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Hello <Name>
I'm a virtual executive coach powered by Corner Office. I can share tips and advice on leadership and career management based on your personality, using AI.
Shall we get started?
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Super, I'm thrilled to help but please use your own good judgement to make my advice effective for you.
The better I understand you, the more tailored advice I can give you.
*Please answer 4 simple questions to help identify your broad personality type.
Are you ready?
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Okay I can still give you some general advice. Are you sure you want to proceed without sharing any specific preferences?
- 2 more items...
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Select a Communication Boost Technique.
Please note: it is better to listen to the techniques in order as one builds on the next but you can dip in as you like.
SummaryEven before you open your mouth, it is critical to ascertain clarity of thought and your key messages.
- In simple terms, before we communicate with our mouths, let's ensure our minds are fully engaged.
- This can be a particular challenge for extroverts like myself who intrinsically think out loud. However, in order to build confidence in an audience, the most eloquent leaders use their words sparingly and selectively.
- How can this be achieved?
- A very effective method is to say the following to yourself before you speak:
"What I really want to say or ask is...."
- This simple but powerful technique allows you to "chew over your words" to refine them and phrase them in a more digestible way.
That will enable a focused expression, highlighting the targeted purpose of the interaction. So try it now, "Chew Over Your Words", before you give your next message!
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Summary Imagine you are in an elevator going from floor 1 to floor 30 and in the elevator is the person you want to speak with.
- You have 30 seconds or less, refine your words so you can get the message across in this time.
- This approach will instill considerable discipline and with practice you can build a repertoire of key messages about your work, projects, achievements, vision, interests that you can share at a drop of a hat..
- This key technique is also used very often by senior sales executives to ensure there is a consistent punch line across the team
- To build an elevator pitch consider carefully the key message you want to say and the ask you may have.
Examples of elevator pitches could be:
- Preparing for how you could make a connect with a client in case you bump into them.
It may consist of: a brief introduction of yourself and about your company, something that would be of interest to them and how you could may be follow–up…
- "Hi John, I'm Nisha Desai, I work for the Risk practice at Andernal Consulting. I heard you speak at the townhall and was really intrigued about you perspective on Inflation. I'd love to get some time with you to understand it better. … do you think it would be possible if I could get 30 mins in your diary to speak with you on this?
Sharing your team's recent achievements with a senior department head:
- "Hi Jim I heard your team won the Holland deal, congratulations – that deserves a celebration. May be we could do a joint drinks as we've just finished our rollout of the iLoan product in New York, shall I organise something?..."
Once we have constructed an elevator pitch we may want to add more details to support.
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Summary To structure a message leaders also tend to think in multiple dimensions - This demands a delicate balance of relaying the essence of the matter and avoiding churning out a list of points and overloading the listener with irrelevant data.
- To achieve this an effective instrument is the rule of 3.
- Think of the 3 main points related to the topic you'd like to get across, this could be information being shared, questions to be considered or challenges & proposals required - or a combination of all 3.
- Remember to think "What I really want to say/ask is..." as you smoke test or "taste" each point.
- Then order them in terms of importance and consumption compatibility for the listener.
- Simply put, the first point should be the one that is least likely to pose any argument and also be the most interesting - to capture their attention and build trust.
This is not to say the others can be factually incorrect or boring but it is important to prioritise so you can "get a foot in the door"
- You could also consider making one of the points personally interesting to the listener ("we have 10 major clients and have just opened an office in New York with 100 employees close to your building") and one of the points that builds a connect with the person's heart, "and we now give 5% of our profits to a children's charity"…
May be try this out for yourself now with something important you want to say… what are those 3 key points?
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Summary
- Having delivered what you think to be a perfectly clear message, how can you be sure it has been understood?
- You may have heard that the most powerful communicators are great listeners.
- It is vital that you either ask for the opinions of others or remember when they are giving feedback, to listen carefully to every word.
- A great way to prepare for this is to consider before the meeting "If I were in their shoes what would I say or challenge" ... so you are ready to directly respond to their communications.
- This is a technique heavily used when we prepare for senior management meetings, particularly board room level presentations where there is little room for ambiguity. -
Finally, relay your understanding of what they have agreed to do and when it would be a good time to followup.
- Leaving things open ended sometimes results in uncertainty so a good project manager suggests and agrees on the next milestone or checkpoint.
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Summary
Another key factor to consider when communicating a message is timing – that is, when to deliver it so it receives the attention it deserves. •
This may sound like an obvious point but senior managers I've known have always been very particular about where and when a particular topic is discussed.
• Often we'd come to the end of a meeting and a topic would be raised where they or I would advise we don't discuss the subject, so we can give it the right amount of the time it deserves
• Also messages are generally facilitated if the listener is in a receptive frame of mind.
• For an example related to asking for a pay rise, this would ideally arise in a situation where your boss is pleased with something you have done, may be in a good mood and certainly not in a rush.
You may even consider discussing this over a coffee to add more personal importance and delicacy to a topic
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SummaryNext time you speak with a senior manager or leader, notice the tone and pace of their voice...
- Is it a very high pitch?
- Do they speak very fast and often repeat themselves?
- Does their voice quiver or do they become breathless and stutter? I hope you will find that most do not display any of the above characteristics unless due to a medical condition
The following is a rule of thumb employed by many senior leaders, it’s worth bringing to your attention as it can add gravitas to your communication:
- The tone of your voice should be respectful but confident and a key element of this is to consider the pace and depth of your voice.
- Generally a medium pace is preferred. Too fast or rushed and you may come across as nervous, alternatively slow speech can communicate lethargy or even a lack of intelligence.
- You will also note that most leaders tend to have deeper / stronger voices which takes a little practice but subconsciously adds weight to your message.
- Of course avoid mono-tones. Being expressive by modulating your voice subtly - louder, softer, pitch fluctuation can always help connect with your audience.
Some of the most effective communicators are of course actors. This in itself is a vast topic but if you really want to become a communications master, do consider some acting or public speaking lessons.
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Print "Given your personality profile "
Read Personality Type Description Related to Module e.g. If ISTJ Print Description under "Learn techniques to improve your communication and personal impact" (G5)
"while communicating you may come across as quiet, reserved and even serious...." (G6)
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NOTE: I think we need to move these two blocks in a separate path. These are just convoluting the experience here.