Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008 - (Page 33)

COVER For instance, when you’re selling an idea to members of the board, negotiating a deal, or uniting a team of employees, you need to back up what you say with the most powerful element that defines us as human. That is, your voice must carry emotion. You see, only your heartfelt emotions can reach the hearts of others to stimulate their emotions. And therein lies the master key to empower and influence the passions, beliefs, and even behavior of your audience. That’s using your Power Voice. As sure as you have feelings and emotions, you were born with the ability to communicate with them. Therefore you, like everyone, have always possessed a Power Voice of your own. In a nutshell, your Power Voice is an inborn skill you can use to transcend virtually any obstacle to become more, do more, and have more than ever before, regardless of outside factors such as the economy, interest rates, inflation, and so on. But like any muscle in your body, its strength and power can only be developed with use. When you discover your Power Voice, and learn specific methods for using it to capture attention, stimulate belief, and direct behavior, you access peak levels of efficiency and leverage, which translate into greater performance and achievement. To develop your Power Voice, there are two primary areas of emphasis: The first is the Messenger – you, the person behind the words. This is where you analyze and develop your character, personality, self-confidence, and ability to communicate in a variety of situations. You tap into your ability to fully express yourself in every dimension of your life. Through the telling of your story, you create value your audience can grab onto and take with them long after they’re out of your presence. By developing the messenger in you, you can quickly and easily build your presentation confidence, create committed listening from your audience, increase you selling abilities, and more. The second area is the Message -- what you say and how you say it. In creating your message, you mesh what you want to say with the outcome you want to achieve. And of course, you must also consider your audience and setting. Are you closing a deal with a prospective client (on their turf or yours)? Are you looking to win the opinion of a business associate over lunch? Or are you speaking to a large audience from a platform? These are some of the kinds of questions you must answer in preparation for delivering your Power Voice so it is well received and wins the hearts of your audience. S epte mber 2008 Le ade rshi p G al a I ssu e FEATURE When you develop both the messenger and the message, your communications go beyond making a point. You maximize your leverage through others while you bring out the best in them. There are various ways to engage your Power Voice, depending on your audience, the circumstances, and your objective. As a leader, you are frequently required to empower teams with a larger vision of themselves; to infuse their hearts and minds with the belief that they can achieve more than they thought they could. And then, you motivate the team to act on these new beliefs in order to reach your goal. Standard Equipment Unleashing Your Power Voice 1. Distract. Whether your audience consists of 10 people or 10,000, each one is connected with the story in their own head. It’s your job to distract them from their own internal dialogue and enroll them into one committed listening. How? Through your message and the strategic delivery of your story, you can effectively engage their attention. Rather than speaking to segments of the audience, unite their thoughts and impact the total audience. 2. Dispute. As a leader, you’re continuously working to raise the beliefs and expectations your audience has about themselves. To provide this hand up, your message needs to dispute their existing beliefs. To grab onto a new belief, they must let go of the other. 3. Empower. If steps one and two create the fertile ground, step three nurtures the seeds. Here, you inspire your audience to live beyond their mental conditioning and circumstances. You empower them to write new chapters in their lives. As a result, everyone grows and achieves more. People do not necessarily do what they’re told, nor do they fully apply everything they’re taught intellectually. People experience the greatest change and growth by doing. The application of knowledge is where the value consists. Developing your Power Voice is no exception. It requires immersion, direct experience, practice, and guidance. Once you’ve experienced it, you heighten your ability to continuously grow and expand your leadership potential, and have a greater impact on your career and your community. Where your speaking skills may have only allowed you to communicate facts, figures, and information, your Power Voice literally inches your audience to the edge of seats, gets them to laugh in their tears and rise for a standing ovation. And with continued application, it will become your universal calling card that gives you access to unknown possibilities and experiences in life you have never imagined. |dMBA| 33 Strategy: The Distract-DisputeEmpower Method Beyond Instructions

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008

Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008 Contents Letters to the Editor In Your Own Hands Editor's View Business Briefs Off the Shelf Diversity MBA 2008 Awards Gala and Leadership Forum "Diversity Next Practices" Illusion of Inclusion Good Is Not Enough Revisiting Your Personal Brand Discover Your Power Voice Authentic Leadership In An Ever-Changing Marketplace Stopping the Brain Drain: How Companies Can Keep Talented People of Color Corporate Succession Planning - How Do You Fit In? How To Manage Virtual Teams Beyond Demographics Recruit, Recognize, Retain, Reinvest – Winning the Talent Acquisition Game Leave Ego at the Door Modernizing Supplier Diversity Taking the Leadership High Road… When You Can Find It Think Boardroom Bound; It’s Happening Who's Who In Diversity Fail to Succeed 4-Star Start-Up, Chris Ward: Character Above All Get Them at Hello – Tips to Improve Your Marketing Kit Sonny Vu, Entrepreneur A World at Your Fingertips Big Brother Wants Your Bank Account Stepping Off The Corporate Ladder HR Focus with Monica Ross A Unique New England Vacation Bold Caballeros y Noble Bandidas Women of Color and Cancer: The Chicago Phenomenon Being Single Isn't Easy International MBAs Flock To U.S. Schools Smart Strategy Gadgets+Gizmos Advertiser's Index

Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008

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