10 Keys to Speak Confidently to Leadership

10 Keys to Speak Confidently to Leadership

Jul 26, 2022 | Public Speaking

Although speaking in public is one of the most common fears that people face, speaking to your boss or to the leadership of your company is arguably even more common. It does make sense that speaking to those who hold your career in their hands can be a nerve-wracking experience. But it does not always have to be that way.

As with speaking to anyone in authority, it takes the right set of skills and practice to create a more comfortable situation. This in turn will help get your message across while lowering the tension that you are probably feeling.

What follows are 10 keys to speak confidently to leadership. You can employ any or all these keys in your communication efforts for maximum effect.

Get to the Point

In other words, start your remarks with what will benefit the company. This means putting the benefits right up front in your remarks. Structure the presentation as the goal being achieved and then explain how it will happen. 

The actual details of how to obtain the goal is secondary, but important support of the main benefit. Put the outcome first when you are making a presentation to your leadership. 

The details of how it happens will support the results and provide more information. Just remember not to linger too much on the details. Your focus should be on what needs to be done, not all the nuances of how it should be accomplished.

Pro Tip

Be Good at Your Job. Think of it from your boss’s point of view.

Speak Confidently and at a Moderate Pace

One of the biggest issues that nervous speakers face is going too quickly. You lose credibility the more you rush through your words. Instead, uses pauses at the right points in your presentation. 

This will highlight important points you want to make. Plus, it provides time to calm down and gather your thoughts to present the next point. 

Also, try to avoid using filler words such as “um”, “you know”, and the like. That will help gain credibility as well.

“Your voice will enter corners your eyes will never see, so speak up.”
Ibrahim Mustapha

Understand the Audience

The more you know about the people who are there, the better you can hone your presentation. This means using language that best relates to the leadership, so you can make your points the most effective.

This means that the amount of jargon you use, which are words associated with specific knowledge, should be calibrated to the audience. When in doubt, make the words more general and relatable.

Action Item

Choose Your small-talk topics wisely.

Body Language Matters

What you say can be greatly affected by how you appear. Even in today’s virtual world where all people can see is your face, you still must display a strong body language on the screen. You can do this by having the camera at eye level, sitting up straight, and keeping your hands out of sight. 

Hand gestures are okay if they help make your point in a meaningful manner. Just remember not to slouch, lean too far back, or look like you want to be anywhere but where you are at.

Create a Story

Telling a story that backs up your point is one of the most effective means of communication. Relate an example that puts your remarks into focus, so the audience understands what you are trying to get across. For example, instead of talking about issues in a general way, use a story that illustrates what the issues are doing in the workplace. 

Cite a specific interaction with a customer instead of just saying something is a problem. By doing that, it will hammer home the point right away and back up your argument to leadership.

“Simple and to the point is always the best way to get your point across.”
Guy Kawasaki

Be Positive

It’s true that fear is a good motivator but being positive is much more effective. When presenting issues that are facing the company, you should craft the presentation as if this is an opportunity and not a dire warning.

Even if the problems you are addressing are dire, by shaping the presentation as a positive, you can provide direction that inspires the leadership. This will help get your points across better and even motivate action to take place.

Be Kind

It can be easy to devolve into rudeness or not being mindful of your audience. By taking the approach of being kind, you not only improve the presentation, but you also instill confidence as well. Rudeness or being curt only raises suspicions that you are not confident in what you are saying.

By taking the kind approach, you bolster the confidence behind the words. You create the impression that what you are saying is not only real, but that it can withstand criticism.

Watch the Uptalk

Uptalk is when your voice goes up an octave or the tone is pitched higher which makes your sentences sound like questions. Uptalk can eat away at the authority you have built up in your presentation. Instead, work to bring the tone down at the end of your sentences.

Getting rid of uptalk is not easy, but if you practice your presentation as if you were politely giving your dog commands, that can certainly put you in the right place. Just try not to tell your audience to “sit”.

Pro Tip

Understand the Expectations and Learn the Details

Keep It Concise

You can get to the point quickly, but you can also stay there too long. Be concise with your presentation so that it gets across everything you want in the shortest amount of time. You should speak at a moderate pace and not rush through your words. 

But less is more when making your presentation. Being concise means you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. You can leave time for questions at the end.

Interact When Necessary

For the most part, you should present your material in a compact, concise manner to get your points across. But you should also be prepared for questions. Interaction is a vital part of communication. It is generally best to have such interactions at the end so that your entire presentation can be made in a timely fashion.

