How well do you put yourself across?

And in fact is it particularly important? Well actually it is business critical when it comes to effecting essential political management skills. We are talking about things like

• driving team performance
• influencing people and decisions
• portraying the right corporate image
• communicating with staff, clients, investors and the media
• building relationships with people

Unfortunately presentation skills are more often honed through error rather than instruction and many regard having to undertake public speaking akin to a nightmare visit to the dentist…

And what about influencing, is it some sort of black art? Are you making the most of its considerable power and are you sure you appreciate the difference between persuasive influencing that works and highly coercive or manipulative behaviour that damages?

Influencing is not actually some magic alchemy although you can be forgiven for thinking that it might be as you watch the rise and rise of those colleagues who innately possess such skills.

So when did you last get your own way? And did you achieve that in a positive and engaging way to present your information in a convincing and empathetic way.

No?

I look forward to hearing from you then…