audience  to face you and wait for you to start.
• Gesture: From the posture above, add movement and gestures to amplify what you are saying.  Good gestures visually reinforce your words.
• Move: Purposeful movement creates a sense of audience engagement.  Before moving, identify the purpose to avoid aimless shifting or walking around.

Each of these physical actions will make you visually more in command. Remember, speaking for impact is not an  accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

See if you can spot some public figures who demonstrate the “Command” Speaking Strength and share them as a comment to this post.

Top Ten Speaking Strengths™

Every speaker has strengths. In fact, we’ve identified ten top Speaking Strengths™ in our work with executives and leaders. Click here to register and download full the list.

Category: Command, Speaking Strengths(tm) | No Comments »
Tags: Command, executives, gesture, in charge, movement, posture, powerful presence, project control, speaking skills, speaking strengths, visually in command

Posted By Judy on September 21, 2011

The second in a two-part series on Netflix CEO Reed Hastings’ attempt to apologize to subscribers for recent changes to the Netflix service and fees. In July 2011 the company announced the DVD-by-mail and streaming video service would be charged for separately and that the combined Netflix fee increases would be up to 60% higher than the previously bundled fee. Netflix subscribers were outraged and left in droves (over 1M at the time of the apology) and the Netflix stock price dropped from $292 to $130 per share. In the previous post, we talked about what he did wrong in the video and in this post we’ll talk about how to avoid his communication mistakes.

Let’s imagine we’re Reed Hastings and preparing to deliver this important Netflix apology. How should we start?

By asking:

• What are the goals for this communication?
• What do the subscribers want to hear? What’s on their mind?
• What should the message be to subscribers? To the public?
• What feelings do we want to evoke in the subscriber or John Q Public?  What tone should be struck?

Establish your goals

The goals might be to:

• Stop the loss of subscribers
• Win back lost subscribers
• Quiet the criticism
• Clarify the change and why it was made
• Build support for the new services
• Regain respect for the brand
• Clarify the value of the services
• Reinforce the company’s loyalty to its subscribers
• Reassure people that the DVD service would continue to be available

Subscribers may be thinking: “Why the dramatic price increase?”; “What am I getting now that I didn’t get before?”; “Why should I stay a Netflix customer rather than go to Blockbuster or Redbox?”; “Is Netflix going to fail since everybody’s leaving the service?”

Prepare messages and delivery

Using just these two items – our goals and what we know about the audience – we can craft our messages, the right tone and decide how best to evoke the desired feelings and actions.

Address resistance

We should prepare to address the resistance of the subscribers to our message. They’re mad, frustrated, confused, annoyed, etc. and don’t feel inclined to accept our apology at the outset. We need to acknowledge that. It is key to evoking the empathy that is needed to win their trust and motivate them to take action.

Give them a reason to forgive

Then we need to give them a reason to forgive. Finally, we need to pledge not to repeat the mistake and thank them for the frank feedback.

In summary, know what you’re trying to accomplish; understand the point of view of the audience; acknowledge their resistance; give them a reason to forgive; ask for forgiveness; pledge to do better; thank them for their feedback. Remember, speaking for impact is not an  accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

Have you ever had to apologize on behalf of your department or company? What advice can you share?

Category: Why Speaking and Media Skills Matter | No Comments »
Tags: apology, mistakes to avoid, speaking skills, Speaking Tips

Posted By Judy on September 21, 2011

This is the first in a two-part series on Netflix CEO Reed Hastings’ attempt to apologize to subscribers for recent changes to the service and fees. In July 2011 the company announced the DVD-by-mail and streaming video service would be charged for separately and that the combined Netflix fee increases would be up to 60% higher than the previously bundled fee. Netflix subscribers were outraged and left in droves (over 1 million at the time of the apology) and the Netflix stock price dropped from $292 to $130 per share. In this post, we will talk about what Reed did wrong in his video and in the second post we’ll talk about how to avoid his communication mistakes.

Yesterday, Reed Hastings apologized for failing to personally communicate the changes to Netflix subscriptions and fees announced in July. Today, Wall Street reacted with a drop from yesterday’s $162 high to today’s $130 close. The social media channels are flooded with blistering criticism. The press are writing story after story about the failed Netflix apology. Clearly his communication wasn’t effective. And it’s costing him.

In fact, his apology made the problem worse.

Mr. Hastings was responding to losing over 1 million subscribers since the fee announcement and to the dramatic drop in stock price (from $292 the day of the July announcement).

Clearly something needed to be done.

Mr. Hastings decided to go directly to the subscribers and public and make his case. He reached out to the subscribers by email and used the corporate blog and a video (oddly referred to as a “short welcome video” in the blog post) to reach beyond the subscribers to the general public. So far, so good.

Let’s watch the video

(3:24)

The video was shot in an outdoor, casual setting and his relaxed, calm body language suggests he is approachable and sincere. He looks directly into the camera and his vocal delivery is confident and clear.  All good. However, his message is about him and about Netflix – not about subscribers or potential subscribers.

The message is completely off the mark.

It’s the subscriber, stupid

People are mad about the price increase. His message? “I should have communicated the change myself.” What?? People weren’t mad about who communicated the message. They are mad that they have to pay up to 60% more for the service. They want to know: Why did this happen? What do I get for the additional money? No answers are given.

Further, Mr. Hastings talked about why the DVD-by-mail and streaming services needed to be separate – for Netflix (different cost structures, International reach, etc). No mention of why separate services are for good for subscribers.

Then he added insult to injury and announced that the company has decided the two services would have separate subscriptions, sites and brands. Again, no mention of why it is good for subscribers to have to sign up for and log into two separate services to find content they want to watch.

