Falling Up

First, I want to thank Erica for kindly responding to my last post. Apparently the little red spots on my cluster map are those of non-repeat visitors, sadly, because Erica was the only one who offered her 2 cents on my Conflict Resolution question: what would you want to know about conflict if you were attending a workshop? Luckily, it isn’t too late. So if you have stumbled across this blog accidently, never to return again, I hope you’ll still take a couple seconds to leave me a comment about this.

For this week, I wanted to offer some musings on my readings for this semester. I am really excited about the books I have lined up to read. I just really enjoy them. They are insightful and very applicable. I have started with one that my boss at my internship suggested: So Smart, But…  by Allen N. Weiner.  Weiner is a corporate trainer who writes anecdotally about communication gaffs that he encounters with his clients.  The chapters talk about folks who are “so smart but: don’t get it, lacks energy and passion, can’t tailor the message to the audience and so on.  He argues that to be credible, one must be competent, composed, have character, be sociable and extroverted and caring (Weiner, 2007) and offers his advice on how to deliver a message that shows you are credible and overcomes the “buts”. 

Before I started reading, I presumed that my boss gave me this book to read in order to plan better for my clients in terms of THEIR needs.  I now realize he’s given me some excellent information on how I can be successful in delivering a credible message in the workshop I am creating.  I think that I do some of Weiner’s tips already.  I think I am good at getting a feel for what an audience wants or needs to hear me say.  I think I am receptive.  I tend to notice if people are not “getting it” and I need to explain something differently.  I think I make points in an organized fashion and try to use breadth, depth, height and sight when promoting an argument. 

Where I think the book will be most helpful for me is the “but” that reads “So Smart, but Lacks an Executive Presence”.  I have mentioned before that I am a bit anxious about my lack of experience and my desire to get out there and do stuff!  Well, this is the semester of DOING, so I get my chance.  Whatever the book can tell me about appearing the part and mustering up the confidence to work with high level execs and the like, I will read it with open ears and mind.  I’m not at that chapter yet, but will keep you posted.

In the meantime, if you are someone who frequently makes presentations, or if your superiors sometimes suggest that you are lacking something in your communication style, I would recommend the book.  It’s an easy, entertaining yet very helpful book. 

In other news,  I have officially taken on a separate “pro-bono” facilitation job with the client I worked with last semester in my Consulting Skills class.  I will be facilitating a meeting with a QI group that is trying to re-define itself.  I am very excited as it looks like I will get a chance to use some Future Search and Appreciative Inquiry strategies from last spring.  I’ll update on that in the coming weeks as well.  Wish me luck!