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By Susan Battley Recently, the chief executive officer of a Fortune 50 company had to deliver very tough news about the company's performance and prospects. At an internationally televised event, he delivered a detailed corrective plan that included major layoffs over the next years. And I do mean detailed. He read page after page of his presentation, seldom looking at the standing-room only audience. To be sure, his was an unenviable job. But when he said the words "I am fully confident...," they just did not ring true. He was going through the motions of reading a scripted message. No eye contact, flat tone, hunched posture. His non-verbal behavior completely contradicted what he was saying. This leader certainly wasn't ready for his close-up. When it comes to important communications, do you "look the part"? People look for congruence and consistency between what you're saying and how you're saying it. They want to be looked in the eye. Whether you're on network television or speaking before a small group of clients or sponsors, you need to master a "whole person" range of communication skills to be effective. Research confirms that people make almost instantaneous inferences about a person's competence based on his or her looks. The good news is that you can use this information to your advantage. Here's What You Can Do
Copyright © Susan Battley, PsyD, PhD. All rights reserved. |
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"I would highly recommend Susan and her firm to anyone interested in professional growth and the development of cohesive, performance-driven management teams." - Wes Card
President & CEO
Jones Apparel Group
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