| Many business leaders are brilliant strategists. | | | | programs, and finally, we will end with our outlook |
| They execute flawlessly, they differentiate their | | | | for the next quarter. |
| products and services and stay steps ahead of | | | | Sounds elementary, but so many leaders just |
| the competition. But some of these same brilliant | | | | start down in the details without outlining and |
| strategists have an Achilles Heel: they can think | | | | structuring ideas first. It is a basic courtesy to the |
| strategically but cannot communicate strategically. | | | | listeners and also a hallmark of a highly effective |
| When a leader has a vision for his or her | | | | communicator. |
| company, but does not communicate it | | | | 3. State Main Ideas Succinctly. When you |
| effectively, that vision might remain just an idea | | | | introduce an important concept, announce the |
| and never get acted upon. To effectively verbally | | | | main idea in simple terms. No more than five |
| communicate ideas so employees can execute, | | | | seconds! For example, a concise five-second |
| leaders might consider three highly effective | | | | statement might be: Our go-to-market strategy is |
| personal communication strategies. | | | | critical to our partners. Then explain why and how |
| These can be used for face-to-face and small | | | | it is critical. |
| group meetings, webinars, and even voicemail. | | | | Here is an example of a poorly stated main idea: |
| 1. Start with a Purpose Statement. Why are you | | | | We have worked on our go-to-market strategy |
| communicating? Everyone wants to know what a | | | | for some time now and had input from many of |
| speaker will be talking about. State your main idea | | | | you in the room as well as our partner |
| for communicating within in the first few minutes: | | | | community, and we feel we now have a strategy |
| We are going to examine our go-to-market | | | | that is compelling not only for us and our |
| strategy with our partners, or Today we will | | | | partners, but for our customers both in North |
| discuss the succession plan we have developed | | | | American and the Asia Pac region as well. |
| for our management team. | | | | Do you know what the main idea is? Could you |
| A clear and concise purpose is critical for audience | | | | even remember all these concepts? The longer |
| understanding. It also shows your team that you | | | | your main idea is, the less chance the audience will |
| are an organized and pragmatic leader. | | | | understand it. If they cannot understand, it is hard |
| 2. Structure Ideas. Audiences, especially business | | | | for them to execute on it. |
| audiences, like structure. They like a clear opening, | | | | Organized communication, logically structured, and |
| a middle and an end. One key is to use numbers | | | | stated concisely will help you earn the reputation |
| to structure your talk. For example, Today we | | | | of an effective communicator and leader. Most |
| are going to examine our go-to-market strategy | | | | importantly, it will enable your employees to more |
| with partners. First, we will start by outlining our | | | | easily execute on your ideas. |
| marketing strategy; second, our incentive | | | | |