Business Rhetoric

When you are performing
Mood Buttons: You determine the atmosphere
You are the one setting the atmosphere so remember to be aware of which mood matches your message.
Eye contact: Shortcut to togetherness and intimacy
Look out and up and smile with your eyes. You can see how the audience feel – whether they are interested... and eye contact is the fastest way to create a feeling of togetherness and projecting involvement.
P A U S E S: Shortcut to power and self-containment
Remember to be silent now and again! It is of importance to yourself as well as the audience. You project self-containment by having the situation under control. It is easier to remember what to say. The audience will find you more interesting to listen to, and last, but not least, it is easier for them to remember what you have said.

Let your slides take care of themselves and move out into the room to you audience – you will come across as a lively and engaging speaker.

Move out into the room

Preparation
Test your introduction with the Power Circle – can you get to the point?
If you have not got an introduction, you can always use one of the following three Power Circles – they are sure winners:
“Good morning/afternoon – my name is XX.
I am the XX of (company).
I am here to talk about XX and I hope you can use it for XX.”
Consider why the audience are listening to your speech
What do you think the audience want to achieve by listening to your speech? Make a note of one to three goals and attempt to have them in mind during your speech/presentation.
Which changes of behaviour or thoughts do you want to achieve from your speech?
The better defined your goals are, the better you will achieve them.

Quick Fixes

You have only got five minutes for preparation before going on the podium, and you have not got time to go through the entire book... Quite understandable! Therefore, I have 3 × 3 quick fixes for you here that are easy to take with you and use right away.

Solution #3
The solution is that, at the time of your first presentation of the transformation, you make room for questions and comments – either at the big meeting or by presenting how it will take place in the individual parts of the business.

Challenge #3: Coffee machine chatter instead of meeting room talk
Similar to many other rhetorical situations, it is important that the employees are heard during the transformation process – otherwise, there is a risk that their frustrations and chatter will get out of control.

Solution #2
The best solution is detailed and clear communication from the very beginning. Do not hesitate to present your employees with a communications plan at the first presentation; doing so, from the very beginning they are aware that there will be clear management and control throughout the transformation.

Challenge #2: Omitting to follow up
Failing to provide oral follow-up relating to the transformation can damage your credibility, because it indirectly implies that the employees are left to their own devices.

Solution #1
The solution is that during your preparation, you have a good think about how you believe your employees will react to the transformation. Focus on their first expected reaction, when you tell them about it. Subsequently, in the presentation situation, you will find it easier to handle their reception of the message. But be careful of saying that “you know how they feel” – that may often come across as very patronising and derogatory. Instead, use a softer formulation in the lines of:
“I can imagine that this kind of news triggers a lot of thoughts, and all the questions that arise from these thoughts are something we, of course, will have to take a good look at.”