What to Do When the Boss Says No
By Edward J. Barks
It's an undisputed fact. Some CEOs refuse to acknowledge
that their communication skills could use a tune-up.
Someone in your organization -- quite possibly you --
needs to assume responsibility for sharpening your CEO's
communication skills. Your organization and your CEO
personally stand to benefit from improved proficiency.
If your leader neglects this part of her leadership
toolkit, it's time to offer some frank advice on how
she can improve.
It is part and parcel of a CEO's job to connect with
many publics -- delivering speeches, talking to the
media and testifying before lawmakers.
It is important that you work to increase your organization's
odds for success when positioning your CEO before the
public. You must also be prepared to deal with the sensitive
matter of how to encourage the boss to accept the benefits
of learning from a communication training workshop.
The first thing to explain is that there are no naturally
gifted speakers. Your CEO did not roll out of bed one
day with all the expertise needed to run your enterprise.
Similarly, none of us emerged from the womb with flawless
speaking abilities. The key to success involves lots
of practice, much like our clients experience in their
training environment.
Baseball slugger Barry Bonds has a hitting coach. Robert
DeNiro has learned from acting coaches. Your CEO, even
if she is a speaking superstar, needs a trusted coach
who can continue to advance her learning, too.
You can position the need for training by telling your
boss that she is nurturing an increasingly high, public
profile. What's good enough for a manager is no longer
good enough for her. Her prestige merits some individual
coaching.
Your organization will reap the rewards of a more polished
CEO. It's also important to remind your leader that
she will benefit on a personal level as well. What does
she stand to gain from a higher public profile? Here
are just some of the benefits:
- Sharpen non-verbal tools for maximum advantage
- Refuse to be sidetracked by off-point or hostile
questions
- Convey confidence during presentations and media
interviews
- Rid yourself of trembling voice and knocking knees
- Take charge when dealing with reporters
- Craft a magnetic message
- Avoid reporters' tricks and traps
- Assume control during the crucial Q&A period
- Keep from wandering aimlessly when delivering remarks
and talking to the press
- Get rid of annoying, non-verbal habits
- Gain an edge on the competition
- Steer clear of the dreaded misquote
Someone needs to lay the cards on the table if your
CEO is to attain communication success. That could be
someone in your organization. Or, it could be the coach
you select to guide your CEO's improvement. In fact,
if there is a matter so sensitive that you dare not
raise it with your CEO (perhaps because you'd like to
keep your job!), we'll do it as part of the training
process.
Your CEO may be hesitant to firm up her communication
abilities. You can help both your CEO and organization
by serving as a catalyst for improvement. The benefits
are many. Get to work to turn the boss's "no"
into an enthusiastic "yes!"
Ed Barks is a trainer, author and speaker who teaches
today's leaders how to work with the media and how to
deliver dynamic, message-packed presentations. Ed, the
President of Barks Communications, is the author of
"Face the Press with Confidence: The Media Interview
Companion" and "Keep the Audience on Your
Side: The Public Speaking Companion." His firm
also operates Barkscomm.com,
the internet's communications training resource, at
www.barkscomm.com.
He can be reached at (540) 955-0600 or at ebarks@barkscomm.com.
© Barks Communications 2003
Discuss this topic with other IABC members at: www.iabc.com/memberspeak.
|
