From Complex to Captivating: As a technical expert, you have a wealth of knowledge and insight to share. When presenting to a non-technical audience, remember that your goal is not to show off your expertise, but to effectively communicate information in a way that is clear, concise and accessible to your audience. The key is […]
Building Leadership and Influence: Network Mapping
If you’re looking to become a better influencer, increase teamwork and collaboration, and avoid bottlenecks in your projects, network mapping may help. In Sloan Management Review’s article “When Collaboration Fails and How to Fix It.”, the authors use network mapping to illustrate different dysfunctional collaborative structures and argue that understanding these network structures is critical […]
Handling Q&A: Move from Detail to Big Picture
A chance encounter with a top manager and you are asked a simple question – “What’s your team working on at the moment?” Or, perhaps you are presenting your business development plans to the board or other stakeholders. How do you answer in a clear, concise and compelling way? One of the powerful techniques developed […]
Expressive and Receptive Behaviours for Better Influence
Influence is a fundamental skill for success in both personal and professional life. In her book ‘Exercising Influence’, B. Kim Barnes describes two types of influence behaviours – Expressive and Receptive behaviours. Developing skill in these can help you become more effective at winning the support of others whether gaining approval, requesting resources or encouraging […]
Effective Negotiating: Opening the Meeting
Ever walked away from a negotiation confused about what was agreed? Worried you gave away too much? Thought you could have done better in the heat of the moment? To avoid such pitfalls, clear thinking using mental checklists at each stage of a meeting can help. Broadly, negotiations happen over 5 key stages: 1. The Opening 2. […]
Structured Thinking: For Clear, Concise & Confident Speaking
Do you struggle to elaborate your ideas effectively under pressure? Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly communicate their ideas, while others struggle to get their message across? Do you want to be more creative and flexible when presenting your ideas? Structured thinking could be the missing piece. The use of simple, […]
Structuring the Compelling Presentation
Important presentation? Little or no time to prepare? How can you quickly organise your thoughts and deliver a convincing presentation? STRUCTURE! Simple as that. Unstructured presentations lack focus and make it difficult to hear your key message. A set of logical mental frameworks or ‘plans’ enables you to structure your thoughts quickly and leads to seamless delivery. […]
Exercising Influence: Expressive and Receptive Behaviours
In her book ‘Exercising Influence’, B. Kim Barnes describes two types of influence behaviours – Expressive and Receptive behaviours. Developing skill in these can help you become more effective at winning the support of others whether gaining approval, requesting resources or encouraging participation in initiatives. Expressive behaviours are actions that send information, ideas, or energy […]