However, you may incorporate short questions to your audience that helps you make a better connection. For example, questions such as “how many of you have experienced issues with …?” can invoke a quick response that helps broaden out the impact of your presentation.

Contact Us

Please send an email to support@mitchcarson.com for inquiries.Click Here
7 Awful First Sentences That Are Killing Your Outreach Emails

7 Awful First Sentences That Are Killing Your Outreach Emails

Jul 15, 2022 | Book Writing

Anytime you are introducing yourself to a new person, or you are at a function it is going to be a little bit nerve-wracking. But you never stroll up to a group of people and make an introduction without having a noticeably clear plan of what you are going to say to the group. That is especially important because you are going to make an impression in a tenth of a second or less, and that can make or break a relationship.

Although you may always be very diligent about introducing yourself face to face, if you are creating a marketing email, you may not be as diligent. You need to look at many of the messages that you have sent out and realize that you may have made some common mistakes. 

Here are seven of the worst reach-out techniques that cause people to delete your emails. Here is what you can do now to increase your readability as well as your sales.

“Set an example for others to do better.”
Debasish Mridha

“My name is…”

Names are one of the things that people do not remember. So, when you lead with this, you are going to lose the attention of the reader within the first second. If your reader is trying to find a way to reach out to you, they will be able to find your contact information in your email signature. 

You can really clean it up by ensuring that your name is in the second sentence of your email and then you will be off to the races. You want to get to the point of your email as quickly as you can and respect the time of your reader.

Pro Tip

Always follow up on your pitch.

“I work for…”

When you lead with who you are working for it is even more boring than your name. It is a clue right away to the reader that you are looking to sell them something and that is a big issue. In addition to that, you will see that as you continue to right, the company that you are working with is something that will be naturally revealed because it will help you to show you are an expert in the field and also what your connection is to the person you are reaching out to!

"Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will."
Zig Ziglar

“Did you know?”

This is another way to put your prospect to sleep. Many reps will begin with sharing statistic or a rhetorical question. The thing is that they will not get the attention of the potential customer, they are going to run for the hills as they are trying to avoid a sales pitch that might feel like it is coming off an infomercial. 

You need to ensure that you are going to share a fact or a figure that is going to entice the reader and ensure that you are appealing to their position in the market. Have facts that are innovative and that are market and niche specific to share with the audience and you will get the attention of the reader.

Action Item

Use your email subject to sum up. You're probably wondering how to summarize a complicated pitch in one line.

“Congrats on…”

When there is a trigger event, that usually seems that you have a reason to reach out to that contact. However, it shows that you are going to have a lazy sale and you are creating a form letter to the reader.

“I’ve been thinking.”

This is something you would want to share with family and friends and not with your business prospects. The reason for this is that when you come out this way you come out as if you are self-interested. The key to implementing this approach is to invert the technique. 

You would want to share the news of their acquisition of a new asset or a major business announcement to show that you are interested in their needs and solution sell. You should never begin an email by talking about yourself, you should always be drafting an email about your prospect to ensure that you have the right perspective.

“It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.”
Henry Ward Beecher

“I hope you are doing well…”

The reach out seems like a warm sentiment. However, when you are reaching out to a new prospect for the first time, one thing that is clear is that you cannot be bland. When you are bland, this will be the kiss of death. 

You will lose the prospect in your first sentence. You want to dive into your message right away and ensure that you catch their attention. 

Take a risk in your message and write something that will catch their attention like, “I am concerned about your company’s implementation of X since they acquired Y, “then share a similar story if you have one from your sales history. This is a fantastic way to get the attention of the prospect and to establish yourself as an expert.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

Sometimes there are reach outs that happen when there was a lead that came from a piece of content that was downloaded or a video that was watched or a page that was visited. One thing that is important to be aware of is that this is a fun time to reach out to the buyer. In that moment, they are ready to be talked to by sales. 

However, at the same time, asking them if they found what they are looking for is very vague. You need to ensure that you know what the pain point is that you would be able to solve for the customer. Here are some suggestions:

“Do you have all the pricing information you need?”
“Can I answer any questions for you about the product?”

Take your time and wordsmith your emails to your prospects. Look at some of the best reach outs that you have gotten as well in sales and see what sets apart solution selling from someone sending you a form email. 

Form emails feel cold and get deleted as quickly as they show up in someone’s inbox. Tailor your message to the person you are reaching out to and you will drive new profits with happy clients.

