Leadership Launch: Public Speaking
Julie Navickas, Class of '16, led off Government Day with a variety of tips for anyone who finds themselves tasked with speaking to a group. What are 6 things to consider about your audience? What are 11 ways to engage your audience during a speech? How (and how often) should humor be used? What are 8 rules of thumb about using technology? Her entertaining presentation included a role-playing game. By the end nearly half the class volunteered to put on theatrical examples of "poor delivery" tactics. Among this Launch's leadership challenge assignment options were to attend and evaluate a speech made by someone else, or to volunteer to contribute to a presentation at work.
Leadership Launch: Crucial Conversations
Most leaders have been in the position of discussing an uncomfortable and sensitive topic. Andy Schuster of GROWMARK, Inc. spent two hours during the Mid-Year Retreat training the class on the art of "mastering their stories" and delivering them in a fact-centered, open-ended fashion. The in-session exercises revealed how easily we spin facts into unfounded conclusions that drain our energy and success in crucial conversations. The class spent much of the time developing an approach for a real-life work situation they're facing, and was assigned to report back on how the conversation went in two weeks.
How Are We Doing? Mid-Year Progress Reports
At the Mid-Year Retreat the class got a chance to apply their recently learned public speaking tips and to share how they've grown as leaders so far this year by answering three questions about one of the Leadership Launch skills:
- Where was your skill level before LMC? Give an example.
- What steps did you take during LMC to improve this skill?
- Give an example of your success in improving.
The speakers thrived under the pressure of delivering a 3-5 minute presentation while on camera, and it was clear that skills like time management ("eat the frog") and team building had improved the way people behaved on the job.
Leadership Launch:
Alumni and prospective participants are always welcome to join us during the 8:00-9:30 Leadership Launch segment of each day. Upcoming skills: