As promised in my September 15th post, here are some strategies to use when creating the specific kinds of materials you use before, during, and after you speak. Your Electronic Media Whether using PowerPoint or video, or simply leading a group through a computer presentation, you are communicating with pages—electronic pages. So all the […]
Visual Communication
The Instant Credibility of Visual Branding
How do you pull readers into your printed or electronic pages, and then help them feel confident that they can trust your message? To get people reading at all, you must first snag their interest, and you have to do it within a couple of seconds. Creating pages designed to be easily scanned—providing headings […]
Get People Reading Your Documents…Almost Before They Realize It
Have you ever spent weeks or months researching and writing a document, only to have it sit on desks unread? Are you mystified by how difficult it can be to get people to read a document, even when it’s critical to the organization or their own project? Often we blame them: they’re too busy […]
The Squint Test
Here’s a handy little test to make sure your reader is seeing and reading your pages as you intended. When you’ve finished writing and formatting your document, and believe you’re ready to send, post, handout, or otherwise spread your print or electronic word, do one last thing: Squint. Here’s what I mean […]
Leadership Credibility
You probably wouldn’t attend a corporate board meeting in a formal gown, or meet with a prospective client in your gardening clothes. Likewise, your documents shouldn’t wear the visual equivalent of inappropriate attire, raising eyebrows — and concerns — about your leadership style and credibility. The visual aspect of your documents influences peoples’ perception […]
Listen to Your Pages: The Visual Side of Verbal Communication
When it comes to written material, what do you think of when you hear the word “visuals”? Most folks I speak to think “graphics.” Well here’s the scoop. Text itself is also a visual. Text is actually the representation of an auditory experience. When we read a chunk of text, we experience hearing […]
Getting Your Documents Read
You’ve successfully navigated the first few days in your new management position. You’ve met and chatted with your team and the people you’ll be working with, and you’ve made a good impression. But what about the folks you haven’t met? And what about ongoing communication with those you have met? Not all our conversations […]
Leadership Presence: Projecting your expertise visually and verbally
Definitions of leadership abound, ranging from managerial to visionary, from charismatic to stately. Most people agree that effective, authentic leadership requires a creative combination of substance and style. But schools and organizations typically emphasize the importance of substance and competency. The way we present our expertise to others, our “style,” is often a distant second, […]
