 Sharing your entrepreneurial vision is one of those moments where it seems like everything hinges upon each word that drips from your lips. Well, that’s because it is one of those moments! So, how can you more effectively share your entrepreneurial vision with others?
Here are five quick tips to implement the next time you are going to share your entrepreneurial vision. 1) Communicate how you will add value and solve a problem We live in a time where our first inclination is to ask "how will this impact me?" As you are communicating your entrepreneurial vision be certain you are answering that question. But, answer it in a way that clearly indicates how you are adding value and solving a problem. Provide enough detail for the audience to understand your reasons for taking the action you will take. Your reasons need to convince your audience that your vision, when acted upon, adds value and solves a problem. Here are four questions to ask yourself to get you started: 1) What problem will my entrepreneurial vision solve? 2) What value is inherent in my entrepreneurial vision? 3) What is there to gain? 4) Why take action on my entrepreneurial vision now? In reality, sharing your vision is not just about "sharing," it is really about effectively communicating answers to questions. 2) Don't just "Tell 'em," have them "experience" it Communicating your entrepreneurial vision is not only about answering questions. To effectively share your entrepreneurial vision you must appeal to your listeners’ senses. Your listeners must "experience" your vision, not just “hear” about your vision. It is about using words to paint a picture in your listeners’ minds. If you offer a product or service, don't just tell your listener about the product or service, allow them to experience it. Don't just tell your listeners about the benefits of the product or service, allow them to experience them. There is a phrase, "experience is the best teacher." Well, experience is also the best influencer of action! 3) Use effective heart/head balance Too many of us are not balanced when we share our vision. We either have too much emotion, or not enough. Either too much logic, or not enough. Let’s be realistic, most entrepreneurs are driven by what can be, not what is. Entrepreneurs find it easy to paint a vision with “heart” appeal. Heart appeal is a good thing, it is both the flicker that starts the entrepreneurial fire and the fuel for long-term motivation. A “head” appeal calls on human reasoning and logic. A head appeal satisfies the “yes, but” folks. “Yes, that sounds like a great idea, b-u-t…what’s the start-up cost… what’s the statistical need…etc” A head appeal shares, in a very real sense, the logical reasons for taking action on your entrepreneurial vision. The key is finding the right balance of “heart” and “head” for your vision. 4) Know that some questions won’t have answers The typical response of someone who is hearing your entrepreneurial vision for the first time is always the same – they will have questions. Questions are understandable, but don’t expect to have all the answers to all the questions. While this may be hard for your audience to grasp, it is just part of the DNA of an entrepreneur. Some questions won't, or can't, be answered ahead of time. Often, the answers come in the midst of the vision unfolding. So, when asked a question that just does not need an answer yet, here is a phrase that works great, "that's a great question that we will entertain as the vision unfolds into reality." 5) Wear your CAP When sharing your entrepreneurial vision, above all else, be sure to wear your CAP. CAP stands for: Conviction, Action Orientation, and Passion. People are impressed by figures and data and logic, but people yearn for someone with conviction, action orientation and passion. Your listeners can get behind someone with conviction, because conviction means you won't stop when troubles plague your launch. Your listeners can get behind someone with action orientation, because action orientation means you have the gumption to back up your vision with sustainable action. Your listeners can get behind someone with passion, because passion means you have the fuel to persevere through the grueling stages of making a vision become a reality. So, don't forget to wear your CAP! Sharing your entrepreneurial vision is a communication art and science that can be developed to more effectively impact your listeners. Happy vision casting!
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Miscommunication. What is it? Miscommunication is simply, “the message you sent is not the message that was received.” No matter what position, market or industry miscommunication creeps in from time to time. It is widely recognized that there are four major places where miscommunication occurs: - What I said - What I meant - What you heard - What you thought I meant Clearly, at any point along the continuum of communicating, miscommunication is present.
Miscommunication, though amusing at times, can be costly when it comes to staff productivity and business results.
Here are three quick tips to reduce your miscommunication. ABC’s to reduce miscommunication A = Assess receiver and situation With a better understanding of who you are talking with and the specific communication situation, you will be better able to tailor your message for a more complete understanding. You, of course, would not speak the same way with a four year old as you would a forty year old. Nor would you communicate the same doing an employee corrective action plan in private as opposed to a team meeting. B = Be aware of your message Know that your message is more then the words you say. Your message is really a package of what you say, how you say it, what you don’t say and your nonverbal communication all rolled up in one. Know that your communication is going to reveal both content and relationship messages throughout. Be sure you are aware of the content message – the focus, ideas, information, etc…as well as the relationship message – the cues about your emotions, attitudes, power, control, etc. C = Create a feedback loop o One of the most important steps in reducing miscommunication is creating the opportunity for feedback. Feedback is the verbal and nonverbal responses between communicators about the clarity and acceptability of the message. o Don’t let the communication interaction end until you have ensured the other person has understood by receiving feedback. That is, was the message I sent, the message you received. There you have it, three quick ways to reduce miscommunication…it is as easy as ABC!  We all have made mistakes when giving a presentation. But, here are the five biggest mistakes we can make...and how to avoid them:
1. Don’t start like Gumby if you want to end like superman Don’t start by whimpering “Thank you for that kind introduction.” Start with a wow factor! Entice your audience with an intriguing story…give them a startling statistic…build their interest with a quip or a quote. Whatever it is, make sure it is powerful and will get their attention immediately. 2. Don’t call it a speech if you are just going to read Don’t read your speech or presentation word for word. Many a great business leader has put the audience to sleep by reading to them. Instead, use an outline. Refer to your outline to prompt your thoughts, then look at your audience and speak to them. Think of your presentation as large conversation. 3. If you want your audience to go away…end with a Q & A A major pitfall is to end your exceptional speech with a question and answer session. You open yourself up, and your audience, the opportunity to publically shoot holes in your presentation. Instead, close with a review of your key ideas and conclude with a call to action. If you have to have a question and answer session, here a few ideas:
4. If you fail to prepare, you better prepare to fail If you don’t put in the work up front, you can’t expect the outcome to be favorable. Preparation is crucial to presentation success. Every time you face an audience you are putting your (and your companies) reputation on the line. The surest way to make a great impression is to prepare in advance. Be sure to know a few crucial elements:
5. Be ready for a lash’n if you ain’t got passion Passion is contagious. We have all heard someone who is really excited and passionate about what they do or say. When you walk away from that person you know what their position is and, without question, what they were communicating. The more passion you can convey about your topic, the more likely your audience will be to act on your information and suggestions. If you lack passion, your audience will surely tell you by their feedback, both verbal and nonverbal. So, give them something to talk about with your passion. You like this info? Need to sharpen your presentations skills for the big meeting or your next company wide meeting? Get an executive speech coach today! |
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