We live in a sound bite world. News in 5-6 second bites. Text messages in few words. Voice mails…few words. Emails? Emphasis on short to be memorable. Commercials? When was last time you saw a 60 second commercial? Blogs, short are 160 characters (Not words, characters.). Medium may go to 200 words.
Chat’s? Short questions and answers. Newsletters? Typically 1-4 pages featuring 3-4 topics. AI summarizes with emphasis on brevity. Quora stresses brevity. So does Substack.
Articles telling us how to write stress flair, motivation, inspiration,, energizing, humor, humility, etc. Ok, let’s do it. Starting now.
In all communications we need to be
-Clear and succinct.
Clear and succinct.
Start with the result. Never the story.
You will use your leadership description when introducing yourself to new acquaintances. Introducing yourself at speaking engagements. (Or give person introducing you written copy.) As reminder when making presentations within your team/company.
How long should it take you? Probably an hour or two.\
Do it in 15 minute increments. We can always find extra 15 minutes. Hour or 2, more difficult.
So how do you describe your leadership style? In 30 seconds
Write key words that describe your leadership style? Underline words that best describe you.
List your leadership traits? Number them from most to least important.
What are your 3 most significant accomplishments demonstrating your leadership? What is sequence starting with your greatest?
Need some help on these? Ask key people to list them for you. They see you differently than you do. Often their answers to above are better than our own. Start with spouse or significant other. Former boss that knows you well. Best friend. Ask people that will be brutally honest.
You don’t want people that will stroke your ego. You need people to help you present yourself as the leader you are.
Now describe your leadership style.
Write down everything that comes to mind. Words on paper. You’ll clean them up and shorten them later. Now, just describe your leadership.
Expect to end up with few paragraphs.
Read your description out loud. Which sentences best sell you? Present you most favorably? Which sentences are fillers? (Cross them out.) Which sentences will get the attention of listeners?
Now you are ready to write hard-hitting intro to you leadership style.
This isn’t elevator pitch. This is statement that:
Sells you
Attracts other leaders to offer you great opportunities.
That clearly and succinctly describes the leader you are.
So where do you start?
With your most significant result. Majority of people will not want to hear your story. Just the bottom line.
Your opening sentence needs to be that significant accomplishment. When you start speaking, people are still thinking about their last thought. You need to arrest their attention first 5 seconds. Nothing does that like attention getting accomplishment
Make your audience (even if it’s just one) perk up. “I want to hear this.”Second sentence implies how you did that. “Implies” don’t give the whole answer. Hold some in reserve. People will invariably ask. When they ask you know you have their undivided attention.
Third sentence can be another accomplishment. In 10 words or less.
Fourth sentence. Tells them you are here to explain how this was done and how they can do it.
Read what you have re-written out loud. Time yourself. Expect to go over a minute.
Now to the fun, exciting part. Choosing your words.
Your description is to long. Step away. Set it aside. Come back tomorrow. You will immediately start to see places where one word can replace 3. Where you can shorten a sentence.
Spend 15 minutes fine tuning. Then set aside. Come back next day and shorten more. Now read it out loud. You should be getting to 30-40 seconds. 40 seconds for these statements is acceptable, BUT NOT 50 SECONDS.
Want a critique? When you are satisfied, send me a copy. Be glad to critique.
We have all done these. Probably many times. We never get so good that another viewpoint isn’t valuable.
Enjoy articles like these? Join us. Sharing perspectives is how we all grow. I may be 84 but I am still growing and sharing professionally every day.
Tom Ferree is the founder of Ferree & Associates and SecureEmploy, organizations focused on helping companies find exceptional talent and helping professionals advance their careers. Since founding Ferree & Associates in 1977, Tom has worked extensively with hospitality companies, executives, and rising leaders across the industry. Through SecureEmploy, he shares practical career strategies, leadership insights, and real-world advice to help professionals grow their careers and help organizations build stronger teams.
