Learn about the considerations on the preparation needed to communicate with your C-Level Executives for buy-in in implementing new technologies.

1. #ISSlearn
ARE YOU ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE
EFFECTIVELY WITH YOUR
SENIOR MANAGEMENT?
Tamsin Greulich-Smith
15 July 2016
1(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved

2. #ISSlearn
Outline
• Creating communications that can be heard
• What senior leaders are looking for
• How to communicate with your leadership
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
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3. #ISSlearn
We are bombarded by information
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
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4. #ISSlearn
Understand your Audience
• When we communicate with anyone, if we
want our message to stand out, we need to
speak with resonance
• To create communications with resonance
we need to build empathy
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
4

5. #ISSlearn
empathy= putting yourself in
someone else’s shoes
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Singapore. All Rights Reserved
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6. #ISSlearn
“act like the chief to
become the chief”
Debra Benton, author of ‘How to think like a CEO?’
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
6

7. #ISSlearn
Put yourself in your leader’s shoes
• My priorities:
• Decision making
• I have complex decisions to make on a daily basis; I want insight on trends
and implications to help inform my decisions
• Success
• I want to balance good current performance with ambitious plans for future
growth
• Opportunities
• I am interested in opportunities more than I am worried about risks…BUT I
am aware of threats (talent, skills, security, competition, change…)
• Respect
• I want my employees to respect me and support me
• Reputation
• I want people to think of me as a good leader
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
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8. #ISSlearn
What does your senior leader want
to hear from you?
• Your solutions not your problems
• Your big picture thinking
• Your value
• Your wisdom
• Your conciseness
• Your ability to deliver their vision
• Your professionalism
• Your respect
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
8

9. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
9

10. #ISSlearn
Don’t fail at the 1st hurdle
• You have secured time in your senior
leader’s diary – make it count!
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
10
• Arrive early
• Dress in a way that mirrors your
leader
• Be well prepared
• Be clear about what you want to
achieve

11. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
11

12. #ISSlearn
Resonance
• Make it relevant
• Does your message tie in with what your leader
wants to hear?
• Put yourself in their shoes – use empathy
• Align your message to the business goals
and strategies
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
12

13. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the
big picture
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
13

14. #ISSlearn
Thinking Big
• Be strategic
• Your message will have greater
impact if it clearly fits into their
strategic thinking and forward looking
plans
• Don’t moan / be petty
• Moaning about a colleague is of little
interest to someone running a
business, unless indicative of a
bigger organisational problem
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
14

15. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
15

16. #ISSlearn
Make it Positive
• Leaders like problem solvers
• They have enough problems to deal with, but
not enough problem solvers
• When we are criticised we naturally
become defensive
• Focus on the positive
• Try to offer constructive suggestions
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
16

17. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
17

18. #ISSlearn
“If you can't explain it
simply, you don't
understand it well enough"
Albert Einstein
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved

19. #ISSlearn
Simplify your Concept
• A simple structure
• Distil your concept into a simple message
• Treat it like a press release
• Language
• Don’t try to impress with technical jargon
and expert knowledge
• Simplifying your concept can also
help avoid misunderstanding
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
19

20. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
• Connect on a ‘human’ level
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
20

21. #ISSlearn
Leaders are people too!
• Emotional Beings
• Human beings tend to think emotionally, and seek facts to
confirm their biases
• Context
• Setting your issue in a human context can help your leader
envision it
• Stories
• Leaders understand the importance of good
communications – stories help bring facts to life
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
21

22. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
• Connect on a ‘human’ level
• Demonstrate confidence
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
22

23. #ISSlearn
Believe in Yourself
• Be In Control
• Acting in an insecure, unconfident,
timid manner will not instil confidence
in your proposal
• Inspire Confidence
• Demonstrate that you know what you
are talking about, that you have
credibility, and that you can be trusted
to deliver
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
23

24. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
• Connect on a ‘human’ level
• Demonstrate confidence
• Reveal your unique selling point
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
24

25. #ISSlearn
What is your added value?
• ‘Sell’ your value to the business
• Your senior leader may not know your background or
complete skill set
• Do you have skills or knowledge that are not currently
being drawn upon?
• If your unique skills can help address an organisational
challenge or opportunity, volunteer your skills
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
25

26. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
• Connect on a ‘human’ level
• Demonstrate confidence
• Reveal your unique selling point
• Tell them something they don’t know
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
26

27. #ISSlearn
Many leaders
may believe
the world
smells of fresh
paint…
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
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Image courtesy TT2 Ltd

28. #ISSlearn
Provide a new perspective
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Singapore. All Rights Reserved
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• We may be blind to others’ experiences
• Can you pitch your message with insights gained from
perspectives your senior leaders may not have
experienced?
• Remember – you also have a skewed perspective of the
organisation!

29. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
• Connect on a ‘human’ level
• Demonstrate confidence
• Reveal your unique selling point
• Tell them something they don’t know
• Make your leader feel good
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
29

30. #ISSlearn
Support your Leader
• Remember your role
• We are there to help our leaders achieve the
organisation’s mission
• Do your ideas can make them look good?
• Positive feedback
• What are they getting right?
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
30

31. #ISSlearn
How to communicate with
senior leaders?
• Create a good first impression
• Make your issue relevant
• Demonstrate how your issue fits into the big
picture
• Present your proposal not your problem
• Keep it simple
• Connect on a ‘human’ level
• Demonstrate confidence
• Reveal your unique selling point
• Tell them something they don’t know
• Make your leader feel good
• Conclude with respect
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
31

32. #ISSlearn
Create a good ‘last’ impression
• Make them want you back!
• Depart on time, and express your gratitude
• Respect their role
• Accept their suggestions and feedback
professionally
• Take Action
• Be quick to follow up on any actions arising from
your discussions – this should be a priority
(Total Slides=34) ISSLearningDay2016/TGS/V1
© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
32

33. #ISSlearn
“The art of
communication is the
language of leadership”
James C. Humes, Presidential Speechwriter
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved
33

34. #ISSlearn
THANK YOU 
tamsin@nus.edu.sg
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© 2015 National University of
Singapore. All Rights Reserved