Page 133 - Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders

Ch08_Baldoni_141496-7 5/22/03 1:09 PM Page 111
DELIVERING THE MESSAGE
CHAPTER 8
easier for some leaders than presenting to an audience because the intimacy of
the moment is closer to the way we communicate in our daily lives. Some of
us are more comfortable than others in interpersonal discussions. If the leader
is naturally shy in such situations, he or she must find ways to overcome this.
Leaders owe it to their people to be honest and direct, especially when deliv-
ering constructive criticism. (For more on coaching, see Chapter 10.)
USING YOUR VOICE 111
Your most valuable asset as a speaker is your voice. Effective speakers vary
the pitch and inflection of their voice for emphasis. Think about all the mono-
tone lectures you had in college. Remember how boring they were? One rea-
son was that the professor never varied his or her tone of voice. Big points
melded with small points into some kind of tasteless stew of ideas that never
boiled, never simmered, just remained lukewarm. And was forgettable.
But with practice, you can move to the head of your class by putting some
zip and zest into your voice. Here’s how.
Give voice to your voice. Practice using rising and falling inflections
for meaning as well as for questions. Inflection is a form of audio punc-
tuation. Use it!

Hear your message. Record yourself speaking. After you get over the
hurdle of what your voice actually sounds like (trust me, everyone hates
the sound of his or her own voice), listen to what you are saying. Ask
yourself:
How am I using inflection?
Do I sound credible?
Would I buy from this guy?
This final question applies to everyone, not just salespeople. As presen-
ters, all of us are pitching something, so we need to ask whether the audience
is buying it, i.e., is receptive to the message. When speaking about Sundance
or his commitment to the environment, Robert Redford employs his actor’s
ability to reflect his conviction through his voice. You recognize his sincerity
in an instant.

USING YOUR BODY
Much discussion has been devoted to shaping your content and delivery. Most
of what we have explored thus far involves the mental processes of thinking
and writing. However, the physical process is also important. Unless you plan