Persuasive speaking tips for new managing partners

It's your first week on the job as the new managing partner. You're feeling the pressure as you prepare to address the partnership. It's now up to you to manage your firm's day-to-day affairs and guide policy and strategy. You must lead your firm and provide a vision for your firm's future, which means sharpening your oral presentation skills.

Parley with the partnership

There is no better place to demonstrate your leadership than at the first partnership meeting you direct. Butterflies in your stomach? You may have been overwhelmed in the past by guidance that offered only a scattershot approach or, worse, bad advice from well-meaning yet badly-informed friends or family members.

Your first meeting as managing partner doesn't need to induce the shakes and sweats if you work to unlock the mysteries of public speaking. There are three keys to great presentations:

1. preparation;

2. performance; and

3. assessing feedback.

This straightforward method charts a course toward sharper communications skills. You can put the three keys to work for you the next time you address the partnership. They even come in handy when meeting with clients and other groups.

1. Preparation

Preparation involves everything that happens before your presentation.

Begin by giving some thought to your audience. Of course, you know most of your partners quite well. But, what is on their minds today, this very moment? How can you address those top-of-mind concerns while remaining true to your desired message? By anticipating their thought processes, you will be in better position to decide upon your main messages and to weave them throughout your remarks.

Next, bring your words to life by sprinkling your presentation with interesting quotes. This means bolstering your message with stories, vivid words, next steps and the like.

The bottom line when it comes to preparation is practice, practice and more practice. Practice your remarks in front of colleagues or family members. Also, videotape your rehearsals and critique yourself while reviewing the videos.

2. Performance

Performance is what happens while you are in front of your audience.

Approach your presentation to your partnership with self-assurance, bearing in mind that you are now their leader. This should provide an added shot of confidence and help you to shake those jitters.

Your non-verbal traits count, too. You can divide your non-verbal tools into two types: video and audio.

a) Video tools. Use gestures, movements, and facial expressions. Maintain solid eye contact. Wear appropriate attire with no distracting jewellery or loud ties.

b) Audio tools. Vary your vocal pitch, rate and volume; this will make your voice more interesting. And, don't forget to show appropriate emotion. If you don't care about your subject matter, why should your partners?

To be sure, non-verbal qualities mean little in and of themselves. Used effectively, however, they are critical in making any audience more receptive to your message. Of course, the corollary also applies - poor non-verbal performance will repel your audience and put them to sleep.

3. Assessing feedback

Assessing feedback is what should transpire after your presentation.

I am always amazed by the number of otherwise intelligent people who ignore the benefits of evaluation. Your image with your partners can markedly improve if you devote some effort to measuring your performance.

As you speak, monitor whether people are attentive or nodding off, and decide which steps you can take to better capture their attention next time. Ask a trusted colleague to pay attention to your performance, then schedule some time afterwards to discuss it. Mingle with your partners after the meeting and listen carefully.

You cannot improve your performance if you fail to seek out honest feedback.

Ed Barks is the author of The Truth About Public Speaking (www.truthaboutpublicspeaking.com)