11 Dec Are you always in the weeds? Understanding your mindset is the key to stopping!

When communicating up the corporate ladder, the ability to curate information effectively is crucial. However, many people fall into the trap of oversharing details, driven by underlying psychological factors that can undermine their communication effectiveness.

One of the primary reasons people feel compelled to overshare is the desire to validate their worth. The mindset of proving you’ve done a lot of work often stems from a need for recognition and approval. By sharing every detail, individuals might hope to demonstrate their diligence, competence, and value to the organization. However, this approach can backfire, as it overwhelms the listener with information that dilutes the core message. Instead of being perceived as thorough, they risk being seen as unfocused or even insecure.

Another factor is the fear of being perceived as unprepared or uninformed. Some people equate brevity with a lack of knowledge, believing that by providing more details, they can protect themselves from scrutiny or criticism. This belief can stem from a lack of confidence or an overestimation of how much information others need to see them as credible. Yet, this attitude often leads to information overload, which can frustrate senior leaders who are pressed for time and need clear, concise insights to make informed decisions.

The inability to ruthlessly curate information may also be influenced by a perfectionist mindset. Perfectionists often struggle with the fear of leaving out something important, leading them to include excessive details “just in case.” This cautious approach, while well-intentioned, can hinder effective communication by cluttering the message with unnecessary information.

To overcome these inhibiting attitudes, it’s important to shift the focus from proving oneself to serving the needs of the listeners, “It’s not about YOU!” Recognize that clarity and relevance are valued far more than sheer volume of information. By distilling your message to its essential elements, you not only demonstrate respect for your listeners’ time but also convey confidence in your judgment and decision-making abilities.

15 Nov Preventing Interruptions

Preventing interruptions begins by taking a closer look at the way you communicate your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. Beginning with the main point ensures that your listeners hear your most important insights before interruptions occur.

Learn how in this one-minute video.

5 Nov Executive Communication Coaching ~ An expanding and specialized field

Executive Communication Coaching (ECC) is a specialty within the leadership coaching field which focuses on imparting communication skill expertise to achieve individual, team and organizational success. ECC focuses on assessment and targeted goals, mindset change, skill presentation and practice; and is measured by observable results. Client self-discovery and insight are integral to the coaching process, as they greatly impact ability to integrate and apply new and effective strategies. ECC is distinguished from other Executive Coach expertise areas because of its primary focus on skills, and observable behavior change.

Why Executive Communication Coaching
Though the word “coach “is a familiar one in business today, our specialty, executive communication coaching is a relatively new area of expertise, rising in popularity since its sparse beginnings in the 1960’s…for good reason!

Research and polls consistently indicate that effective communication is linked to leader effectiveness and business results, while poor communication can sink the best business ideas.

For example, according to a 2022 Harris poll, 72% of business leaders stated that their team was challenged by miscommunication. They estimated that teams lose about one productive workday each week to poor communication.

Human communication skills remain essential, perhaps more so in the digital and AI age. In a recent LinkedIn survey, three quarters of US executives polled placed more value on human communication excellence versus AI-related skills. Professional communication skill development is linked to greater productivity, engagement, morale, and career success.

What are ECC focus areas?
Clients self-initiate or are referred for ECC group or individual programs in order to enhance effective communication mindset, strategies, and skills. Referrals are initiated by Human Resources, Learning and Development professionals, managers, and leaders/professionals themselves.

Here are the seven most frequently occurring client needs along with examples:

1 – Enhancing leaders’/teams’ presentation organization and delivery.  Organizational skills include the topics of wording, themes, structure, and high impact/high interest messaging. Delivery skills include oral (speech and voice) and nonverbal (facial expression, movement, gestures) best practices. Focus on incorporating appealing slides and visuals without overshadowing the presenter is a frequent goal. Clients see presentation competence and dynamism as a key attribute for leadership.

Client example one: Ying, a director in a top pharmaceutical firm, was rolling out an organizational change which would impact other directors’ roles and resources. She sought coaching for her team to enhance message clarity, consistency, and ability to handle resistance and challenges.

Client example two: A recent client outshone his competitors in a search for Audit Director for the State Department of Transportation because he alone, among all of the auditor applicants, had completed a Leadership Communication Coaching Program. Additionally, his energetic and persuasive delivery were noted by the interviewers as essential to making an impact as a new hire.

2 – Preparing for visibility opportunities. Companies want to ensure that leaders are effective in board meetings, moderating or appearing on a panel, video communication, poster session, conference talk, media appearances, keynote and other high stakes situations.

