Three Signs It's Time to Hire a Speech Coach
By Christina McKenna
“There’s not an employee at the company who doesn’t love him,” she said, “Which is why it’s so hard to watch.”
The HR leader was calling about her company’s beloved CEO, a talented executive who had risen through the organization’s own ranks to land the top job, only to underwhelm in high stakes moments.
“When it comes to knowing the ins and outs of the business, there’s no one better,” the HR leader went on. “But when he steps onto a stage, in front of the Board, or even in front of his own leaders, he never conveys the strength and confidence of someone at the helm. He comes off as an expert---but not an executive.”
It’s a familiar scenario for us at Bluestone, especially among leaders who come up through the channels of their companies, stockpiling invaluable institutional knowledge and a cache of contacts. On paper, they’re ready for the role. But in real life situations, which require them to not just know the answers but to engage, inspire, or persuade, they come up short.
Here are three signs an executive’s communication skills aren’t cutting it and coaching may be in order:
They decline or avoid speaking opportunities. In high-level roles, being the center of attention comes with the job. Leaders who avoid the spotlight may think they’re being humble, but they’re probably shirking an important duty and costing themselves and their companies by taking the pass.
They’re still speaking like a subject matter expert. If they’re still using presentations and town halls to merely transfer information, not share insight and inspiration, they’re squandering opportunities to lead. Worse, by presenting like a junior team member, they’re making others question why they’re in the big job in the first place.
They talk freely, but without focus. When it comes to public speaking, executives who profess to be better when they “wing it,” often overcompensate for a lack of preparation by rambling. They confuse quantity with quality. They manage to run out the clock, but rarely come away with the win.
The good news for all three types is that coaching can be of enormous help. Simple strategies and techniques can make correcting these challenges fairly simple and pain free. And, because these leaders are typically quick studies who are eager to fix these very visible flaws, even a few hours of support with the right coach can yield significant results.
In the case of the executive mentioned above, coaching was transformative, helping him to start seeing every communication with fresh eyes. In time, presentations that he once approached as “report outs” became opportunities to advance his agenda. Best of all, he challenged the rest of his team to start elevating their communication game as well, setting in motion even more success across the team.
For more great ideas and tips for rock solid communication, visit us at bluestoneexec.com or call us at 248.514.7085.