Getting through: nine steps to communicate well

After a keynote today, I was asked for tips for leaders on how to communicate well, especially in times of challenge and change.

With the myriad of challenges faced by leaders around the world today, I thought I'd share a quick article to inspire your next company communication.

1. Tell a story. In fact, START with a story (don't even pause to introduce yourself or the meeting until after your first story). This story should involve your own vulnerability ideally. It should have a beginning, a middle and an end. It should not be more than a few minutes long. And if you can, have an easy to remember takeaway that you repeat more than once. (Just a few words. Rhyming used well is especially effective. Used poorly it becomes cheesy.)
2. Pause after you make a point. Pause for longer than feels comfortable. People will sit up and listen.
3. Repeat key phrases more than once. Three times if you need to.
4. Appreciate your audience.
5. SMILE and look people in the eyes. In larger audiences, pick people to look at directly and hold their eyes for 15-30 seconds. Then choose another person in another part of the room. Be sure you choose people distributed front to back and side to side. If there is a camera rolling for live stream, include the camera.
6. Know your audience. The way you address the C-suite will not be the same way that you address front line workers, not will the information be the same. Know what the audience needs to hear, and how they need to hear it. Connect to them by connecting your messaging to what matters to them.
7. Take questions. Really LISTEN and pause before responding. Admit if you don't know something.
8. Build stories into your culture that are "OUR" stories. How do you know you've told them enough (or that they've taken hold)? When you hear other people sharing them. Or hear other people owning them: "We are a company that does hard things," "We take care of our people around here," "You know where we came from-- those values from 100 years ago are still here today."
9. When you conclude, be sure to revisit your key points. While you don't have to follow the exact script of "tell them what you're going to say, say it and then tell them what you said," you do need to accomplish this in the way that you deliver.

Take Leadership Storytelling at The Grit Institute! Available in October, this will give you and your team the skills you need to communicate most effectively. www.thegritinstitute.com. Reach out to me if I can support your team more directly.

Want a few amazing examples? Grab your copy of The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience and Leadership in the Most Male Dominated Organization in the World.