Coaching for Leaders

For better or worse, Microsoft PowerPoint has become our default method of framing much of what we present visually to others. While PowerPoint brings many advantages to presenters, it can also serve as a crutch when we don’t utilize it well to enhance our presentations. In this episode, I discuss some of the common failures leaders make with PowerPoint and a many of tips you can put into practice immediately in order to enhance the use of PowerPoint (or any other visual medium) in your presentations to others. Rule #1 – The best PowerPoint is one you don’t need. Be sure that PowerPoint adds value to the presentation – if it doesn’t, drop it. Susan Cain’s TED talk is a wonderful example of a fantastic presentation that didn’t need (and doesn’t use) PowerPoint. Talk to the audience – not the slides To do this, use the 6×6 or 7×7 rule Get a screen in front of you (called a confidence monitor) if you can Feature images rather than text – Steve Jobs was a master at this. Use colors and theme that match the message Colors – use contrast Darker room? Darker slides Lighter room? Lighter slides Free themes available at the Microsoft Office template gallery A few quick tips: Keep animations consistent Do a dry run – and if it fails in real life, be done with it “B” blanks out slides and “W” key whites out a slide # key and enter brings you to that slide (i.e. pressing “1” and then “Enter” on the keyboard takes you to the first slide when in PowerPoint show) Get comfortable with a wireless presenter before you use it – here’s the Logitech Wireless Presenter I use and recommend Community Feedback CoachingforLeaders.com/feedback Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Michael Hyatt, expert in getting noticed in a noisy world, shares insights on building a digital platform, authenticity in leadership, and engaging with audiences effectively. Discussion includes strategies from his book 'Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World'.

Learn how to deliver powerful presentations with 5 fundamentals: smile, gestures, eye contact, enthusiasm, and posture. Get ready for an upcoming guest interview with Michael Hyatt, bestselling author and former CEO.

Discover why what you say is crucial in presentations, debunking myths about body language and tone. Learn to engage your audience with impactful content, storytelling, and a strong opening. Get practical tips on building successful presentations without focusing solely on visuals or delivery skills.

Learn how to become a better speaker through personal anecdotes and practical tips. Overcome fear by volunteering to speak, seek positive reinforcement, and get good coaching. Discover the importance of practicing correctly and receiving feedback. Explore strategies like Toastmasters and Dale Carnegie for effective communication.

Janet Riley: David Allen Company We turn our final episode of our training series to what every leader ought to know about sending people to training. Since episode #30, we’ve learned about many aspects of training, so this week we turn our focus to what you should know (and do) when sending people to training. I welcome Janet Riley, a gifted trainer and consultant, to help explore this topic. Janet’s extensive career in the learning and development industry has provided her thousands of hours in experience training leaders around the world, most recently with the David Allen Company. She provides important and practical wisdom for all leaders. Here’s what I asked her: When is training a good way to develop someone? When is training the wrong answer? What are three things leaders can do before training to support people changing behaviors? What are some of the different attitudes people show up with in a training classroom – and how can a leader respond to each of these? What common mistakes do leaders make when trying to support people in training? What can a leader do to support ongoing implementation of what’s been learned after training is complete? What general advice do you have for leaders who use training to develop others? Since this show is about engaging and developing others with coaching, who is a leader that’s been an effective coach for you? Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Aaron Kent: Dale Carnegie In the opening of this episode, I mentioned the book Soar With Your Strengths, which I recommend. This week, I welcome a dear friend and business partner as my guest. Aaron Kent is the President & CEO of Dale Carnegie of Southern Los Angeles. I asked Aaron the following questions during our interview: What are some common misconceptions leaders have about training companies? How would a leader know its the right time to consider bringing in an outside resource like Dale Carnegie? What should leaders do to prepare for a first meeting with a company like Dale Carnegie? How does Dale Carnegie approach a first meeting (i.e. what can leaders expect?) In your experience, what do leaders who have great success with training do differently than those who have mediocre success? What’s one thing that leaders don’t do when hiring you that you wish they did? Since this show is about engaging and developing others with coaching, who is a leader that’s been an effective coach for you? Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Bonni Stachowiak, an instructional design expert, discusses the importance of crafting effective learning objectives instead of focusing on broad topics. She emphasizes the need for specific objectives aligned with desired outcomes to guide course design. The podcast highlights the cognitive, behavioral, and affective dimensions of learning objectives and recommends resources for leadership improvement.

Bonni Stachowiak, a professor and host of Teaching in Higher Ed, discusses the importance of strategy in training. Topics include aligning with organizational goals, needs analysis, and evaluating training effectiveness. Insights on creating competitive advantage and overcoming challenges in training evaluation are shared.

Learn how to effectively train others on the job with practical steps like thorough preparation, clear demonstrations, and detailed explanations. Discover the importance of time allocation, resource management, and budget adherence. Focus on skill development, feedback, and continuous coaching to foster growth in employees.