A few weeks ago I ran a masterclass on executive presence, and proposed that the three primary challenges facing finance leaders in relation to executive presence are that they feel:
What gets in the way of us breaking through that brick wall?
I believe that usually what gets in the way is our own need to be seen as the expert, to have all the answers, or to be “right”. All these needs have built up over many years, particularly if your worth has been derived from gaining technical knowledge, and they can cause us to persist with our method or style of communication long after it has been proven ineffective.
So what’s my top tip for getting through that brick wall?
It might seem counterintuitive, but it is Listening.
Learning to listen helps us to understand the other person’s perspective and what really matters to them. Once we understand more about their needs we can connect on a much deeper level which in turn will enable us to collaborate more effectively to achieve the organisation’s purpose and goals.
How can you practice being a better listener in meetings?
You can access my executive presence masterclass here.
If you're not already following me on LinkedIn I would love to connect with you there.
- Invisible: are you holding yourself back from speaking up?
- Ignored: do you feel like you delivering the same message again and again and yet having no impact?
- Isolated: are you so focused on deliverables and deadlines that you are neglecting relationships?
What gets in the way of us breaking through that brick wall?
I believe that usually what gets in the way is our own need to be seen as the expert, to have all the answers, or to be “right”. All these needs have built up over many years, particularly if your worth has been derived from gaining technical knowledge, and they can cause us to persist with our method or style of communication long after it has been proven ineffective.
So what’s my top tip for getting through that brick wall?
It might seem counterintuitive, but it is Listening.
Learning to listen helps us to understand the other person’s perspective and what really matters to them. Once we understand more about their needs we can connect on a much deeper level which in turn will enable us to collaborate more effectively to achieve the organisation’s purpose and goals.
How can you practice being a better listener in meetings?
- Create breaks between meetings so you don’t have to rush from one straight into the next
- Try mini-mindfulness practices, such as 3 deep breaths, at the start of every meeting to ensure you are fully present
- Put devices on flight mode or turn them off and take notes on paper
- Ask yourself what might be true for this other person?
You can access my executive presence masterclass here.
If you're not already following me on LinkedIn I would love to connect with you there.
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