How can you use public speaking to prevent conflicts with your managers?

1 Set clear expectations

One of the main sources of conflict with your managers is mismatched expectations. To prevent this, you need to use public speaking to clarify your goals, roles, responsibilities, and deadlines. You can do this by asking questions, confirming understanding, summarizing key points, and repeating instructions. By setting clear expectations, you can avoid misunderstandings, confusion, and frustration.

2 Listen actively

Another way to use public speaking to prevent conflicts with your managers is to listen actively. Listening actively means paying attention, showing interest, asking questions, and reflecting back what you hear. By listening actively, you can show respect, empathy, and curiosity. You can also learn more about your managers' perspectives, needs, and concerns. This can help you build trust, rapport, and collaboration.

4 Show appreciation

Public speaking can also help you prevent conflicts with your managers by showing appreciation. Showing appreciation means expressing gratitude, recognition, and praise for your managers' efforts, achievements, and support. You can use public speaking to show appreciation by using sincere words, gestures, and tone. You can also use specific examples, details, and stories to make your appreciation more meaningful. By showing appreciation, you can boost your managers' morale, motivation, and loyalty.

5 Manage emotions

Public speaking can also help you prevent conflicts with your managers by managing emotions. Managing emotions means controlling your impulses, reactions, and feelings when you communicate with your managers. You can use public speaking to manage emotions by using calm, confident, and respectful voice. You can also use breathing, pausing, and reframing techniques to cope with stress, anger, or fear. By managing emotions, you can avoid escalating, offending, or hurting your managers.

6 Resolve issues

Finally, public speaking can help you prevent conflicts with your managers by resolving issues. Resolving issues means addressing, discussing, and solving any problems or disagreements that arise with your managers. You can use public speaking to resolve issues by using cooperative, assertive, and respectful language. You can also use problem-solving, negotiation, and mediation skills to find win-win solutions. By resolving issues, you can prevent conflicts from worsening, damaging, or repeating.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?