SPEAK LIKE A CEO

2024 will be the year AI gets real for many businesses. It is also the biggest election year ever as the US, the EU, the UK, India and many other countries head to the polls.  Against this meta backdrop, I am sharing my 10 Predictions for 2024. They cover AI, memes, video, deep fakes, what happens to CEO communications, the state of marketing and mission-driven companies.   I will be right on some and wrong on others, but it does help me to enter the new year with a clear hypothesis of where we are heading.  If you want “10 Predictions for 2024” in writing, make sure you are signed up to my newsletter where I will share these in early January.    Sign up using this link and you’ll also receive my Top 50 Presentation Hacks:  https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Unicorn founder Naren Shaam discusses turning 'no' into 'yes', building a global brand like Omio, overcoming rejection, rebranding from GoEuro, fundraising during Covid, and anchoring diversity in business from the start. Insights on global transport challenges, fostering diversity, and CEO communication strategy.

“The human species thinks in metaphors, and learns through stories.”  Mary Catherine Bateson The best leaders and companies in the world use metaphors deliberately. Think Apple and Amazon – a nourishing fruit and the world’s longest river respectively.  Metaphors are a crucial part of the language of leadership, yet few of us use them deliberately.  Stories appeal to the emotional brain, which is why they are so effective.  But metaphors appeal to the instinctive brain – the oldest and most powerful part. They plant ideas deep in the instinctive mind. They affect attitudes, values, and behaviors.  That’s why metaphors give you superpowers of persuasion. In this podcast, I want to give you the blueprint to the language of leadership and how to build metaphors with intention.  Find the 8 Types of Metaphors here:

When investor and entrepreneur Jörg Rheinboldt was a student, he managed to convince Bill Gates to speak at a student conference in Germany.  Jörg was bored of “just studying”, and joined a student organization putting together conferences. They called Microsoft, and asked if Bill Gates would be interested to speak.  Of course, it wasn’t that simple. But sometimes you just have to dare to make the call! This is a Moment from episode 25, one of our most popular episodes ever.  Jörg Rheinboldt is General Partner at HEARTFELT_ Want more communication insights like these? Sign up to my newsletter ‘Message Machine’ and receive a free guide with 50 presentation hacks to captivate any audience.

Can we apply FBI persuasion techniques in business? Even in high-stakes negotiations? Absolutely, say a former FBI hostage negotiator and a top DC publicist. Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey have just published an original and insightful book entitled "Convince Me: High-Stakes Negotiation Tactics to Get Results in Any Business Situation.“  In our conversation, they introduce the FBI-inspired concept of forensic listening, explain different types of convincing styles, and share advanced strategies for convincing like “bridging”, the “convincing continuum” and the “convincing cliffhanger”. Chip also explains which movies realistically portray the work of law enforcement officers (spoiler: it is not Die Hard).  Adele is a prominent figure in the PR world. She has run PR campaigns for US President Joe Biden and well-known CEOs and global brands. She has also been invited to speak at the United Nations, where she gave speeches on crisis communications. She contributes to the Wall Street Journal and has taught crisis communications at Princeton, Cornell, and other universities.  Chip is an Ex-FBI hostage negotiator and special agent for 22 years. He investigated the 9/11 terrorist attacks and led the New York FBI Office’s Crisis Negotiations Team. He teaches executives and their teams at companies like Facebook, Samsung, and Goldman Sachs how to apply the FBI’s techniques to every workplace scenario.  Together, as co-founders of The Convincing Company, they bridge the worlds of PR and crisis negotiation. Adele and Chip made a special welcome page for you. Dive into a treasure trove of resources to get tools and strategies for handling challenges. Check it out here: https://convincingcompany.com/speak/ Sign up to Oliver's newsletter: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

What differentiates the top 1% of founders and CEOs from the rest? What makes them excellent in leadership and communications?   To find out, Oliver has interviewed more than 200 CEOs, founders and world-renowned experts on this podcast. To celebrate 5 Years of Speak like a CEO – we started out in November 2018 – in this episode he breaks down 10 of his favorite lessons. Expect to learn what the hallmark of a great speaker and leader is, how you can make your story perfect, why authenticity means surprising people,  how you can apply the charisma equation, and what the secret language of leadership reveals. That, and much more. Enjoy!  Get your free copy of "Presentation Hacks: 50 Powerful Strategies to Captivate any Audience“. 

This week, we sit down with Arne Schepker, the visionary CEO behind language-learning powerhouse Babbel. The company has become synonymous with language mastery. With millions of subscribers and over 16 million users so far, Babbel has revolutionized the way we learn languages.  In this episode, Arne dismantles language-learning myths and unveils his personal growth into a dynamic leader. Discover the power of storytelling, the ROI magic in marketing, and the art of building global brand awareness. Don't miss this exclusive peek into the mind of a CEO who has navigated the challenges and triumphs of both language and leadership. Get your free copy of "Presentation Hacks: 50 Powerful Strategies to Captivate any Audience“. 

Giving formal presentations is stressful. But there is another, more common type of communication that is as crucial for success: unscripted and uncontrollable situations like small talk at a networking event, an interview, a pitch, a sales presentation.  Yet little has been written about spontaneous communication in business. Until now. In this episode, Matt Abrahams shares his six-step approach for speaking confidently and clearly when we don’t have a script. This allows us to focus on what matters: creating connections with those around you, getting your message across, and even enjoying the situation.   Matt is the host of the popular podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart and author of a brand-new book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot. He is one of the leading global experts in communication with decades of experience. As a lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication. Get your free copy of "Presentation Hacks: 50 Powerful Strategies to Captivate any Audience“

Navigating the path from CEO to visionary is tricky. That’s why I’m excited to share my interview with the “Besser Gründen” Podcast (in German). We explore the strategies and insights that entrepreneurs and founders can use to establish themselves as thought leaders in their respective industries.Almost everyone wants to stand out in their industry, but few manage. This episode gives you the tools that make the difference.   Find the original Podcast here:  https://www.fuer-gruender.de/podcast/folge-112-thought-leader-werden/

This week we are launching our new guide on ‘Presentation Hacks:  50 Powerful Strategies to Captivate Any Audience’.  So on this episode of Speak like a CEO, I go deeper on some of the ideas I cover in “Presentation Hacks” including how to come across as charismatic, why slides kill your mojo and how to cut out the ‘umms’ and ‘ahhs”. You can download the full guide here: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ In this tactical guide, I share with you the 50 most powerful hacks to deliver your presentation in a way that wows every audience every time.  It includes everything you need to know about the Three P’s of Presenting: Prepare, Practice, and Present (the “3PP Method”). By the end of this short guide, you will be able to craft a presentation in just 15 minutes and wow any audience.  Enjoy!