Client example: Rowen, a marketing professor recognized as a thought leader in his field wished to develop a salable keynote speech on the trending topic of privacy in digital marketing. Though his speaking skills were above average, he knew he needed to step up his game in order to achieve keynote presenter status.

3 – Increasing meeting leadership and facilitation skills, often with emphasis on the virtual environment, and creating safe, inclusive and engaging meetings.

Client example: Haley, a biostatistician, was charged with heading a thirty – person international research team meetings on a weekly basis. She was concerned that her questions to the group were met with silence, and that one team member dominated interactions. Haley sought coaching focused on creating a more enthusiastic and professional virtual appearance, and easy to apply engagement techniques. For example, she learned ways to create PODs- Participants of the Day—team members charged with responding to questions at a designated meeting.

4 – Developing more effective interpersonal leadership communication, often referred to as “Style Coaching” A wide range of goals are included in this category including increasing contributions in meetings, and improving likability and trust building behaviors.  Frequently requested topics include providing and receiving feedback, interview communication, delegating, coaching skills, and handling challenges and objections.

Client example one: Though competent, Rosa was alienating her peers and team members with her brusque style and disinterest in socializing. The accounting firm’s HR director felt she had done all she could to encourage Rosa, and sought professional coaching as a “last ditch investment” prior to letting Rosa go.

Client example two: Winn and Tomas, two super achievers in an international credit card company, were successful at every initiative–except gaining recognition and visibility with the C suite folks. When they weren’t invited to a leadership offsite at a swank Florida resort, they were fuming, and didn’t know how to handle the VP’s remark, “I didn’t think that you’d find the retreat time worthwhile.

5 – Influencing upward: Adapting to the communication style desired by company culture and senior leaders.

Client example:  A large insurance and financial services firm asked our company to develop a program titled Executive Briefings. The company leaders did not appreciate the overly detailed and longwinded “summaries” presented at meetings, and wanted enterprise-wide adoption of strategies focused on conciseness and prioritizing speaking points.

6 – Reducing nervousness in communication situations (also known as communication apprehension in the communication sciences field)

Client example: Sean, a lead civil engineer, was known for showcasing his team members at client meetings yet confessed that the real reason he wasn’t “center stage” was due to his longstanding fear of speaking in front of groups. Sean was up for a promotion to partner, but dreaded having to stand up and introduce himself at high power networking events. He expressed a “now or never” desire to control his communication apprehension.

7 – Maximizing comfort for leaders who use English as a business language. Common topics here include speech clarity and intonation improvement, understanding expressions and humor, and adapting style to various listeners. Emphasis is also placed on helping listeners appreciate diversity in leadership style and speaking patterns.

Client example: Lee, a nurse manager in a community hospital, believed that others judged her accent and grammatical errors as distracting, and she held herself back from expressing opinions. Her family found it humorous that she was seen as too quiet at work, since she was known for her never ending banter at home. Lee’s advocate in the hospital training department was on the hunt for a coach who could work on refining speaking patterns and building her confidence.

Executive Communication Coach Qualifications
Executive communication coaches, as do all coaches, require a wide range of knowledge, coaching practices, and character traits of calmness, flexibility, and creativity.

There are currently no certifying bodies for executive communication coaches, though the US based National Communication Association has formed committees to study the need for more rigor in field over the past decade.

Several communication companies offer training programs which focus on two areas: 1) Learning best practices in one or more of the coaching topics mentioned above 2) Learning coaching process and methodology. Note: Coaching in vocal and speech mechanics requires a specialization in a related field such as speech/language pathology, communication sciences, or vocal performance.

Moving forward, as the field grows, and standards for training are put in place, Executive Communication Coach competencies may include: Study of research, theory and practice in leadership communication; verbal organization presentation skills; communication apprehension; interpersonal communication; speech and voice mechanics; nonverbal skills; and persuasion; knowledge and application of assessment and goal setting; coaching philosophy and methodology; and behavioral change theory and approaches.

An internship with feedback and supervision from an experienced communication coach to develop and refine coaching style and practices is a must.

The Future of Executive Communication Coaching
As the AI age advances, the need for maximally effective human communication will likely increase, as indicated in recent studies of top business priorities. The field of Executive Communication Coaching is currently adding to leaders’ and team’s presentation, meeting, speech and interpersonal effectiveness, and business results. As the demand for ECC increases, standards for training and eventually certification will likely be established.

Helping leaders communicate with competence and confidence is a continual organizational need-and the profession of Executive Communication Coaching is guiding this critical mission.

