How to Create Impactful Leadership Communication

I was Wrong about Influence. Early in my career, I believed influence in a decision-making meeting was the direct outcome of a strong artifact presented and the ensuing discussion. However, with more leadership experience, I have come to realize that while these are important, there is something far more important at play. Influence, for a given decision, largely happens outside of and before decision-making meetings. Here's my 3 step approach you can follow to maximize your influence: (#3 is often missed yet most important) 1. Obsess over Knowing your Audience Why: Understanding your audience in-depth allows you to tailor your communication, approach and positioning. How: ↳ Research their backgrounds, how they think, what their goals are etc. ↳ Attend other meetings where they are present to learn about their priorities, how they think and what questions they ask. Take note of the topics that energize them or cause concern. ↳ Engage with others who frequently interact with them to gain additional insights. Ask about their preferences, hot buttons, and any subtle cues that could be useful in understanding their perspective. 2. Tailor your Communication Why: This ensures that your message is not just heard but also understood and valued. How: ↳ Seek inspiration from existing artifacts and pickup queues on terminologies, context and background on the give topic. ↳ Reflect on their goals and priorities, and integrate these elements into your communication. For instance, if they prioritize efficiency, highlight how your proposal enhances productivity. ↳Ask yourself "So what?" or "Why should they care" as a litmus test for relatability of your proposal. 3. Pre-socialize for support Why: It allows you to refine your approach, address potential objections, and build a coalition of support (ahead of and during the meeting). How: ↳ Schedule informal discussions or small group meetings with key stakeholders or their team members to discuss your idea(s). A casual coffee or a brief virtual call can be effective. Lead with curiosity vs. an intent to respond. ↳ Ask targeted questions to gather feedback and gauge reactions to your ideas. Examples: What are your initial thoughts on this draft proposal? What challenges do you foresee with this approach? How does this align with our current priorities? ↳ Acknowledge, incorporate and highlight the insights from these pre-meetings into the main meeting, treating them as an integral part of the decision-making process. What would you add? PS: BONUS - Following these steps also expands your understanding of the business and your internal network - both of which make you more effective. --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

In my consulting work, I often work with high-level executives to help develop their messaging. Whether they are preparing to present to a major prospect, the media or to stakeholders, we always have to address one common challenge: how to communicate complex issues without getting into complicated explanations. In the digital age, attention spans are short. You cannot positively influence people by boring them into submission. The solution is not to talk about everything you know on a topic. You need to get it down to THE ONE THING that matters most… to them, not to you. Here are my Top Three Tips: 1      Express your one key point so it is clear, memorable and repeatable 2     Resist using acronyms or obscure vocabulary words that may confuse 3     Take out anything that dilutes or distracts from your key message This is not only important in the conference room, but also critical in the court room. An expert witness that can’t communicate effectively to the jury does not help your case. As a successful litigator once told me: “If you are explaining, you’re losing.” How have you seen this play out in your work experience? #Influence #MelindaMarcus #Leadership #LeadershipSkills #WitnessPreparation #Litigation #CommunicationsTips #StrategicMessaging #ExecutiveAdvisor 

As a leadership communication speaker and adjunct lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School, I developed a framework to guide us in our journey to speak with impact. The ACE model consists of three pivotal strategies that can revolutionize your communication skills every day: 1. Authenticity: Be YOU. The foundation of impactful communication is authenticity. When you speak from the heart, you create trust-based relationships. 2. Clarity: Cut through the noise. Make your message crystal clear so your audience can resonate with it effortlessly. 3. Energy: Fuel your words with the right energy. It's incredible how the energy you bring to a conversation - and the power of your physical voice - can inspire and move people to action. When you apply the ACE model, you unlock the power to connect deeply and leave a lasting impact on people's lives every single day. Let's elevate our communication and lead with authenticity, clarity, and energy. #Leadership #Communication #LeadWithYourVoice

