COMMUNICATE WITH ASSURANCE
I am honored to serve on several national Boards of Directors, and at a recent meeting as we were discussing a touchy issue, I ashamedly recalled an experience I had had when I was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Speakers Association several years ago.
I was a newly elected member and had just been through some really rough times in my personal life, losing my husband of 34 years to cancer and making a move across the country where I knew no one. Therefore, my self-esteem and confidence was at an all-time low, and it did not help that the other people on the Board were very high-powered, wise, and successful entrepreneurs.
At this extremely important meeting to plan an upcoming conference during the leadership year of the President-elect, he requested that we endorse his idea of an offshore, creative workshop that would be dramatically different from anything the organization had ever done before. He had done his research and presented his case passionately and professionally. However, there were a number of negative reactions from other members of the Board, and it did not appear that his proposal was going to pass.
I sat across the large table, thinking, “Why can’t we trust his judgment and allow him to plan this unique opportunity during his year of leadership? He has done the research, and there is little risk for the organization. Why can’t we simply accept his passion and commitment to a new kind of education for our members?”
However, as much as I wanted to speak up, I simply did not have the courage. Some time later in the discussion, another member of the Board expressed exactly my sentiments…..and the proposal eventually passed.
To this day I regret not speaking my mind and communicating with assurance regardless of the eventual outcome. I was more concerned with what people would think than being true to myself and my commitment to the members who elected me.
As I think about communicating with assurance, these are some of the things that would have helped me:
• Know exactly what you want to say. Write it out if possible. If not, rehearse it in your head before you open your mouth.
• Value your own expertise and knowledge. Do not be intimidated by others.
• Look your audience in the eye when you speak to show the confidence you have in your opinion.
• Remember others may be as hesitant or unsure as you are, but you can be proud of yourself to have garnered the courage to speak.
The bottom line is that an opinion is simply that – another way of looking at something, so when you communicate with assurance, you are not risking your reputation; rather, you are simply sharing your thoughts and ideas. Listen carefully and with an open mind, do your homework, and finally, believe in yourself. Then, you will not have any regrets.
The root word of “courage” is the Latin word “coeur” which is the word for “heart.” If you are truly speaking from your heart, your audience will value that, and whether they agree with you or not, they will respect your opinion.
For more Communication ideas, go to www.barbaraglanz.com/ideaofthemonth
