Representing and speaking with authority
- 1. Training on Representation Skills Tamsin Rose August 2009
- 2. What does representation mean? Representation can take many forms: - re presenting yourself - representing a team or workgroup - representing an organisation - representing a community - representing a constituency What is the difference between speaking in a personal capacity, speaking on behalf of someone or being a spokesperson?
- 3. Consulting, reporting back and accountability Consulting well Clarify the mandate – who/what do your represent ? What is your role, why are you the right person to speak ? How have you consulted the constituency adequately? Have all voices and views had a chance to be expressed? Have clear messages emerged? How have conflicts been adequately addressed? Reporting and accountability Report back promptly and accurately Identify next steps and opportunities Discuss representation options for future events
- 4. Exercises to hone your skills Elevator pitch – 60 seconds of attention of a senior policymaker. What would you say? Cocktail party – Start with a random subject and within 60 seconds bring the conversation round to EPHA or a policy issue
- 5. Some tips on nerves when speaking Drink lots of water, but 'sip' in the 30 mins before the presentation Choose some faces in the audience to focus on, make eye contact Take a deep breath and smile before you start, it relaxes the facial muscles It is not 'you' on stage, you are channelling the organisation. Speak from the position of its reputation, gravitas, strength and political importance
- 6. When you are a guest speaker Remember, it is about them not you. Think about why would your audience want to listen to you. Find out as much as you can about the audience and their expectations: - focus of the event - how many participants - what is important to them and motivates them - level of prior knowledge - who else is on the agenda - timing and scheduling - technical and language issues - will you be introduced by the chair, speak from a podium
- 7. Layering your presentation - Structure carefully with a beginning, middle and end - Re-frame the issue to the way you want the audience to see it - Headlines not in-depth information - Fewer words, more pictures and visuals - Avoid jargon, acronyms, use conversational language - Adapt the style and messages to the audience - Use facts in interesting ways - Tell stories to illustrate your points - Capture the attention early on, then keep it - Use pauses, vary the tone, pitch and rhythm of voice - Match your body language with the spoken tone + words
- 8. Choose your image carefully Layers of meaning – What do you see?Do you all see the same thing? Does this mean the same thing to all participants? Does it make you feel hungry or nauseous?
Editor's Notes
- #4: how problems are defined, how information is collected, how the relative costs and benefits of policy are assessed, how policy solutions are formulated and adopted, how government and the market succeed and fail, how analysis is utilized, and how ethics informs policy analysis. There are three challenges for public policy analysis: the challenge of partisanship, the challenge of uncertainty, and the challenge of pragmatism. Who or what is affected? What is/are the effects? How and when does/will it operate? How much does/will it cost? Who is raising the issue or making the proposal, and why? How might the problem/issue be resolved? And the final question should always be: " Does this make sense ?"
- #9: Define the Problem Clearly identify the stated issue/problem. Is there really a problem? Sift through extraneous material to identify the real, underlying problem or need (which may not be the same as the stated issue or problem). How big is the problem? Quantify, if possible. How did the problem arise? When? What perpetuates it? Outline the history of the issue/problem. Who and/or what does the problem impact? When? What are the current laws, regulations and/or programs addressing the problem?