Leaders speak – or
they should speak – to make a difference,
promote a vision, and change the way people think
and feel and act.
If you are a leader or if you want to position
yourself as a leader, you have to look and sound
like a leader every time you speak. You have to
set yourself apart from all the others, putting
yourself on the line.
|
Leaders aren't shy.
They're willing to assert themselves, to take
center stage and to make the best case for what
they know and want. They know how to gain an
audience's attention, respect, and cooperation.
It's
a leader's job to
shape the way people think and feel and act.
Your primary goal is not to present information – leave that to
others. Focus on communicating your vision and on
making other people believe in what you hold dear. | |
|
______________________________________________________________________________
In the pages that follow you’ll
find resources to get you started or to move you to the next
level of speaking
mastery.
How Leaders
Speak
Leaders speak as an extension and an expression of their leadership.
They speak primarily to influence, to
shape the way people feel and think.
Executive Speeches
Executive speeches are –
or should be – unique
to the person giving the speech, the occasion, the audience,
and the intention. But every speech –
every effective executive speech, at least –
can be strengthened if you follow these guidelines.
Speak
Like Obama
You may not be able to speak like Obama. You may not even want
to speak like Obama. But you can learn from the way he
speaks in order to influence and inspire your audiences.
Leadership
Speeches
The speeches you give as a leader should reflect and promote
your leadership style and objectives.
Projecting a Commanding
Presence
Developing the sort of presence that commands attention isn’t
something you can learn from a workshop or
self-help book. It’s more a way of being than anything
you do, although the way you act does enhance it.
7 Principles of
Influence
Influence is the art of winning people's cooperation when you
do not have, or do not want to use, the
authority to make them do what you want them to do.
How
to Build Rapport with Any Audience
When you establish rapport with your audience, they become your
partners in a dialog. They'll want you to
succeed.
How
to Prepare a Presentation
As you begin the preparation for your presentation, do
not turn on PowerPoint and start creating slides. Sit down
with a pad and pencil and answer these four questions
How to Give a Speech
You've already prepared and rehearsed your presentation. Here's
what you can do to give a speech you
can be proud of.
How to Introduce
a Speaker
In formal gatherings or larger meetings it's often necessary
– and helpful – to introduce the main speaker.
With some thought and preparation you will make the event more
successful, and you will establish your
professionalism.
How to Plan a Speech
Good planning is key to building an effective speech.
How to Propose
a Toast
There are occasions when you want to say a few words to commemorate
a person or event, but you don't
want to give a speech.
How to Remember
Names
One of the best ways to make a favorable first impression –
and to get ahead socially or in business – is to
remember people's names. You can improve your ability to remember
names if you follow these four steps.
The
Listening Leader
Today's leaders don't have all the answers. (How can they?)
But they know how to find the answers and,
more importantly, they know how to help others find the answers.
Leaders today are listeners. They listen
up, down, and all around their organization.
When Not to
Use PowerPoint
There are times – especially if you’re a leader
– when using PowerPoint in a speech makes little sense
and
may even be counterproductive.
Hallmarks
of an Effective Presentation
An effective presentation is like an animated conversation.
It's clear, honest and direct. It seeks to accomplish one
goal. And it's filled with lively detail.
Communication Tips
Here's another page with links to even more tips and
strategies that technical presenters — and anyone else, for
that matter — can use to increase their effectiveness.
(Links will take you to pages about "How to Resolve
Conflict," "The 7 Principles of Influence,"
"How to Remember Names," "Strategic
Listening," "People Skills Pay the Bills," and
many more.
Speaking
Tips
Here's still another page with links to even more tips and
strategies that every type of presenter — leaders, aspiring
leaders, happy-that-I'm-not-a-leader people, technical experts
— can use to become more confident and commanding speakers.
| 