23 Oct How To Communicate Price Increases

14 Oct Think Mind Over Mouth

24 Sep Simple & Effective PowerPoint Strategies for Non-Technical Listeners

When presenting to non-technical listeners, remember that your PowerPoint slides should clarify and emphasize your key business points. As a presenter, you may think all the information on the slide is important, but do your listeners need to understand it? Avoid overcrowding them with text and complex charts. Remember, your listeners should be listening, rather than reading your slides.

Here are four tips:

1. Identify the main takeaway for each slide.
2. Remove any unnecessary information.
3. Add value by conveying information not shown on the slide.
4. Ensure every slide is essential.

12 Sep Meaning Keeps Non-Technical Listeners Engaged

I recently met with a client who was concerned about presenting on a “dry topic”. His topic was full of data and technical concepts that he felt would bore the audience, and after hearing his first run through, he was correct.

One of the best ways to present technical information to a non-technical audience is to focus on what data means, not on the data itself. For example, if you analyze the stat sheet of your favorite athlete, the collection of numbers and statistics translate into how good or great the athlete is. Perhaps the data indicates that they are stronger on the road than they are at home, which is meaningful when you plan to bet on a game.

This example translates across industry from life-sciences to logistics. Instead of breaking down the scientific method, talk about how many lives your therapy saved, or how quickly life-saving supplies can be received after employing your new system.

Getting to the point or meaning behind your message will keep your non-technical listeners glued to your message. Then, when they seek you out to learn more, you’ll have the details in hand and ready for them to dive in.

5 Sep Cross-Cultural Conversations: Why Do We Misunderstand Each Other?

The topic of misunderstanding has many angles to discuss; it’s hard to pick one — tone, choice of words, inflection, context, etc.

Let’s look at teams that have members from other cultures. Now, remember, each group has its own culture, so when you see me use the word culture, it does not only mean different countries; it might mean other departments. The specific word I’ll focus on for this discussion is IDIOM.

Definition

an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “undecided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way) – Source: Merriam-Webster

While this may all sound like Latin to you, are we indeed that different in today’s modern world? Has the world changed that much? I like the topic of idioms because it’s how many Americans and other cultures communicate. Without awareness, it can be highly confusing for individuals learning English as a second language or those visiting an American culture.

A less formal explanation is that an idiom is a collection of words that together convey a specific meaning, but if you look at each word, they have very different uses.

Examples

These are just a few. As professional speech coaches, we train teams on cross-cultural communication often. During training sessions, we want participants to learn that what makes sense to them may not make sense to someone else. The other person might understand each word, but the collection of words together may have a different meaning. They should be aware of what they are saying, how they are saying it, and confirm understanding.

Imagine your daily conversations at work. How fast do you talk? How much information do you cover during a meeting? You see, your listeners nod and smile. Your talk makes great sense (to you). They express visual responses of understanding when, in reality, they have no clue what you’re saying. Then, you are surprised when the project comes out differently than expected.

Great communicators make an effort to maximize understanding. Perfect? No. However, we can improve our speech to communicate with clarity when we recognize the idioms that have become so ingrained into our speech. The sounds and words we use to communicate our thoughts can make perfect sense to us, but do they make sense to our listeners? If you use an idiom, try explaining it or consider how your listeners will or will not understand it. Give it some thought, and see how being more careful when communicating with people from other cultures does not improve.

26 Aug Pause and Consider Your Pauses

19 Aug Are You Seeing What I’m Saying?

12 Aug Where Do Attitudes Come From?

15 Jul How to Motivate Others

Become a more trusted and effective leader!

In this 30-minute recorded lesson, you will learn the difference between inspiration and motivation. We will introduce six proven strategies and show you the unique Motivation Matrixthat you can put to use immediately to motivate anyone.

Watch it now: https://speechimprovement.com/motivating-others-webinar-video/

27 Jun Is Authenticity Overrated?

“To thine own self be true” from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, is one of the most famous quotes from The Bard’s works.

The essence of these words has great staying power and meaning, especially now.

Applause for authenticity

When asked how they’d like to come across in their leadership roles, more clients than ever share that they’d like to be authentic, natural, and genuine. They want to be true to themselves – not phony, fake, put on, or overly packaged.

We coaches, of course, applaud these aspirational adjectives.

Feeling comfortable and “like yourself” can contribute to smooth, valuable, and positive interactions. Feeling inauthentic can lead to stiff delivery, gestures, and facial expressions.

Kayla, a marketing leader in biotech, was asked to speak at a town hall. She was more nervous than usual, stumbled over statistics, and was told she seemed “scripted.”

Why? Kayla was in the challenging position of not believing what she had to say to her team. Her desire to be authentic clashed with what company executives needed her to say. Quite a challenge!

The Dilemma

Communication coaches understand that solely relying on your “real self” may not always align with achieving your goals.