It is Your Job... Have you said one or more of the following in your past? Maybe 1 or 2 in the last 24 hours? - To a team member: "We covered that you had this action last week" - To a spouse: "The appointment is today, we spoke about this last weekend" - To a Kid: "I have told this to you how many times?" In these examples, how often do we blame the one we are communicating with? "They never listen!" we tell ourselves. Don't Illude yourself. You may have Spoken, but your message was not received. It is not their job to listen, to hear you, to understand. As the communicator, the Leader, it is your job to ensure they understand. Below are my Top 3 ways to ensure your communication is received: 1) Clearly, share the action you want to be taken - Easy to understand language, no jargon 2) Share Why - Example: I may want my son to wear a helmet  • Simply telling him may not work • Explaining to him what could occur may help. • Sharing what happened to a friend his age may really hit home. 3) Ask for them to recap what needs to occur. - Did you get all the details? Who, when, etc.? - If not, ask questions and revisit items 1 and 2. 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗽: After reviewing the situation with them - ask what they believe the action they take should be. - This method immediately creates the ownership that will produce a higher likelihood of follow-through. Don't just Talk, Communicate in a way that your audience Understands. ✍️ How do you ensure your message is heard? ~~~~~~~~ 🔔 Follow me, Brad Smith, for daily actionable Leadership & Fitness insights.

I don't agree by leading through fear. Instead, here is my 3-step framework that's never failed me. __ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 Define Your Leadership Style: Get clear about the principles that guide your leadership Examples: - I prioritize transparency and honesty in all communications. - I commit to being an active participant in team initiatives, not just a spectator. __ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Craft and Share Your Leadership Narrative: Effective communication starts with a compelling vision. Use these steps to ensure your message resonates: 1. Begin with "Why": Explain the purpose behind your goals. 2. Illustrate with Stories: Share success stories that embody your values. 3. Encourage Involvement: Invite your team to contribute their ideas and solutions. 4. Be Consistent: Regularly reinforce your vision through your actions and communications. Tips for Sharing Your Vision: • Use simple, clear language to ensure understanding. • Be open to feedback, showing that leadership is a two-way conversation. • Align your narrative with the company’s broader goals and values. ___ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Create a workplace where everyone works well together and isn't afraid to speak up. Leading without fear means creating an environment where everyone is motivated by shared goals, not driven by the fear of failure. 1. Talk about worries: Find out what scares your team and help fix it. 2. Give clear jobs: Tell everyone what to do and why it's important. 3. Cheer on wins: Give a big shout-out when we do things right. 4. Keep talking: Make sure everyone's okay to share their thoughts and ideas. Tips for Creating a Fearless Team: - Lead with empathy, understanding that strong teams are built on trust. - Encourage risk-taking within the framework of your shared values. - Provide support and resources to help your team meet their goals. __ And there it is — my framework for leading with heart, not fear. It sounds simple, sure. But leading without intimidation takes real courage. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. ___ Like these tips? Share them to help your network too 🙌

Want to be an effective leader? Ask more questions. Then, listen more than you talk.   This might seem counter-intuitive, especially coming from a person who works in the public speaking realm. But it’s actually the biggest mistake I see people make when working on an important piece of communication.   In my 30+ year career as a communication consultant, I’ve helped hundreds of executives get ready for their big moment in the spotlight.   They usually come into our first session full of ideas… “I was thinking I should talk about A and B, maybe a bit on M and N… Oh, and I also need to tell them about the new GHI thing. That’s really important!”   The exec is getting super fired-up about their content by this point. So, what I say next probably feels like getting hit with a bucket of ice-cold water.   “Great! I want to hear all about your ideas,” I’ll tell them. “But first, let’s talk about something equally important: your audience. What do they think about your topic? And how do they feel about you?”   Silence. Maybe a bit of hemming and hawing. “Well, hmm. I’m not sure,” many people say.   That’s because more often than not, speakers spend all their prep time (if they do any prep at all) thinking about their content, instead of thinking about their audience. And then they wonder why the message didn’t land well or didn’t get the results they wanted. If they’d only shown some curiosity about their audience, the speaker would have learned what to say to actually win them over.   So, here’s the secret to being a truly great leader: be a student of people.   Get out and talk to your constituents – whether that’s your employees, customers, partners, whomever. Ask questions about their daily struggles and their future goals, about the things that excite them and worry them, and what they’re hoping you’ll solve for them.   Then use those insights to re-craft your messages to speak directly to the hopes, fears, and needs of your audience. By approaching communication as a two-way street – putting equal energy into both listening and speaking – you’ll be more likely to influence others to support your ideas.   That’s what I think, anyway. What do you think makes for more effective communication? Drop it in the comments! #communicationstrategy #publicspeaking #influence #empathyinaction

