Business | Opinion
Managing Pressure at Work: A talking king or a silent mouse
- By Carole Spiers, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 January 25, 2011
- Good communication can help win wars and contracts!
- To be able to inspire and motivate are essential skills.
- The power of the human mind is extraordinary.
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I whole heartedly agree with you Carole and with the other contributors. The key factors that determine the success of a presentation are certainly the delivery and content but for me as a sales and presentation skills coach the greatest differentiation factor is the ability of the speaker to make an emotional connection with the 'audience'. In some of his later recordings at the height of the bombing his hesitations were left in. In this way he connected with the public and his motivating messages were taken to heart. A good presentation entertains us a great presentation moves us to action.
Dexter Moscow, London, United Kingdom
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As you say Carole - with courage and determination we can all achieve our goals - and if we need some coaching along the way to help us to do so then we should make use of all the tools and facilities available.
Anonymous, London, United Kingdom
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The value of good professional speaking skills should not be underestimated. Poor delivery of often important information, especially in the political arena can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict between politicians and the media.
Anonymous, Norwich, United Kingdom
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Interesting perspective Carole. Public speaking doesn't get much more pressured than the situation in which George VI found himself - yet as you rightly point out, people at all levels of business routinely find themselves in situations where what they say and how they say it can be vital to the results they achieve. I know hardly anyone who genuinely relishes standing up and speaking in public - probably because there are no second chances if it all goes wrong!
Anonymous, London, United Kingdom
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One could draw several conclusions from the movie in question in fact, The Kind Speech is one of those movies that opens up the debate on a whole hosts of things...from the value of the monarchy, to friendship and love and to the 'impediments' we all encounter in life and how we overcome them. George Vl, with the help of his wife, found a speech therapist who believed not only in the ability of the king to overcome his problem but also believed he could help him. This is a very powerful combination of beliefs that leads to success. As coaches, managers or leaders we need to believe passionately in our clients or the people we manage as well as in our own ability to affect the life or the performance of others. This is, in my opinion, a very powerful thought as it makes us all agents of change as we are all capable of making a difference in the world we inhabit.
Gaby Marcon, London, United Kingdom
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The film shows what can be achieved when a problem is faced up to, and appropriate help sought. Great film!
Anonymous, London, United Kingdom
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Our company is going through organisational change and I have to deliver 'bad news' to our workforce. This is not going to be an easy job to do and after reading this, I will embark on some presentation skills coaching to help me through this process. I am certainly not looking forward to it.
Anonymous, London, United Kingdom
Last week, I went to see the widely acclaimed movie, the King's Speech, and as a professional speaker from England, it was particularly poignant for me.
The film portrays the problems of Prince Albert, the future King George VI, who suffered from a serious stutter since early childhood, and his efforts to cure this speech impediment after he became king upon the abdication of his elder brother, Edward VIII, who gave up his throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
Prince Albert, as the younger brother, had never expected to become king, and it was not a position that he ever desired. Because of his impediment, he did not wish to become a high profile figure and thought he could keep out of the public eye. However, due to exceptional circumstances, this was not to be his future.
His inability to properly communicate could have damaged his position as king but instead he developed a close relationship with an Australian-born, speech therapist that eventually allowed him to speak adequately to his people, particularly over the radio during the Second World War. This changed both his life and inspired the lives, and raised the hopes, of many Britons.
The film outlined that very special relationship that changed the face of the British monarchy.
As I watched the story unfold, it reminded me of many of my clients who book to see me because they need to be able to deliver a speech that has an impact and is also memorable, but they lack self-confidence and the ability to stand up in public.
Some of these clients are Members of Parliament or CEO's, and there are times when it is necessary for them to deliver messages, on platform, that are both inspiring and motivating.
Fear of speaking
To speak in public can be a daunting prospect whether one is a king or a commoner, and stress and panic are, unfortunately, all too usual in these instances — and that is why I receive so many urgent calls for support and presentation skills coaching.
Not everyone needs to necessarily make public speeches or to speak at a seminar, but managers need to motivate and inspire their teams. That requires engagement and good communication skills, and good communication is not only about talking but also knowing how to listen. Just as King George VI had to inspire and motivate the British people during the dark days of the Second World War when the German Luftwaffe were bombing London, so also do the Boards of Directors of companies need to inspire and motivate their workforces in order to increase productivity, achieve realistic targets and increase competitive advantage.
The board need to get its teams to buy-in to the corporate vision.
So what can you do?
First of all, recognise when you have a challenge that needs to be overcome and decide to take action. Never assume that you need only wait and the problem might resolve itself. It won't! However, it is very likely to get worse if it is not addressed.
Secondly, as did George Vl of England, find an expert who can guide you in the direction you wish to go. This needs to be someone who not only has the skills to take you forward and unlock your hidden potential but also someone you can trust.
Finally, ensure that you are a good communicator — whether you are making a speech or talking at a board meeting.
Remember, whilst your words are important, so is your body language and the way you deliver your presentation. You need to exude confidence without being arrogant and you need to be able to sell your message. All of this needs practice. And my suggestion is that you should start now. Not wait until you are asked by the CEO to give ‘that presentation' and then start to panic.
Start now to find the right person who will take you outside of your comfort zone and help you achieve far more than you ever thought you could do — because we are all amazing creatures and we are all capable of doing amazing things. It just needs the will and the determination to succeed.
Learning points
The author is a BBC guest broadcaster and Motivational Speaker. She is CEO of an international stress management and employee wellbeing consultancy based in London. Contact them for proven stress strategies — www.carolespiersgroup.co.uk
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