In my last blog post, Leading Executive Conversations: The Executive Perspective, I shared that leading an executive conversation should start by understanding their perspective on a particular subject. Now, we’re going to discuss framing the conversation.
Executives expect to hear three key things in a conversation. And I am going to tell you just what they are.
A meeting with an executive can be different than a meeting with a manager. You’ve got to connect with the executive’s perspective including their challenges, their opportunities and their overall strategy for building results.
Ultimately, success in executive meetings is attitudinal. You have to believe that you have a right to be there and that you have something of value to offer them. Effective meetings are more flexible than presentations. You need to be as prepared for what you will hear and learn as for what you will say. This is the first part of a two part series.
Imagine (which may not be too hard) that as a result of your team’s hard work and commitment, you reach a pivotal point – a point at which the future of your business could change for the better. Now you are faced with the challenge of making important decisions, creating innovative plans and taking action. The most critical of these steps is the initial decisions you make, and I’m here to let you in on a secret to success – use your vision, 3-D vision, that is! This 3-D experience is defined by three essential elements: Discuss, Debate and Decide.