How can you be strategic when speaking?

There's no time to prep, so what to do?

It's tempting to assume you have to come up with your messaging on the spot.

While that's true … it's also not.

I suggest you reduce the amount of time thinking on your feet as you can. Here are four suggestions:

• Lock away a few moments, perhaps on a Friday afternoon
• Write down the most likely questions you will be asked about your work the coming week. For example … How is your project progressing? What have you achieved? What challenges are you facing? How could leaders help you succeed / accelerate?
• Jot down some notes to answer each of these, ideally so that each one has a crisp single sentence answer. You might add detail by supporting with up to 5 points.
• Answer those questions with greater confidence the next time you are asked … or even better, offer your answers to reinforce your successes the next time you see key people.

The key is to do as little thinking on your feet as you can.

I hope that helps. More next week.

Kind regards,

Davina

PS – Board Paper Bootcamp registrations are open

Board Paper Bootcamp, the 2-week program – helps you be more strategic when communicating with senior leaders and boards.

I am chuffed that I have one of the highest ratings on Maven with a 4.9 score from past participants.

Learn more about it here … but be quick. You need to do some prework before the first session on 6 May.

Learn more here.

PPS – If you are currently between roles, let me know and I'll offer a significant discount.

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 book – helps 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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