Whether you are already there or working your way to the top, being an effective CEO has a lot to do with your presence as a leader and communicator.

Here are some tips to help you present yourself as CEO-worthy.

1. Understand your audience - you will be more engaging and it will help earn respect
2. Start with ideal outcomes - get to the point about what you are trying to achieve by painting a picture of the future
3. Identify your one-sentence point of view - keep it simple and concise so they know exactly where you stand
4. Structure your presentation with these components:
• Start with a strong opening
• Present your one-sentence point of view
• Clarify your key supporting points and bolster them with stories, stats, examples and case studies
• Review your content
• Take questions
• Finish with a solid close that links to the opening
5. Pause to let the audience ponder
6. Be aware of your use of filler words and eliminate them in favour of words with punch
7. Create an emotional connection - logic makes people think; emotions make people act - focus on the audience, make eye contact, describe what's in it for them and tell relevant stories

Additional Reading: Speak like a CEO by Suzanne Bates. During her 20 years in broadcasting, award-winning news anchor Bates conducted more than 10,000 interviews, during which she witnessed business leaders, politicians, and celebrities at their best and worst. Now a top CEO communication coach, Bates is renowned for her uncanny ability to transform even the shyest oratorical mouse into a public-speaking lion. In Speak Like a CEO, Bates:

• Reveals the secrets for communicating in any situation
• Describes simple techniques for acing speeches, presentations, media interviews, Q&A sessions, business meetings, and more
• Outlines self-improvement plans that can easily be customized to your needs
• Shares secrets from top leaders, including Mario Cuomo's technique for overcoming stage fright and Colin Powell's secret for projecting authenticity

This month, our educational focus is CEO/Board Dynamics.

Interested? If you are a CEO or executive (CFO, COO, CIO or VP Sales, Marketing or Human Resources), contact Nancy or click here for more information. 

The Talent Advantage: How to Attract and Retain the Best and the Brightest  gives you real life strategies to get the most out of your people.

Mackay&Associates

What's new with Nancy

New CEO Forum launched 

Upcoming speaking engagements

Recent events

We were one of five sponsors of the Business in Vancouver Top 100 Public & Private Companies event, held in June. Congratulations to all of our clients who made the list this year.

Nancy attended the Rick Hansen Fishing Challenge at Langara Lodge and caught a personal best! A 26-pound salmon.