nus-iss are you able to communicate effectively with your senior management?

#ISSlearn

ARE YOU ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH YOUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT?

Tamsin Greulich-Smith15 July 2016

1(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1 © 2015 National University of Singapore. All Rights Reserved

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Outline

• Creating communications that can be heard• What senior leaders are looking for• How to communicate with your leadership

(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1 © 2015 National University of Singapore. All Rights Reserved

3#ISSlearn

We are bombarded by information


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Understand your Audience

• When we communicate with anyone, if we want our message to stand out, we need to speak with resonance

• To create communications with resonance we need to build empathy


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empathy = putting yourself in someone else’s shoes


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“act like the chief to become the chief” Debra Benton, author of ‘How to think like a CEO?’


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Put yourself in your leader’s shoes

• My priorities:• Decision making

• I have complex decisions to make on a daily basis; I want insight on trends and implications to help inform my decisions

• Success • I want to balance good current performance with ambitious plans for future

growth

• Opportunities • I am interested in opportunities more than I am worried about risks…BUT I am

aware of threats (talent, skills, security, competition, change…)

• Respect • I want my employees to respect me and support me

• Reputation • I want people to think of me as a good leader


8#ISSlearn

What does your senior leader want to hear from you?

• Your solutions not your problems• Your big picture thinking • Your value• Your wisdom • Your conciseness • Your ability to deliver their vision• Your professionalism • Your respect


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How to communicate with senior leaders?

• Create a good first impression


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Don’t fail at the 1st hurdle

• You have secured time in your senior leader’s diary – make it count!


• Arrive early• Dress in a way that mirrors your

leader• Be well prepared • Be clear about what you want to

achieve

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• Create a good first impression• Make your issue relevant


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Resonance

• Make it relevant • Does your message tie in with what your leader

wants to hear?• Put yourself in their shoes – use empathy

• Align your message to the business goals and strategies


BUSI N E S S

13#ISSlearn


• Create a good first impression• Make your issue relevant• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the

big picture


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Thinking Big

• Be strategic• Your message will have greater

impact if it clearly fits into their strategic thinking and forward looking plans

• Don’t moan / be petty• Moaning about a colleague is of little

interest to someone running a business, unless indicative of a bigger organisational problem


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• Create a good first impression• Make your issue relevant• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big

picture• Present your proposal not your problem


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Make it Positive

• Leaders like problem solvers • They have enough problems to deal with, but

not enough problem solvers

• When we are criticised we naturally become defensive

• Focus on the positive• Try to offer constructive suggestions


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picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple


#ISSlearn

“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" Albert Einstein


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Simplify your Concept

• A simple structure• Distil your concept into a simple message• Treat it like a press release

• Language• Don’t try to impress with technical jargon

and expert knowledge

• Simplifying your concept can also help avoid misunderstanding


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picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple• Connect on a ‘human’ level


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Leaders are people too!

• Emotional Beings• Human beings tend to think emotionally, and seek facts to

confirm their biases

• Context• Setting your issue in a human context can help your leader

envision it

• Stories• Leaders understand the importance of good

communications – stories help bring facts to life


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picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple• Connect on a ‘human’ level • Demonstrate confidence


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Believe in Yourself

• Be In Control• Acting in an insecure, unconfident,

timid manner will not instil confidence in your proposal

• Inspire Confidence• Demonstrate that you know what you

are talking about, that you have credibility, and that you can be trusted to deliver


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picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple• Connect on a ‘human’ level • Demonstrate confidence• Reveal your unique selling point


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What is your added value?• ‘Sell’ your value to the business

• Your senior leader may not know your background or complete skill set

• Do you have skills or knowledge that are not currently being drawn upon?

• If your unique skills can help address an organisational challenge or opportunity, volunteer your skills


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picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple• Connect on a ‘human’ level • Demonstrate confidence• Reveal your unique selling point• Tell them something they don’t know


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Many leaders may believe the world smells of fresh paint…


Image courtesy TT2 Ltd

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Provide a new perspective


• We may be blind to others’ experiences

• Can you pitch your message with insights gained from perspectives your senior leaders may not have experienced?

• Remember – you also have a skewed perspective of the organisation!

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picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple• Connect on a ‘human’ level • Demonstrate confidence• Reveal your unique selling point• Tell them something they don’t know • Make your leader feel good


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Support your Leader

• Remember your role • We are there to help our leaders achieve the

organisation’s mission• Do your ideas can make them look good?

• Positive feedback• What are they getting right?


31#ISSlearn


• Create a good first impression• Make your issue relevant• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big picture• Present your proposal not your problem• Keep it simple• Connect on a ‘human’ level • Demonstrate confidence• Reveal your unique selling point• Tell them something they don’t know • Make your leader feel good• Conclude with respect


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Create a good ‘last’ impression

• Make them want you back!• Depart on time, and express your gratitude

• Respect their role • Accept their suggestions and feedback

professionally• Take Action

• Be quick to follow up on any actions arising from your discussions – this should be a priority


33#ISSlearn

“The art of communication is the language of leadership”James C. Humes, Presidential Speechwriter


#ISSlearn

THANK YOU [email protected]


nus-iss are you able to communicate effectively with your senior management?

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