The Leadership Star

APPENDIX BCOMMUNICATION CHANNEL DO'S AND DON'TS

Chapter 7 includes a summary of the various communication channels you can use to get your engagement messages out, and some of the key success factors for each of them.

What follows is a more detailed explanation of each channel, and the best practices for each that I've picked up over the years.

Large group presentations and conferences

There are several advantages of large group presentations: they're efficient, since many people hear the same messages at once. In the hands of a skilled presenter, they can generate demonstrable enthusiasm that creates ‘social proof’ for those who might otherwise be on the fence. And, if stage‐managed well, they can reinforce a sense of ‘occasion’ that breaks through complacency and builds engagement among the participants.

Large events aren't without risk. Even for experienced presenters, speaking without a script can lead to slips of the tongue or poor word choices that get taken the wrong way. Nervous energy in a more ‘staged’ setting can lead people to misinterpret your motives or intentions. And if you or the presenters come off as inauthentic, out of touch, arrogant, muddled or lacking energy, then you can quickly disengage a large group of people.

As with any presentation, to minimise this risk:

• Prepare carefully. It's obvious, but don't delegate an important presentation to the communications team and think you can fix it up the day before. Start planning weeks, if not months, in ...