Picture this: You're leading a crucial team meeting, trying to get everyone on board with your vision. You’ve crafted a solid plan backed by data. But it doesn’t seem to be resonating. Your team isn’t buying in.  Leaders and managers face this scenario every day…and may not even be aware of it. In fact, research shows that only 31% of employees see their leaders as effective communicators. Effective communication goes beyond just getting the words out. It's about fostering understanding, inspiring action, and driving results. The best ideas are worthless if they don’t spur others to act or think differently. So, what sets effective communicators apart? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘇𝗲. They tailor their message to demonstrate an understanding of their audience’s perspectives and priorities. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. They rehearse their delivery aloud, matching the tone and style they’ll use on the day. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲. They incorporate imagery, visuals, and stories to make complex ideas easier to grasp and remember.   Here’s what I do in practice: * I adapt my language, slides and data points for each audience. Over the course of 18 years as the head of the MBA program at Michigan Ross, no two admitted student or orientation welcomes were the same. * I stand and speak at the appropriate volume during practice sessions, giving my vocal chords a workout. * I incorporate personal stories or anecdotes to bring concepts to life, supplementing them with slides to complement and reinforce messages.  Whether you’re a CEO, a senior manager or a data scientist, effective communication is a critical competency. By sharpening your communication skills, you’ll elevate your leadership and drive tangible results. That’s a win for you and your team.

I have learned some of my biggest leadership and communications lessons as a parent. One such lesson was delivered by my daughter when she was three. I told her to pause her playing and put her mess away - pile up the papers and put them in her playroom. She was upset - she wanted to keep playing. She started to fight me on it, but I laid down the law - cue the "I’m Serious" voice. So she shifted tactics. I thought "Great! She is doing what I asked." She had something else in mind entirely. Malicious Compliance. The picture below is what I found. Quite literally put into her playroom, a fraction over the threshold. Was it what I intended? Nope. Definitely not. Was it exactly what I said? Absolutely. This was a clear reminder that you will get what you ask for. So be careful what you ask for. Communicate with clarity and precision. It also was a reminder that when making decisions, be clear about the intent, the purpose, the rationale, and align your messaging to it. Bring people along and align your messaging to those things to ensure the right message is delivered and heard. I have been told that I am very deliberate. I am usually not the first to speak, and often the last. I think about what I want to say and strive to use my words deliberately and purposefully. I don't talk for the sake of talking. This is why - your words matter. #communications #messaging #clarity #impact

A few years ago, a colleague and I wrote a book together. It won an award. The category was #creativenonfiction. I had never heard of the genre. I learned that "creative nonfiction" is distinct in voice, orientation and purpose from most other genres of fiction AND nonfiction. It focuses on true stories that provide information about a variety of subjects, enriched by relevant thoughtful ideas from the author; their personal insight and intimacies about life and the world we live in. Not only did that describe our book, but it describes most of the kinds of writing I've done my entire life. Writing helps me better understand the world...my world. In my work with leaders, I strongly urge them to write. I usually suggest a creative nonfiction approach to that writing. Not only do leaders need to communicate factually accurate information. They need to do it in their own unique voice. Here are three key reasons why writing can be a valuable skill for leaders. 1. Effective and Efficient Communication: Strong writing skills enable leaders to communicate their ideas, vision, and strategies clearly and concisely to their teams, stakeholders, and the broader audience. Writing allows leaders to articulate their thoughts in a structured manner, ensuring that their message is easily understood and impactful. Effective communication through writing is crucial for creating alignment, inspiring employees, and influencing decision-making processes. 2. Persuasion and Influence: Writing can help craft messages that will influencing others and persuading them to embrace new ideas, take action, or support a particular initiative. Leaders who can articulate their thoughts persuasively through can inspire their teams, gain buy-in from stakeholders, and drive organizational change more effectively. Whether it's developing compelling proposals, persuasive emails, or impactful reports, leaders who can express their ideas convincingly through writing have a greater chance of achieving their objectives. 3. Thought Leadership and Branding: Writing allows leaders to position themselves as thought leaders in their respective fields. By sharing their expertise, insights, and experiences through blogs, articles, or books, leaders can establish themselves as credible authorities and enhance their personal brand. Thought leadership writing helps leaders build a following, gain respect, and open doors to new opportunities. It also fosters a culture of learning and continuous improvement within their organizations. References: Dulebohn, J. H., & Hoch, J. E. (2017). Using Writing to Enhance Leadership Effectiveness: A Trait Activation Framework Perspective. Journal of Business Communication, 54(4), 420–442.) Cialdini, R. B., & Martin, S. J. (2016). Influence: Science and Practice. Pearson Education Limited. Bhattacharya, R., & Kassoy, A. (2018). The Content Trap. Harvard Business Review, 96(5), 26–28.)