We're closing out 2024 reflecting on the purpose of having a plan.

Most people fail without a plan. When it comes to communication, we don't want to fail. We want our messages to be clear, informative, and helpful. If we wing it, these things are harder to accomplish.

We'll discuss preparation with the following:

• Knowing your audience (a favorite of ours)
• Understanding how to show up as a listener
• Knowing the message you need to deliver within an appropriate time frame
• Making adjustments when necessary (you might go over or under)
• Having a purposeful close

Know the audience. Know what you need to share. Know how to end.

This month we're discussing all things listening.

We touch on our Top 3 Do's, which include:

1. Being aware of your non-verbal skills and what they're saying
2. Listening with the intent to understand not simply reply
3. Maintaining curiosity regardless of how you feel about the topic

We'll then touch on our Top 3 Don'ts, including:

1. Don't immediately defend your stance
2. Be cautious of interrupting and consider taking notes
3. Avoid the need to respond instantly, let there be space when needed

We want to help you continue to sharpen this important skill set. We hope you walk away with some tangible items to put in play!

We spent the last two episodes honing our Executive Presence skills. In this episode, we're focusing on the actual visual presentation.

In our opinion, there are 3 steps you can implement to be successful:

1. Plan: Before you open up PPT, figure out who you're speaking to, what they need to know, what you're hoping to accomplish with them, and storyboard those details out.
2. Build: Create your presentation in PPT (or something similar). Use a template that's been successful before to avoid creating more work for yourself. Consider colors, design, animation, data, graphics, text size, etc. Make it easy for you and your audience to see and consume the slide.
3. Practice: Put your deck in slide show mode and actually go through it. Say it out loud. Make sure your design elements complement the story you need to share. Make sure everything shows up in the order you want. A dry run is always a good idea.

The keys to success aren't hard. But we can't skip or leave out steps when we want to perform well.

This month we're taking a deep dive into the vocal executive presence skills as a follow-up to last month's chat.

As speakers, we need to understand how to use our vocal energy and ensure it portrays what we need it to. During this episode, we're discussing the three components of vocalics:

1. Volume - the level or loudness in which we speak
2. Inflection - the variation in our tone or peaks and valleys of our voice
3. Pace - the speed at which we share information

Listen in for some tips on being purposeful with these areas and why they're so important individually and as a packaged deal.

This month we're honing in on the physical executive presence skills.

We break them up into three categories:

1. Eyes - Where are you looking and speaking?
2. Hands - What are they doing or not doing?
3. Posture - How are you standing, sitting, and/or moving?

We read body language in other people all the time, but are you aware of what your body language is saying to your listeners? These three areas impact how our audience perceives our message.

We'll discuss recommendations for what to do with all three areas, why we suggest the tips we do and some ways to start making these small changes today.

In today's episode, we're discussing the top 3 things the Vautier Communications' team thinks you need to do in order to have clear and effective communication. These include:

1. Knowing your audience
2. Simplifying your message
3. Creating and owning your own presence

Listen in for tips on how you can think about each of these areas and relate them to your own meetings and talks moving forward.

In this month's episode, we're talking about difficult and/or crucial conversations in the workplace. They're an inevitable part of our communications at some point.

We discuss what these conversations look like, ways to prepare for them, how to deliver them appropriately and empathetically to a person/group, and ways to consider purposeful next steps as a follow-up.

This month we're discussing English as the primary language for business, and how we can communicate effectively across cultures. We are breaking this episode into 2 sections:

1. If you are a native English speaker, how can you consider communicating with non-native English speakers
2. If English is an additional language, how can you continue to learn and grow the skillset of speaking English in a business setting

We'll provide tips for both sides on how to consider your audience, build your message, and prepare for your talk.

This month we're discussing what to do when you've been asked to give a last-minute meeting or presentation. We look at it through two lenses:

1. The request is last-minute for a quick 5-10 minute update/pitch
2. The request is last-minute for a full-length talk (30-60 minutes)

Tune in to listen for some recommendations on how to approach the organization of both, what the most important things to consider are, and what questions to ask.

This month we're keeping it open-ended and talking through some of the biggest communication struggles each of us has faced (that some of you may have too!).

We touch on:

1. Practicing the skills when you don't have 'formal presentations'
2. Speaking up and finding the confidence to know you deserve a seat at the table
3. Discussing the impact of both the message and your physical and vocal skills - yes, your listeners are interested in the message, but the skills will determine how much they retain