Contact Us

Please send an email to support@mitchcarson.com for inquiries.Click Here
12 Ways to Get on a Board of Directors for Women

12 Ways to Get on a Board of Directors for Women

Jun 20, 2022 | Book Writing

It was not long ago that women on the board of directors was quite rare. Today, over 20% of all directors are women and that number is growing. However, the challenges associated with how to become a board member for women are still quite strong. But there are several methods that can be used in how to get on the board as a woman.

What follows are 12 proven ways to get on a board of directors for women. Of course, not all women are going to succeed, but then again, most men fail as well. By following these methods, you can maximize your chances of becoming a director.

Address the Needs of the Board

If you have found the board that you want to serve as director, then you will need to do the research and find out what areas they need to address. This is normally culled from the directors themselves as they may have plans which cannot be initiated because they lack the knowledge or experience that you might bring. Find out what the board needs and work on becoming an expert in those areas.

“The needs of the people around you should your utmost priority.”
Sunday Adelaja

Become an Authority

Sometimes known as a thought leader, this means specializing in a market segment that board of directors are seeking. And while this is self-promotion, it is most effective in showing your experience and knowledge of important subjects.

Educate Yourself

It’s not about getting the most education, but rather the right education that will be attractive to the board of directors. Getting on the board means that you bring something more than simple experience within the company. Obtaining certification from respected centers such as the Harvard Business School or the National Association of Corporate Directors can only help you reach your goal. 

However, this type of certification can be expensive. So, do not proceed unless it is something that will improve your chances of landing on the board.

Pro Tip

Take advantage of the growing number of female directors and find your niche.

Get to Know the Right People

Whoever said it is not what you know, but who you know was on to something. And while being properly educated and having experience are still essential elements to getting on the board of directors, it greatly helps to know the fundraisers and financial experts that will help make your ascendency to the board possible. This means gaining access to trustee or voluntary positions inside charities that you support. 

Charities are an excellent way to help earn a position on the board of directors. This is because such positions offer excellent experience that help fill the gaps in many boards. You will learn how to assess finances and manage larger projects which is what board members are seeking.

"With the right people, culture, and values, you can accomplish great things."
Tricia Griffith

Go for the Right Board

The goal is not just to sit on any board of directors, it is to join a board that reflects your interests and abilities. This is because boards are looking for those who can directly contribute. 

If you have no general interest or specific knowledge that is useful to a board of directors, then they are most likely not going to hire you. Stick to applying to boards where you can contribute your knowledge and expertise.

Action Item

Identify 10 boards of interest to you.

Leadership Experience

A board of directors leads a company. Therefore, getting more leadership experience is crucial to getting on the board. The most obvious method is to lead projects from within the company, but you can do considerable good by working with non-profits, charities, and other organizations in leadership positions.

Learn from Your Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. Those who succeed learn from negative experiences and apply it to their next project. 

After all, everyone on the board of directors has made mistakes from time to time. By learning from your mistakes, you can show both professional and personal growth.

“You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.”
Richard Branson

Let People Know

If you do not tell people your goal is to be on the board of directors, then you may not get there. It may seem like bragging or being overly ambitious to tell people what your goals are within the company. 

But the truth is that for many it will not be obvious unless you let people know your ambitions. This doesn’t mean openly campaigning for the position, but by keeping quiet you may get overlooked.

Network

The more people you know, the more likely you can make inroads into the board. Creating a professional network means building up your circle of influence. 

This means expanding your presence not only within the company, but also in the industry. Proper networking can help establish links that will pay benefits as the board considers your qualifications.

Revisit Your Board Bio

A board bio is a highlight reel of your career. What is listed in the bio is what makes you get closer to your goal of getting on the board. This includes your qualifications, experiences, and what makes you different or unique compared to others. 

Your board bio is what makes the first impression, so it needs to be a good one. Plus, you need to write and re-write it frequently to hone its message when sending it to various boards. This will be most helpful in highlighting what they may most appreciate about your attributes.

Search Firms

Understanding how to get on a board as a woman will most likely require contacting executive search firms. There are several highly rated search firms designed to help women reach the board of directors. In addition, you should work through the HR division at your own company and let them know that you are interested in a board position.

Take Advantage of Opportunities

Whatever you can do to gain notice and improve your standing should be part of the plan to get on a board of directors. This may mean volunteering, taking leadership positions, and initiating projects that benefit the company. Keep in mind that its not the work itself that earns you the place on the board, it’s that the board recognizes that you are an asset.

Understanding how to become a board member takes time, effort, patience, and focus. The more you hone your knowledge and experience, the more likely you are to get on a board.

“If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.”
Tom Peters

Contact Us

Please send an email to support@mitchcarson.com for inquiries.Click Here
How to Grow Your Personal Brand on YouTube

How to Grow Your Personal Brand on YouTube

Jun 17, 2022 | Personal Brand

There are many benefits to building your brand on YouTube. A few of them include being able to build truly authentic relationships with your audience and create new followers on a regular basis. If you are seeking to create a brand on YouTube but are not sure how to get started, you want to look here.

Have Clear Vision for Your Content

When you have a channel, you need to make sure that you have a noticeably sharp vision for the kinds of content that you are putting out. You need to think about what your vision is and know what you are going to create. You need to also create content that is interesting and will be valuable to your audience.

“I have a very clear vision as to what I want at the end of my prep, and then I throw it out and let the creative process take over.”
David Boreanaz

Have a Brand Account

You will need to set up a brand account if you want to use the account professionally. That means that you are going to be able to see the way that your audience is interacting with you.

Pro Tip

How To Protect Your Personal Brand: Do This Or Disappear Click this YouTube link

Have a Very Clear Visual Identity

A part of the success as well of your account is going to be making sure that it is very professional and polished. You need to have a logo that is very appealing to your audience and that will ensure that people know what they are seeing the second that they arrive on your page.

Have a Clear Channel Description

The way that potential subscribers are going to be able to find you to begin with is the way that you write your channel description. That means that you need to take the time that is necessary to fill in you are About section. 

You want to have a very brief and clickable description for your account. That means that you want to make sure that you also have done the homework to ensure that you have the right keywords to be successful.

Ensure Your Contact Information is Present

YouTube is all about creating real connections. A part of that means that you need to ensure that your contact information is easy to find and that you do not need to make anyone search for it. 

Take the time as well to connect all your other social channels to the banner so that you are going to be able to share all your information. Some YouTubers go as far as to also share a PO address for fans to send fan mail.

Verify Your Account

You need to take the time to verify your account. This means that you have taken time to show that you are who you say you are. 

One of the keys that is important about that is that you can post videos that are longer than 15 minutes when you have verified your account. You can find out more about how to verify your account by heading to youtube.com/verify.

Pro Tip

Ensure that both your contact information and social media are easy to find and that you do not need to make anyone search for it.

Know Your Competition

A big part of your success as a content creator is also making sure that you know who your competition is. That means that you want to find other creators that are in the same niche as you and look at their channels. 

You then will be able to read all the descriptions as well as watch the content that is being shared. You should think about these questions as well as you are able to share these ideas:

  • What are the kinds of videos that they are posting that are getting the most attention?
  • What keywords are they using that are getting people to use their content?
  • How are they dealing with negative comments?
  • What kinds of editing software are they using?
  • What are they doing to get the attention of people to subscribe?

Have a Consistent Schedule

You need to always think of your channel as a television channel. You want for your subscribers to think about looking for your content. 

The only way that they can do this is to make sure that they know when to look for you. So here is what you should think about.

“The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Stephen Covey
  • A. Always be Consistent: This means that you need to publish on daily or weekly intervals.
  • B. Post Often: If you want to get attention from your audience, you need to make sure that you are posting regularly. A big part of that means that you should be posting multiple times a week. To get prioritized by YouTube, you should be posting at least three or more times a week.
  • C. Always Be Realistic: If you have a schedule that is way too ambitious, you are not going to be able to handle it on a regular basis. You need to ensure that you are always breathing quality content and that you are being honest about how often you can do it.
  • D. Be Flexible: You need to think about the fact that when there is news, people are going to be looking to you. You may have to be ready to hop on and cover topics when it is time.
  • E. Space Out the Content: You never want to publish everything at the same time. YouTube now has a function that will allow you to also schedule things in advance.
  • F. Always Consider Time Zones: When it comes to being successful, you want to post at the time when most of your fans are awake and up. That means that you should always consider when you are posting latest videos and even schedule them to debut when most of your subscribers are online.
  • G. Share Your Posting Schedule: You should let your friends and family know when you are going to post. You should also have a channel trailer. That will allow you to ensure that you have promoted your channel as well as promoted your content.

Have a Content Calendar

You need to take time to create a content calendar. It can be amazingly simple, but you need to think about it as the main plan for all the content you are creating. 

You should think about mapping it out as well for all the channels that you want to create content for. You need to look as well at your calendar on a regular basis.

