Leaders are always on stage. Always performing.
That was easy to remember starting out. After few years, found I was winging it more. And not being as successful. I had quit thinking about my audience before weekly staff meetings. When meeting with teams. Meeting with bosses. Stakeholders. The Board of Directors.
I still did it when making major presentations and speeches. But rest…
Got pulled up short by Board Member. Asked why I was not as successful, any more. Sure as heck not something anyone wants to hear from Board Member. Fortunately he was trying to help me, not sink me.
He pointed out my meetings were no longer crisp. I asked him to elaborate. Now meetings were taking longer and accomplishing less. He said I used to think everything through before every meeting. Why wasn’t I doing that anymore? As I thought about it, he was right. Unknowingly, I had gotten complacent. Wasn’t a conscious thought, just happened.
Dangerous ground for any leader at any time. Meeting with audience every week or month, was no reason to quit considering:
Where each participant was coming from?
How discussions affected them? Their teams?
What was end goal of meeting/presentation? From each person’s perspective?
Was I addressing their concerns? Or only mine?
Bluntly put, I was no longer thinking about my audience from their viewpoint.
Time to step back and re-establish t hat worked.
How to tailor presentations and meetings to your audience?
What is objective of today’s presentation?
Who is audience?
There are always different agendas?
Does meeting address everybody’s agenda? If not, why not? Why is person attending if agenda does not impact them?
Where does this meeting/presentation fit overall goals and objectives?
Is meeting presentation timely? To early in process? To late?
Why the hell are we meeting today? (How many meetings have we all asked that question!)
Going through this checklist is valuable before any presentation. Meeting one-on-one with boss? Vendor? Customers? Clients? Press? Board? Industry organizations
It’s hard for leaders to avoid slipping into routines. Just like everyone else.
CTA: What are your tips on how you avoid the “slip?”
How will you convey tips to your team?
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.
