Cool, Calm and Connected

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Cool, Calm & Connected eZine

 

 

 

Dear Goddess Of Public Speaking:

“ I have some difficulty with asserting and bringing a group or client back to the topic and staying focussed. Maybe I don’t set the goal  or make it clear from the beginning? ” A.D., Social Worker

 

“ Verbal Drift “

Mmm, pesky things, groups and clients. Why do we have to take responsibility for everything!
Ok, I think you have answered your own question.

Speaking one on one with a client or working with a group necessitates that you are clear from the start. After all, they have come to you for help, direction and clarification.

If you don’t know where you are going, how on earth will they? In fact, an assertive client / group is likely to challenge your authority and you’ll drift even further from your topic. So,

1.    Decide in advance of your client / group, your purpose and anticipated outcome. In other words, what do you want for you, and what do you want for them?

2.    Be clear about what you are capable of offering the client / group. In other words, what can you do and what can’t you do? What are your limits on this topic?

3.    Anticipate likely questions, requests and objections.

4.    Check in with your internal Cool, Calm & Connected Barometer – in other words, just how are you feeling today? Defensive? Premenstrual? Keen to get a coffee? Make sure your needs are attended to, so you can focus clearly on assisting your client / group.

5.    Take charge from the beginning. Give the client / group a brief overview of the session, purpose and outcome. In other words, tell them what you’ll be talking about, what you expect to achieve and ask what they expect to achieve. Checking in with them means you are clear from the beginning and serves to unite the group / client with a common purpose and direction. (Nothing worse than someone saying, “Whoops, I thought this was a Wealth Mindset Session.”)

6.    If you drift away from the topic – take a breath, pause – wait for eyes to come back to you – and say brightly “ Oh my, we’ve strayed from the topic. We agreed we’d be talking about blah blah and we’ve only got 20 minutes left. In order to achieve what we agreed on – I need to come back to our topic. OK with you?” Renegotiate or continue as agreed.

Humans are herd-like in nature; we like to follow a leader. By establishing trust and rapport and demonstrating your capacity to lead, you’ll find it easier to keep the client / group focussed on the topic. Acknowledge out loud when you experience verbal drift (a normal occurrence). This allows you to take ownership and confidently assert redirection.

Communicating with clients / groups is a continual process of listening and readjusting. It needs to be a balance of giving and receiving – otherwise one side can feel unheard. In which case one of you is left drifting out to sea, and the topic, is long forgotten.

 

 

 

Cool, Calm & Connected Barometer

Ok, time to press the “Pause Button” and spend a moment on your personal and professional development. Rate how calm and present you are feeling right now between 1 and 10.
To speak and lead with natural ease and authenticity, aim to be as close as possible to “10”.
If you need a boost, try Cool, Calm & Connected’s Inner Calm exercise


 
 

 

© 2010, Geraldine Barkworth. Reprintable when full credit is given & whole newsletter is reproduced.
Contact Geraldine Barkworth on +61 (2) 6685 1917 or geraldine@coolcalmconnect.com.au

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