I will soon conclude a 3-year term as president of a 125-year-old private membership organization whose mission is social. I’ve been a member for 15 years and a Board member for 10 years. I’ve found the experience to be tremendously rewarding. I’ve made friends. I’ve further developed and refined my leadership skills.
I’ve been fortunate to preside over a Board that is comprised of top-drawer members who are committed to the organization and who’ve work diligently to develop strategies and plans that will sustain the group over the short- and long-term. I’m proud to say that throughout my presidency, I encouraged Board and Committee members to do their best work and then I got out of the way and let them do it.
To become an organization leader is to become its public face and unifying symbol to the members. Public speaking is part of the job. It is often necessary to offer words of inspiration and encouragement and verbally demonstrate that you as the leader embody the vision, mission and values of the organization. There will be impromptu speaking “opportunities” that arise and surprise! Someone asks you to say a few words.
Likewise, in the professional sector, one will be asked to speak ex tempore about business products and services. These speaking obligations may be unscheduled, but they are not completely unexpected, since one attends certain events with the desire to meet and greet peers and prospects and talk business. Still, how does one successfully make an unrehearsed speech and manage to sound reasonably informed and eloquent?
Finally, there are scheduled speaking opportunities, when one steps up to the podium and formally addresses an audience.Three types of speaking opportunities: how can you stand and deliver?
I. Let’s start with the easiest, the business meet and greet. This is where your elevator speech is delivered. You must decide which version to roll out. Are you being introduced to someone and asked what you do? Then your elevator speech will be conversational and limited to what the business provides, your role or title and the name of the organization. Give a general description of the outcomes or benefits of the service you provide or products you sell. Formulate a sentence that describes the business function and your role, with a focus on benefits and outcomes. Provide more information only if the person seeks more information. Make the encounter a dialogue by asking questions of your own, to determine whether this individual has a need for your products and services, or if you can refer this person to another of your colleagues and create a new relationship as you do.
2. I’ve unexpectedly been invited to address my organization members and I’ve done a good job. How did I do it? Primarily, I was fortunate to have a very good set-up introduction and beforehand, I was smart enough to listen and make note of key phrases on which I could launch a quick little speech. I’ve recognized good tag lines and themes that I could spin into a three-minute talk. The moral of the story is, a leader must anticipate public speaking obligations. Keep your antennae tuned for anecdotes or observations made by members or others that can be used as the basis of a quick talk.
3. Regarding scheduled presentations, I pass along to you my interpretation of a Power Point presentation template developed by Bahar Martonosi of Princeton University. You may find this template useful when auditioning for a prospective client or delivering a report of findings during a consulting assignment:
- Your name and the business name (1 slide)
- Project outline: work that the prospect would like performed (1 slide)
- Rationale: why is the project or problem important to the organization ( 1 – 2 slides)
- History: what has been done before (1- 2 slides)
- Method: your firm’s approach to the project or problem (1 – 3 slides)
- Results: the body of the talk. Present the key results and findings. Do not present all results or findings. (2 – 6 slides)
- Summary: (1 – 2 slides)
- Back-up: prepare slides that answer expected questions (1 – 3 slides)
Keep things simple and focus on a few important points. Repeat the key insights. Know your audience and adjust the presentation as needed. The post-presentation informal Q & A is very important.
Make eye contact, be approachable and it’s OK to smile (but this is business, not social, so know your role). Make your audience want to learn more.
Thanks for reading,
Kim