An executive, director or the head of any kind of business or
organisation must have excellent communication strengths in order to be
able to manage. You could be called upon at any point in time to talk to
people. This could be in an informal setting such as a group of
employees, a more formal situation where you have to speak at a
conference or a shareholder event or being interviewed by a journalist.
Being able to express yourself isn't just about speaking or talking to individuals or groups. It also encompasses being able to write well. This means sending clear memos or emails. It also implies the ability to produce precise policy documents and reports. So having good writing skills is important too.
If your career goal is to be at the head of an organisation in any kind of capacity, even as a volunteer, it's important to take a look at how you present and improve upon your existing level of talent.
This article highlights some of the key areas required for great presentation and expression.
PowerPoint presentation: People say this can be boring, but there's no getting away from the fact that it's still an essential tool for anyone who has to give an overview of any kind of situation or an inspiring speech at an event. The key to using PP successfully is to understand that it's vital not to have too many slides. At the same time users mustn't have too much text on each screen. Make one display last between five and seven minutes and ensure that you use bullet points and that it's readable. Additionally, remember to make copies available for your audience.
Email: It may seem odd that we’re including this because, after all, email has been with us for more than 15 years and most folks use it. But not everyone uses it correctly. Firstly there is the problem of people copying in multiple recipients, many of whom don't need to know. In fact, it's quite common now for employees in large organisations to not even read CC’d emails. If you want to ensure that your message is read send it only to the people who truly need to receive it. Keep to the point. Don't include confidential information; emails can be forwarded and therefore you can't control who eventually could receive it. Never use emails to impart major or serious decisions or highly personal details.
Report writing: This is a fundamental thing that everyone should master. Even if the document is only a few pages long, it's good to be able to form something properly so that it looks professional and well done. There are plenty of books and websites that cover the basics of this. In a nutshell, your document should have a cover title page, a table of contents, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Obviously, longer documents require more. If you quote from an individual or use previously published information, be sure to attribute this and list all sources.
The press: Dealing with journalists is not as frightening as it potentially sounds. Despite their reputation in the UK most reporters are fair and balanced and want to get a story done quickly. Your organisation should have a policy that governs how this aspect is managed. It should list official spokespersons, what can be said, and how it should be framed.
Obviously each situation is different and members of the group should meet to talk to each other and decide what information is given first, especially in serious or sensitive situations. In larger centres such as London media training is on offer and is in fact invaluable. These experts will reveal how the industry works and what is expected of you when you are giving an interview. In places like London media training will also explain how to handle tough interviews and how to get your side of the story across.
Being able to express yourself isn't just about speaking or talking to individuals or groups. It also encompasses being able to write well. This means sending clear memos or emails. It also implies the ability to produce precise policy documents and reports. So having good writing skills is important too.
If your career goal is to be at the head of an organisation in any kind of capacity, even as a volunteer, it's important to take a look at how you present and improve upon your existing level of talent.
This article highlights some of the key areas required for great presentation and expression.
PowerPoint presentation: People say this can be boring, but there's no getting away from the fact that it's still an essential tool for anyone who has to give an overview of any kind of situation or an inspiring speech at an event. The key to using PP successfully is to understand that it's vital not to have too many slides. At the same time users mustn't have too much text on each screen. Make one display last between five and seven minutes and ensure that you use bullet points and that it's readable. Additionally, remember to make copies available for your audience.
Email: It may seem odd that we’re including this because, after all, email has been with us for more than 15 years and most folks use it. But not everyone uses it correctly. Firstly there is the problem of people copying in multiple recipients, many of whom don't need to know. In fact, it's quite common now for employees in large organisations to not even read CC’d emails. If you want to ensure that your message is read send it only to the people who truly need to receive it. Keep to the point. Don't include confidential information; emails can be forwarded and therefore you can't control who eventually could receive it. Never use emails to impart major or serious decisions or highly personal details.
Report writing: This is a fundamental thing that everyone should master. Even if the document is only a few pages long, it's good to be able to form something properly so that it looks professional and well done. There are plenty of books and websites that cover the basics of this. In a nutshell, your document should have a cover title page, a table of contents, an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Obviously, longer documents require more. If you quote from an individual or use previously published information, be sure to attribute this and list all sources.
The press: Dealing with journalists is not as frightening as it potentially sounds. Despite their reputation in the UK most reporters are fair and balanced and want to get a story done quickly. Your organisation should have a policy that governs how this aspect is managed. It should list official spokespersons, what can be said, and how it should be framed.
Obviously each situation is different and members of the group should meet to talk to each other and decide what information is given first, especially in serious or sensitive situations. In larger centres such as London media training is on offer and is in fact invaluable. These experts will reveal how the industry works and what is expected of you when you are giving an interview. In places like London media training will also explain how to handle tough interviews and how to get your side of the story across.
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