It’s important to stretch beyond “doing what comes naturally” in order to build your executive communication toolkit and success.

Authenticity Awareness Quiz

Answer these three questions to determine if moving beyond being authentic is a valuable goal for you.

1. Does my authentic self always help me get the desired results in this situation?
2. Does my authentic self always help me to build and maintain relationships?
3. Is my current toolkit of skills consistently effective for professional growth and success?

Most motivated professionals answer No to one or more of the above questions. Terrific! That shows a desire to expand their comfort zone, add new strategies to their toolkit, and experiment with feeling “authentic in new ways.

Executive communication coaches reassure our clients that:

• Authenticity + Building Best Practices is an ideal professional formula.
• New behaviors will feel awkward at first. Within three to six months, they will be part of your natural self.
• You will experience success as you expand your executive communication repertoire and, at the same time, still believe “To thine own self be true”.

6 Jun Paraphrase When Communicating and Coaching Others

Paraphrasing is repeating in your words what you interpret someone else to be saying. Paraphrasing is a powerful approach to furthering the understanding of the other person and yourself and can significantly increase the impact of another’s comments.

As coaches, we know paraphrasing is incredibly difficult because we often need to listen deeply, a skill you must purposefully cultivate. Despite appearing attentive, our minds are churning with various thoughts, beliefs, defenses, distractions, and redirections.

The best way to practice paraphrasing is in your personal life. You can apply this powerful skill at work once you get the reps in with your husband, wife, kids, cousins, or friends.

When paraphrasing:

• Focus your paraphrase on what the other person implied rather than what you wish they meant. For example, avoid saying, “So you’re saying you have NO homework? Instead, say, “If I understand correctly, you finished all your schoolwork during study hall?”
• Put the focus of the paraphrase on the other person, e.g., if the person said, “I had a horrible night; I didn’t sleep more than four hours,” then don’t paraphrase, “Well, I WISH I got four hours; I had an even worse sleep; I was up all night.” Instead, say, “Oh no, you only got four hours of sleep?”
• Put the ownership of the paraphrase on yourself, e.g., “If I’m hearing you right…” or “If I understand you correctly…”
• Put the ownership of the other person’s words on them, e.g., say, “If I understand you right, you’re saying that…” or “Do you believe that…” or “Do you feel that…”

In the paraphrase, use some of the other person’s words. For example, if the other person said, “I think we should do more fun outings as a family. We never go anywhere,” You might paraphrase, “If I’m hearing you right, you feel like we need to schedule more outings we can enjoy together as a family?”

Don’t judge or evaluate the other person’s comments, e.g., don’t say, “Don’t you think you should be calmer when we drive in rush-hour traffic?”

You can use a paraphrase to validate your impression of the other’s comments; e.g., you could say, “So you were frustrated when…?”

The paraphrase should be shorter than the original comments made by the other person. Be brief and concise. It’s not about you!

31 May MassBioEd Course: Presenting with Persuasion, Clarity & Strength

Join Robin Golinski, Executive Communication Coach and our partner, MassBioEd on June 13, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Presenting with Persuasion, Clarity & Strength provides professionals with key skills to comfortably speak in a clear and confident manner. Whether presenting internally or externally, telling your story effectively, delivering meaningful messages, being persuasive, and speaking confidently in a variety of settings takes skill development and practice. The course is taught with role-playing and exercises.

“I learned that non-verbal aspects when speaking were very important to be aware of. Most of the time, people do not know they are ‘presenting’ before actually speaking.” – Attendee, September 2021

Topics

• Sharing Communication Challenges
• Understanding the Listener’s Needs
• Understanding the Communication Environment
• Identifying Theme
• Being Persuasive
• Using Notes & Visual Aids
• Best Practices for Presenting Virtually
• Handling Questions
• Practice Strategies
• Deliver a Presentation to the Group

MassBio Member Rate: $850
Non Member Rate: $970

To register: https://massbioed.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/massbioed/eventRegistration.jsp?event=1596&

30 May Answering Challenging Questions on Your Feet (30 min recorded lesson)

Watch our free, 30-minute recorded lesson

When at work, questions are continuously being tossed out to us. At times,

We don’t know the answer and feel like we should.
We can’t answer the question.
We don’t have a good answer.
We know the question will cause conflict if we choose to answer it.

Anticipating questions can create anxiety, stress, and loss of productivity. There is a way to prepare for these questions so you feel more confident through giving information to others. In this 30-minute lesson, we focus on real-world skills and give you the tools so you can be on top of your game when these challenging questions arise at work.

Join Robin Golinski, Executive Communication Coach for an entertaining and informative, free 30-minute recorded session.

WATCH NOW