How do you think of your next update?

You might tackle it on autopilot, updating the program plan with new information.

You might feel like it’s a bit of a chore?

If so, I get it.

But you are missing a trick.

Before I explain further, I’ll share just one quick update.

Early Bird registrations are open for the November Board Paper Bootcamp. Use this code [ EARLY BIRD ] for $200 off between now and 30 June. 6 places are gone already.

Scroll to the bottom for a funny (?) thing that happened to me this week too.

Has this ever happened to you? 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😬 !!

Making the most of your next update

 

How many times do you update your leaders, your C-suite, and your board on your project?

Throw in a steering committee or two, and you are doing lots and lots of updates.

And yet, experience tells me, many of these are thrown together pretty quickly, and the results show it.

There’s an assumption that you need to

  • Focus on telling them what you’ve been up to since you last met.
  • Use the same format so it’s familiar to the audience. This often means updating a few fields in the same project plan doc.
  • Present, even if it’s all good news and you don’t really have much to say.

Instead, I’d like to encourage you to think very differently about this opportunity to present to this very valuable audience.

Think about the following:

What value could this audience add

to your project at this time?

 

I’ll share more ideas about this in depth at this week’s Clarity Hub Masterclass.

You are welcome to join.

It’s a monthly membership, but the first month is free.

Register here if you’d like to make better use of this time in front of your senior execs.

I look forward to seeing you there!

 

The funny thing …

 

Last night I saw a text from my neighbour, asking for a favour.

Of course, anything! I replied.

Remember: I’m new here.

I moved in early November but was traveling so much afterwards I might as well have moved in in April.

So, I say yes to anything in the spirit of being neighbourly.

Even more so since I learned last weekend that the previous owner of my home was arrested, jailed and tried for some very bad behaviour.

And, here was the detailed request:

My wife will be home alone on Tuesday and needs some help with an injection.

I am not a nurse

Would you feel comfortable giving an injection?

There’s almost no training required, just a bit of grit.

Well, wish me luck, people!

I hope I don't need it!

Have a great week.

Davina

Whenever you're ready, here are five other ways I can help you:

 

Elevate, the book helps leaders set their teams up to set up a new dynamic across their team that will elevate everyone’s skills, helping the team get better, faster decisions.

Engage, the bookhelps individual contributors prepare papers and presentations that leaders can approve without reworking.

Engage, the self-paced course  – supports both individuals and leaders prepare more insightful papers and presentations for senior leaders and boards.

Extreme Clarity, the 2-hour workshop – introduces techniques for structuring your messaging.

Board Paper Bootcamp, the 2-week program – helps you clarify and convey complex ideas to senior leaders and boards.

 

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PRESENTED BY DAVINA STANLEY

I love what I do.

I help senior leaders and their teams prepare high-quality papers and presentations in a fraction of the time.

This involves ‘nailing' the message that will quickly engage decision makers in the required outcome.

I leverage 25+ years' experience including

  • learning structured thinking techniques at McKinsey in Hong Kong in the mid 1990s before coaching and training their teams globally as a freelancer for a further 15 years
  • being approved to teach the Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto in 2009
  • helping CEOs, C-suite leaders and their reports deeply understand their stakeholder needs and communicate accordingly
  • seeing leaders cut the number of times they review major papers by ~30% and teams cut the amount of time they take to prepare major papers by ~20%*
  • watching senior meetings focus on substantive discussions and better decisions rather than trying to clarify the issue

My approach helps anyone who needs to engage senior leaders and Boards.

Recent clients include 7Eleven, KPMG, Mercer, Meta, Woolworths.

Learn more at www.clarityfirstprogram.com

 

(*) Numbers are based on 2023 client benchmarking results.