Good at what you do, but struggling with your communication skills? Igotchu! 😎
Yes, your Majesty!
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There is a line in the brilliant musical, Hamilton, where the character King George (who steals the show in every scene he is in) says to the Founding Fathers of the newly independent America..."What comes next? You've been freed. Do you know how hard it is to lead?C ommunicator of the Week Award goes to King Charles for his marvellous speech to the US Congress, in which he deftly reminded the Americans of the principles that the country is supposed to stand for, but which it seems to have forgotten in recent years. "In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today." ​ Whilst he began his speech with humour and the obligatory reminder of the historical commonalities between Britain and the USA, he quickly settled into his theme about the critical importance of adhering to the higher values of good leadership - the rule of law, good governance, protection of the weak, diversity, respect for different faiths, compassion, peace, partnership and more. It was an obvious and yet veiled critique of the autocratic approach to leadership of Donald Trump, but without ever actually naming him or calling him out. And he did it all with quiet grace. It was a masterclass in how to deliver iron-fisted criticism in a royal velvet glove, and the reviews were universally positive, even from President Trump. You may well find yourself in the tricky position of needing to speak some harsh truths to your audience without alienating them. It can be tough, but necessary to do. The key is to first establish your common bonds and use a warm tone without any hint of judgment. This helps you present yourself as a friend, so that when you deliver your criticism, it feels like it is coming from a place of kindness, not animosity. It can be tempting to just avoid speaking the hard truths that you know people need to hear. It is certainly safer. But it will nag at you and sooner or later, the thing you know you should have spoken up about, will manifest itself in a way that is even worse than you feared. Have courage. Choose your words carefully. Deliver it with clarity and kindness. You'll be glad that you did! Kolarele ​ |
Build your Communication SuperSkills
Good at what you do, but struggling with your communication skills? Igotchu! 😎
This week, a massive fire ripped through and destroyed a warehouse in North London. The warehouse was home to numerous small businesses, one of which was a brand creating beautiful interior products with West African designs, called Eva Sonaike. Imagine watching your life’s work go up in flames and knowing that nothing would be salvageable. Devastating! It would be easy to wallow in regret and self pity, but that isn’t how Eva is built. Tears? Yes. Disbelief? Of course. But also an unshakable...
There's a famous scene in the first season of the West Wing. Things haven't been going well for President Bartlett and his administration, mainly because he is too cautious to really fight for what he believes. Finally exasparated, he makes the decision to forget about the politics of reelection and speak up for what he believes. His chief of staff relieved that the President has finally decided to stop holding back, writes down an edict to every member of the White House staff that reads:...
Sometimes it really is just about looking the part! Communicator of the Week Award goes to the Carters (Jay-Z, Beyonce, Blue Ivy) for their stunning look at the Met Gala event this week. Of course, communication is primarily about what you say and how you say it, but that doesn't mean that how you look is irrelevant. I recommend to all my clients to have a go to look for their speeches and presentations. Think of it like armour that makes you feel like you are in control. And The Carters...