Contact Us

Please send an email to support@mitchcarson.com for inquiries.Click Here
What Does Your Car Say About Your Personality?

What Does Your Car Say About Your Personality?

Jun 17, 2022 | Personal Brand

Cars are made to ensure that you stop and stare if you think about a sports car or think about driving something bright. What you are driving is about the kind of attention you are getting and seeking from others.

What Does a Mini Van Say About You?

If you drive a minivan, you will see it is the ultimate mom mobile. The reason for this is it is a way to define yourself by taking care of others. By showing you are dependable and important to others, your car adds value to your story.

“Probably looking at a piece of paper and all the features of a minivan, the minivan is probably the best car in the world.”
Henrik Fisker

Do You Have Ultra Bright Headlights?

If you have headlights that are super bright, one thing is clear, you are putting yourself first. Many of the lights out there have a very bright glow than regular headlights. 

What this means is that there are many people that can see better but they are creating a safety hazard by blinding many of the other drivers. It is important to consider the safety of others as well when you are thinking about getting very bright headlights.

Do You Have a Stick Figure Family on Your Car?

If you have a stick figure family on the back of your car, you may have something there that is dangerous to your family. Although you are proud of your family, you may not be thinking about the fact that these can give criminals an effortless way to target your family. In addition to this, it also comes off as irresponsible to show the dominance of your family over all others to other people.

Pro Tip

Car make and model choice often reflects taste and interests.

Showing a Sports Team Logo on Your Car?

If you have a sports logo on your car, you may be the life of the party. That means that you are wearing a jersey as well. 

It is a wonderful way to ensure that you always feel like you are a part of the crowd. That means that you need to think about your team as the winner on a regular basis, when they are winning, you are winning.

About That Specialized Pick-Up Truck

A pickup truck is always something that is useful. However, if you have an exceptionally large and flashy pickup, you may be looking like you are seeking attention. 

Customized pickup trucks are expensive as well as flashy. Keep this in mind when picking your car.

SUVs And Your Safety

If you have an SUV, you are thinking about the safety of everyone who is in your car. These are used to drag kids everywhere and these are always for someone who is overly concerned about having a very safe option when on the road.

“Precaution is better than cure.”
Edward Coke

What About Political Bumper Stickers?

If you have a political bumper sticker, it should be clear that you are not political. The reason for this is that you are outside of mainstream culture and there are others you are working with to see that you can support the majority. You may also need to invest in anti-car theft devices if you have a politically outspoken bumper sticker.

Action Item

Make sure your car has no political bumper stickers. Be politically neutral.

Exotic Air Fresheners

If you have an exotic air freshener, one thing that should be clear to you is that you care about your personality and position being known. You may wish that you were on the beach, or you may think about being lakeside somewhere. Having a special air freshener means that you may be able to really experience a moment of paradise.

Do You Have a Trunk Full of Trash?

If you have a trunk that is full of junk, other kids of debris and more you are a multitasker. One thing that is clear is that you may be showing others that you are clueless or that you do not care about the way that you are presenting yourself to the world.

What Your Car Says to Others

Choosing a vehicle is particularly important for you to be able to show the world who you are as well as who you are to clients and colleagues. Have you ever gotten in a car to head to a business lunch with a colleague and had them have a disgusting car? There is nothing worse than having to move trash when you have a passenger in the car with you. 

You need to think about the way that it looks to others. It looks like your guests in the car are not a priority and that you cannot manage your business as a professional. When you are choosing a car, you need to think about the way that others will feel in your vehicle and prioritize letting others be comfortable with you. 

If you have kids, you also need to think about their safety and the way that you want to get them to their destinations. When buying a car, it is important to take the factors of what you are portraying to the world into account. You should also realize that your priorities are noticeably clear to others whether you are trying to share that with them or not.

Your car has a place of pride in your life as well as in the life of your family or spouse. Take the time to keep things clean, organized and in tip top condition so that you will be successful in setting the impression with others you seek to. Another thing to consider when it comes to red cars is that they are more likely to be stolen and also to get more tickets. 

The way that you are insuring and presenting yourself to the world. Presenting yourself to the world in a manner that is clean and professional speaks to others about your brand personally and professionally. 

A messy car or one that is not well taken care of says to the world that you also do not care to take care of the investments that others make in you in terms of business. While you may think that is completely not true, these two items line up completely.

Contact Us

Please send an email to support@mitchcarson.com for inquiries.Click Here