The Hateful Eight
The 8 Communication Mistakes Undermining Leader's Impact
Why would they listen to me?
Because I am their boss...? Because of the school I went to...? Because I am well groomed and have nice shoes...? Because I am charismatic…?
These maybe facts, conveniences, or nice-to-haves of a scenario, but they are not the difference maker as to why people pay attention to any message you offer. Much like the characters in the Tarantino film, these eight traps can compound and destruct each other (and any bounty we are pursuing).
After running communication workshops for over half a decade, here are the 8 most common communication mistakes I see leaders make:
Where's the Juice!
The juicy stuff your audience wants to know is hidden in the middle or end of your presentation. It isn't emphasised effectively. Hit them between the eye with the first words out of your mouth. TIP - nerves express themselves as pre-amble. Cut the nonsense and be deliberate with the beginning of any communication. Journalists say, "don't bury the lead". I say, "don't bury your point!".
It is Everything
The presentation to the client or the management team feels life or death. It isn't. The worst case scenario is never as bad as it feels. This mindset undermines performance. TIP - The modern day philosopher Cher once said, "if it won't matter in 5 years time then it’s not worth worrying about". Stick to this, the gal knows how to stick around.
Fake Confidence
In an attempt to keep anxiety down, self talk turns to 'I've got this and everything will be fine' without doing the required preparation. TIP - go deep into the problems you need to solve. Danny Meyer uses the term, Always Be Connecting The Dots (ABCD). This is what a Pro Communicator does.
Too Clever, Part I - Big Leaps are Hard to Follow
You know your stuff better than they do. What is simple and basic to you is new to them. In trying to look clever/smart/impressive, we present large big concepts the audience finds hard to consume (yes - your superiors and important clients are not following you!). TIP - Dan Gregory once said on stage, "they don't need to know it as well as you do". This speaks to the idea that you just need to improve their understanding, not make them experts like you are.
Too Clever, Part II - Force Feed Them Your Pantry
You know a lot of stuff. To show how clever/smart/impressive you are, you pile in as much data/info/insights as possible into your presentation. Like a Michelin Star chef, restraint is critical. TIP - What is the one big number? And, what is the story it tells? In Anchorman, there is a wonderful quote, "60% of the time, it works every time". It tells me all the story I need to know.
Funky Focus
The focus is on perception, history, relationships, status, outcomes, and gains. The mind is focused on irrelevant stuff in the moment. Focus on the work itself. The work alone is the essence of great communication. TIP - ask, 'what change am I looking to make?' And, 'what will move the dial to create this change in this moment?'. Live in this lane and not too much can go wrong.
Telling Telling and More Telling
"You need to..." "You should..." "What needs to happen is..." Audiences don't like to be lectured at. Leaders do it often, usually without realising it. We slip into this easily and it hurts the reception of our ideas. TIP - every agenda point is positioned as a question. I use an 'Advice Free Zone' in some of my workshops. It forces people to reframe their suggestions, and it changes the dynamic of a conversation significantly.
It's Messy
Three minute updates on weekly manager conference calls. Proposals to clients one-on-one. Presentations to Senior Leaders in the boardroom. Leading team meetings.... They are all the same. But, often these 'communication moments' are treated differently and without structure. You are working harder than you need to for a weaker result. TIP - marketeers talk about repurposing content. So, why don't we repurpose our messaging to all these different audiences. One of the best managers I've ever worked under, Mette Haxhausthen once said to me, "Paul, Repetition Repetition Repetition". Do what advertisers do and put your key message in front of people at least three times. More if you want to see behaviour change.
