In the course of reading this issue, you'll be confronted with a tough choice.
Should women presenting on behalf of business: (A) Aspire to be like a flamboyant Marilyn Monroe   (C) Be themselves and not aspire to have any particular role model - and advise men to do the same (D) Join forces with men and rail against any gender-specific presentational advice that could be seen as outrageously sexist. But first the international economic outlook - and your business... |
AT LONG LAST, ECONOMIC OPTIMISM SHINES THROUGH
It's time to talk about the brightening outlook for the economy in the Western world. And what you and your team are doing to get into the best possible shape to ride the upswing. Of course we should start with that much under-discussed global economic indicator: "The Hertfordshire Taxi Index". Hertfordshire contains the little town on the farther outskirts of Greater London which is the headquarters of the Dodd "Boost-Your-Communications- In order to get to and from the local train station I end up talking with a lot of taxi drivers. For the past six years this has been a pretty gloomy experience. "Is the number of jobs you're getting going up or down?" I typically ask them. "Down", or "still the same" are the standard answers. This depressing news has over the period of the economic downturn, been underscored by the long snaking line of taxis at the station which is typically far far greater than the number of passengers.  But something at last is happening. The length of the taxi lines has been going down - and on a couple of occasions in the past month there have been customers waiting for taxis to turn up at the station rather than the other way around. And amazingly, a few taxi drivers are prepared to admit - at long last - that the number of rides they're doing is rising! The upturn in The Hertfordshire Taxi Index is being reflected by a more rosy economic outlook in much of the western world. It's showing up in the United States where things are getting increasingly bullish; in Australia where despite a slowdown in the minerals boom most economists are predicting healthy growth in the next couple of years; and through increased economic optimism in much of the Eurozone (leaving aside the troubled economies in the southern extremities). Here in the United Kingdom the government - wary of hailing the "green shoots of recovery" too early as happened near the end of the 1990s recession - is at last prepared to sound upbeat. News this past week that the UK economy is growing at its fastest rate for three years has triggered the professionally cautious Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, to declare that Britain "is on the path to prosperity". So is the time right for you and your team to get into top communications shape in order to sell your services and products as the economy (barring unexpected hiccups) blossoms in 2014? |
SET YOUR SALES FOR GROWTH
The Dodd "Boost-Your-Communications- As things pick up, you need to get your message across to the outside world to ensure you get your share of the recovery. Here are two ways to get those communications skills overhauled or polished - one for teams and one for individual rising business stars. 1. "GET READY FOR THE 2014 UPSWING": This master class is on offer in November and December 2013 for companies to put your key people in the best possible place to portray your offer to prospects - to sell more effectively and gain new clients. This session is ideal for leadership, sales and marketing teams. It enables your people to grab, hold and persuade audiences in pitches and formal presentations - with or without slides. And it helps refine performances in those informal business discussions where your message needs to come across with lasting impact. This session also helps your people give impressive well-thought out answers to those tough, tricky and challenging questions that arise in sales and marketing conversations and business negotiations. Typically conducted over a day, this master class leaves your team feeling confident, positive and ready to capture those 2014 opportunities. 2. "BECOME THAT INSPIRATIONAL LEADER IN 12 HOURS": This is a one-to-one communications package designed to match your individual requirements. It's built on the premise that as a contemporary business leader - or someone planning to be one - you need to inspire those around you in order to achieve your vision. And you need to counter the negativity that can be thrown at you when you try to change things. Your individual programme will be designed to fit flexibly around your busy schedule - and is typically carried out in 3 four-hour sessions. These will enable you to: # Project yourself as stand-out inspiring leader to audiences of all sizes - with confidence, impact and pizzazz # Supercharge your conversation skills so that you're uplifting those around you - and give great answers to those most challenging questions that make their way to the top # Master the communications revolution by dynamically getting your message across in webcasts, video conferences, the social media and news media. For further information on either of these sessions, email enquiries@michaeldoddcommunications.com - or call 0 (44) 7944 952835 to have a chat. These sessions are typically conducted on your premises - though other venues and studios can be arranged. My camera operators (if required) and I come to where you need us...wherever you are:  |
ADVISING WOMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT...BE CAREFUL
Now back to our opening topic.
The global law firm Clifford Chance has aroused internal controversy after circulating a memo to female lawyers in America providing gender-specific advice on presenting. The memo involved a string of tips from a senior partner in the firm its women's committee. The senior partner giving the advice - I should point out - was a woman, though she hasn't been publicly identified. There are definitely certain pieces of good advice for both sexes amongst her 150 tips for speaking in public. But it was the female-specific ones which led to some women in the company feeling patronised. The memo advocated "Think Lauren Bacall, not Marilyn Monroe". One of the contentious tips was: "Don't giggle; Don't squirm; Don't tilt your head." The first two of these could well be considered patronising by some. Not so the third one, I would maintain, which is something a lot of women do in the spotlight without realising it. A tilted head can be interpreted as a submissive sign which can conflict with your aim if you're seeking to establish yourself as an authority on your topic. I advise men against head tilting too, though it's overwhelmingly women who do it. However there is something to be said for occasionally breaking the rules if you know what you're doing. The late Diana, Princess of Wales did the head-tilting thing at times and deployed it in a way that tended to win over audiences - such as in her famous Panorama interview (pictured).  Another tip was: "Don't hide behind your hair". Some people do - mostly women. But the occasional longer-haired male can do it too. As for the alleged sexist aspect of the tips, a Clifford Chance recipient of the memo has been quoted as saying that she and her colleagues were "very upset by not only the elementary nature of the tips themselves, but the suggestion that these would only apply to women." Clifford Chance replied with a statement which included: "While much of what is covered is common sense, we believe that it is important that women as well as men are given access to a range of different viewpoints and approaches; there is no Clifford Chance template on how people should present. "The offence cause by a small percentage of the suggestions in the tip sheet was entirely unintentional." My experience is that there are some distinct differences between the presenting traps women and men typically fall into. For example men frequently put their hands in their pockets - and even worse fiddle with loose change inside them. Other men in the audience are typically not that bothered by this. But women in the audience frequently are - and feel incredibly strongly about it. So some gender-specific advice makes sense. But as Clifford Chance would now tell you - you need to be extra careful how it's conveyed. Back to the list of tips....and let's end with the advice on high heels. The guidance given was "make sure you can stand in your heels, not trip; don't rock back on them". Sounds like a good health and safety warning. And this should certainly apply to men wearing high heels too. Keep smiling, Michael |