He concludes by thanking us for our patience (!) Where on earth did he get the idea that subscribers were patient about this problem?

Wow.

Not surprisingly the criticism and frustration continue. And he’s still challenged with winning over both the subscribers and the public.

It didn’t have to be this way.

Read Part II of this post to see how it could have been different. Speaking for impact is not an  accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

What do you think of Mr. Hastings’ message? What would your message have been?

Category: Why Speaking and Media Skills Matter | 2 Comments »
Tags: apology, mistakes to avoid, speaking skills, Speaking Tips

Posted By Judy on September 6, 2011

Top Ten Speaking Strengths™

Every speaker has strengths. In fact, we’ve identified ten top Speaking Strengths™ in our work with executives and leaders. Register and download full the list.

Of the ten top Speaking Strengths, you almost certainly have one and may have several. By leveraging these strengths you can quickly elevate your speaking skills. We teach you how in our seminar program Speaking for Impact and in our private coaching sessions but for now, let me say that the first step is to know and acknowledge that you have strengths to build on.

I will introduce the Speaking Strength “Authenticity” in this post. In future posts I will highlight other strengths.

Speaking Strength: Authenticity – Genuine, real

Tim Lincecum Interview

If you have this strength, you convey you are the “real deal”. You are expressing your genuine and sincere self. Your audience never doubts that there is fidelity between your message and your delivery. You are someone your audience feels they can trust.

Tim Lincecum is an example of a public figure who speaks with Authenticity. He is the starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. In 2010, he was a World Series Champion and National League All Star. He is widely considered the best pitcher in baseball today. He’s also a very nice guy. He is approachable and genuine. A long-time New York columnist told Lincecum, “I’ve never seen anyone better with the media.”

Here a video of an impromptu, hallway media interview conducted just before the start of the 2011 season. As you watch notice his authenticity. He is thoughtful and candid. Although his eye contact is poor (as is the lighting), pay attention to his speaking style.

Here he is another interview conducted after he won the 2009 Cy Young Award. In this interview he shares personal stories about what motivates, inspires and drives him. Even if you’re not a fan or a player, you will likely feel moved by his remarks.

One of the questions to ask yourself is: do you believe Tim?

Trust is one result of speaking with Authenticity. Authenticity is Tim’s natural speaking strength. His impact is a direct result of allowing his authenticity to shine through in a media interview. He’s the “real deal.”

Can you think of other public figures who speak with Authenticity?

Share your thoughts

by commenting on this post. Send examples of people who miss the mark, too. Feel free to include links to videos, podcasts or articles.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Authenticity Speaking Strength. I’ll periodically write about additional Speaking Strengths in future posts.

Category: Authenticity, Speaking Strengths(tm) | 1 Comment »
Tags: Authenticity, Board of Directors, Meetings, natural speaking strength, Presentations, public figure, Public speaking, speak for impact, Speaking, speaking strengths(tm), Speech, ten top Speaking Strengths, Tim Lincecum

Posted By Judy on September 6, 2011

How is speaking before a group like being a world-class swimmer?

The performance of both can be impaired by worry and anxiety.

Nine-time Olympic swim champion Dara Torres, 42 years old, was co-captain of the US team competing in the 2009 FINA world championship. She nearly blew her first major international competition in 1984 when she panicked in the preliminaries.

Anxiety Impedes Peak Performance

Today she coaches her teammates Katie Hoff and Federica Pellegini on how to alleviate their performance-affecting prerace anxiety. Michael Phelps, widely considered the greatest swimmer of all time, has trained since the age of 12 to master his state of mind so he can perform at his peak in each race.

These athletes have overcome the crippling problem of fear and anxiety and become champions.

You can too.

You don’t have to do it alone. Get a coach. Your executive speaking coach will help you master your fear, reduce your anxiety and liberate you to excel.

Anxiety is perhaps the most common concern we hear from clients. Whether they call it stage fright, performance anxiety or nerves, the fear of public speaking impedes (and can even prevent) their performance.

Overcoming anxiety is complex and there is no “one size fits all” approach to helping you overcome yours. However, there are built-in mechanisms the body has for relieving anxiety which you will find valuable to draw upon to reduce, if not overcome, your case of the nerves.

Reducing Speaking Anxiety

• Take a deep cleansing breath.
• Stand or sit sill, with your arms comfortably at your side. Close your eyes. Breathe slowly and gently. If standing, bend your knees very slightly. Relax your jaw so your teeth don’t touch. Consciously relax your muscles, especially the shoulders, face and abdomen. Think of a calm and peaceful outdoor place such as the beach, a flower garden or the woods.
• Smile. It’s important that it is a genuine smile so think of something funny or someone that delights you.

While these sound simple they are deceptive. They are actually a powerful counter force to the adrenaline your body produces when you’re anxious or scared. When adrenaline courses through your body, your heart rate speeds up and you mind may race. Your muscles will tense so they are ready to “fight or flight”. These counter measures will reduce the affect and clear your mind so you can focus.

Don’t let anxiety impede your performance.

Get the help you need to overcome the crippling fear of public speaking so you, too, can become a champion. Work with a coach who can help you personally. A good coach will be able to find the right triggers and methods to suit you. Speaking for impact is not an accident. It’s a skill.

Share your thoughts

What other techniques have you tried and found effective for reducing fear and anxiety about public speaking? Post a comment and share your tips and tricks.

Category: Speaking Skills, Speaking Tips | No Comments »
Tags: anxiety, nerves, performance, performance anxiety, speaking skills, Speaking Tips, stage fright, worry