The ability to speak effectively in public may well define your impact as a leader
By Michael Hudson, PhD
“Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership.” ~ James Humes
Imagine you’re part of the leadership team of a credit union that has had its culture change (and not in a good way) by a merger. After redefining the culture and considering options for rolling it out, the leadership team decides to have the CEO record a video message that is shared with all staff in a series of events involving all areas of the credit union. This was a great decision! The voice and video message feels personal because the CEO’s passion shows, because he tells some real-life stories, and because the message is consistent. If the message had been delivered in writing or in someone else's voice, the impact would not have been the same. Indeed, the leader's voice plays a critical role in the success of any business. Whether articulating a vision for the credit union, delivering on-the-spot recognition to an employee for a job well done, responding to a customer complaint, or presenting quarterly results to the board, the leader must be able to deliver the message effectively. Not surprisingly, leaders (at all levels) struggle with speaking in "public"—whether communicating one on one with a team member, correcting course in a meeting, or making key announcements in front of the full staff. Many times, a little voice inside starts asking pesky questions and raising concerns. Leaders worry they will fail, and everyone will laugh. They fear people will judge them for the worse. They fret about whether the words will come out right, and question whether the message they want to deliver will be the one the audience receives. The natural human reaction when we feel uncomfortable is to avoid the experience that makes us feel that way. So many leaders opt to rely on emails to share their ideas, or they simply keep them to themselves. But to be fully effective in leading your team and your credit union, the ability to speak in public situations must be mastered. In fact I would argue that the ability to speak effectively in public is the single most important factor that will define your impact as a leader, and therefore the success of your credit union. So how do you develop your leader’s voice and master the skill of speaking in public? Here’s one idea to get you started: Change the way you speak to yourself. Start monitoring the words you say to yourself before you enter a situation where you need to speak. Are you saying things that make you confident and support your success, or are you planting doubts in your mind before you even open your mouth? What should you say to yourself to refocus your thinking and increase your impact? What’s your best tip or trick for success in using your leader’s voice? Please post it in the comments.
Michael Hudson, Ph.D., founder and principal of CreditUnionStrategy.com, is a speaker, facilitator, consultant and executive coach. Hudson helps individual credit unions discover and implement strategy, build and sustain culture, and identify and develop leaders. Download a free copy of his ebook, 52 Speaking Tricks. Hudson has been among the executive coaches who worked with attendees during previous CEO/Executive Team Network events. Coaches will also be on hand at this year's event, slated for Nov. 8-11 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
