Like it or lump it Donald Trump can teach us a thing or two about leadership. A businessman from New Jersey, Trump has elevated himself to the highest political office in his country. Divisive as he is, there are things we can learn from his communication strategy.
In today's job market, “Communication Skills” have transcended the ‘soft skills’ category and gone right to number one on every hiring managers list when it comes to securing new talent. For those of us who struggle with communication, this can be a daunting prospect.
Despite our competence to do the job, our ability to excel in the area of communication can be the one things standing between us and the career progression we want.
We’ve all been that person in a scenario where we wanted to communicate something, but we realise with a sinking heart, we’ve fluffed it. The urge was there, to speak above the parapet, to have our voice heard. Yet, when our turn finally came, we took too long and talked too much. We end up walking away, doubting whether we really got our point across.
Getting the right job for you is a delicate mission, and one that can feel fraught with challenges. The job you dream of is where you can do what you are good at, what you enjoy on a daily basis, where the workplace feels like home and where work doesn’t feel like work. Right?
Your stomach is queasy, your palms are sweaty, and your mind has gone blank about your opening lines. It's the bog standard, presentation heebie jeebies kicking in. If this sounds familiar, how about some tools to blast them out of the water once and for all?
We hear it all the time. Honesty and openness is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship. Why then do we approach our working relationships with any less transparency than we do in our personal relationships?
The special day has arrived. As you stand up to deliver your speech you gently tap the side of your glass invitingly. Heads dressed in white from the neck downwards turn in your direction like a flurry of flamingos. It’s your time to shine!
Have you ever listened to a brilliant speaker and felt captivated by the music of their speech, the poetry of their words and the resonance of their voice? Then they probably have that magical combination that we call eloquence.
The workplace is fraught with different pressures. “Am I good enough?” “Have I achieved my KPI’s?” “Do I deserve this job?” “Am I justified in asking for that pay rise?” “What does my boss think of me?” At one point or another, most of us have asked ourselves at least some of these questions.
Respect, it is said, is earned and not given. For many of us, being respected as a leader or colleague is hard-won and, in the early stages of a professional relationship, it can seem like a bit of an uphill struggle. Whether you’ve been newly promoted from inside an organisation or are taking on a management role in a new company, your new role as leader presents some challenges but, importantly, exciting opportunities where communication is concerned.
