You can benefit from this consultant's return to doing what he was born to do. By Mary Auestad Arnold
CUES’ 2014 CEO/Executive Team Network changed Michael Hudson’s life. While attending a session with Do More Great Work author Michael Bungay Stanier, Hudson realized he wasn’t doing much great work at all.
In fact, Hudson, who holds a Ph.D. and heads his own company, writes that he was only spending 10 percent of his time on “truly great work, defined by Stanier as ‘life altering strategic work’—the work you were born to do that creates a real impact on the world.”
Less than a year later, Hudson has “redefined my approach to allow me to do the work I do best and enjoy most—the ‘great work’ that had been pushed out by the ‘bad work’ taken on in trying to grow the business,” he writes in “How the Great Work Pie Chart Changed my Life.”
One piece of Hudson’s great work is coaching leaders to be better presenters and communicators. To that end, he wrote the downloadable ebook Michael Hudson’s 52 Speaking Tips. Here are a few tips to get you started, whether you're on stage or presenting at a meeting:
Determine the real objective of your presentation. Is it to persuade? Teach? Share information? Your objective will dictate the way you deliver your presentation, and the way you structure your content.
The human mind can handle seven (plus or minus two) pieces of information at any point in time. Stick to two or three main points, and develop subpoints around them.
There are visual listeners, auditory listeners, and kinesthetic (feeling) listeners. Make sure your presentation engages and provides for all three types by telling vivid stories, varying your voice, and showing emotion.
Before you speak, gently press your right thumb against the palm of your left hand. There is a point in the middle of this palm called the ulnar point. Pressing that will relax your body because it goes directly to your heart.
Learn to pause--at the right time--to create emphasis, build interest, and make your audience pay attention. Effective speeches have natural breaks throughout. Avoid over-talking -- and utilize pauses to pace your presentation.
Mary Auestad Arnold is CUES' VP/publications and digital media.
Read two posts by Hudson "Develop Your 'Leader Voice'" and "Six Ways to Develop Your Leader Voice."
Michael Bungay Stanier will present at CUES Symposium: A CEO/Chairman Exchange, Jan. 31-Feb. 4 in Maui. Hudson will present "Mastering Execution--How Criticial Decisions Drive Your Strategic Success" at Execu/Summit, March 6-11 in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
