Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.
When you think about most panel discussions what type of panelists do you picture? If your answer is like most, you'll probably say more senior, higher level panelists. This makes a certain amount of sense because the audience wants to learn from the experience of the panel.
However, there is one potential drawback. Last time I checked, my daily experience is a lot different than that of most, C-Suite executives or Partners. Nothing against them, but it can be hard to connect with their experience when it feels so far removed from my own. And truth be told, sometimes they have a hard time connecting and remembering what it was like on the way up.
At a recent panel on Leadership that I moderated, we intentionally selected more everyday employees. Accomplished and experienced for sure, but at more typical levels like manager and below.
Our panelists were less accustomed to presenting to a room full of 100 peers so we coached them all along the way. One piece of advice that they all seemed to take to heart and benefit from was how to make a tasty presentation sandwich.
You know when someone goes to get an award and trips and stumbles? That will challenge even the most poised professional in the following moments. So to help avoid tripping over your first few words, my advice is to nail down your first sentence. Hard. Don't just wing it. Figure out the words of your first sentence and repeat them out loud until they are tattooed on your mind. This gives you the poise and confidence for all that follows = the tasty middle of your sandwich.
Likewise, you should nail down your last words. Ever have an amazing meal and during your last bite it is ruined by a bad taste, off-putting comment or horrible smell? What do you remember? The 99% good or the final 1% horrible? So make a good first and last impression = top and bottom pieces of bread.
If you do this, you will end up serving the audience a tasty presentation sandwich. Good luck!
By the way, our panelists were all amazing and we had great interaction from the audience. Not bad for their first time out and something for them to build on.
Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.
One benefit of being a total newbie is you have lots of a-ha moments. Like my first trip to the driving range. As my friend and I were setting up, in strides Mr. PGA. He looked like he leapt straight out of a broadcast of the Masters - lean and athletic, draped in designer clothes from head to toe, hauling futuristic clubs and a golf bag that looked like it made cappuccino. And shades. Did I mention the shades? Very stylish, no doubt polarized and UV-protected. I think you know where this is going.
Mr. PGA takes some meaningful practice strokes, steps up to the tee, then THWACK! - proceeds to launch the ball sideways into the wooden divider between the stalls. Each swing it was like, "INCOMING!"
Contrast this with my first experience at the driving range with my mother-in-law. Unassuming outfit, clubs that don't require a second mortgage, and a golf bag that mostly just carries her clubs. I think you know where this is going.
She steps up to the tee, takes a few practice swings, sets up and PING! - launches an absolute missile! The ball flies straight as an arrow, starting out low and climbing relentlessly before settling down perfectly in the middle of the range.
"This is all well and good, Joe and I like golf as much as the next person, but what does this have to do with leadership?"
Learning to "look" like a leader by imitating other leaders doesn't make you a leader. True leadership runs deeper than your appearance or behavior and springs forth from something invisible - your character.
Confession time. I'm a shameless self-help book junkie. Also, never met an HBR article or leadership listicle I didn't like. Don't get me started on the many excellent business podcasts out there. But there is a hazard here. While I fully support learning leadership techniques to improve your ability, doing this alone is insufficient.
In fact, if you spend most of your time trying to say or do the right things, but don't truly live the underlying principles, you will have a problem. At best you will be humored and ineffective and at worst you will be branded a counterfeit and President of the "Not Self-aware Club."
"You're losing me, Joe. What are you talking about?"
Let's take empathy as an example. Let's assume for a second you are on the low end of the empathy spectrum. Not a judgment, just a point in time measurement. All the leadership literature is saying how important empathy is and you've decided to board the empathy train. "All aboard!"
You can learn the type of words that show empathy and start to throw them out on a semi-regular basis. But when there is a red-alert situation requiring empathy and you don't truly have or feel empathy, you will a) not remember to be empathetic or b) use words of empathy, but poorly and not convincingly. In other words, knowing what words are used to show empathy does not make you a more empathetic person. It's your character and in this case, caring and ability to see things from another's point of view that is the key. The actions you take and the words you use naturally flow from this. If you don't truly feel empathy in this situation, anything you say will ring hollow.
Like animals sense fear, people sense counterfeit leadership.
To avoid the sand trap of counterfeit leadership, follow these 3 EZPZ steps:
1. Do read, learn and receive as much training as you can about leadership.
2. Instead of fixating on leadership attributes or behaviors, think deeply about why those attributes or behaviors inspire others.
3. Develop your character into that of a person who inspires others. For example, someone who connects with others, earns trust, and truly cares about the mission, the company, and the team.
In other words, character first, actions second. It's all downhill (in a good way) from there!
If you have additional thoughts on leadership and leadership development, including any experiences that changed your perspective, I would love to hear about them!
Next post next Saturday, 6:30 a.m.