ARTICLES COURTESY OF SMITH EDWARDS GROUP, LLC HBR SUBSCRIPTION
3 Tips for Presenting in English When You’re Not a Native Speaker
APRIL 6, 2018
Executive Summary by Deborah Grayson Riegel
Many leaders quickly lose their confidence and competence when making business presentations. For a subset of them — those who need to present in English when it isn’t their native language — the stakes and the stress can feel even higher. Meanwhile, the need for leaders to be able to present in English is required for global collaboration. There are several strategies nonnative English speakers can employ to help them feel more confident before, during, and after a presentation. Rehearsal and repetition are crucial steps. The goal here is “overlearning” your presentation. This will help your presentation to become embedded in your long-term memory and therefore less susceptible to the effects of stress. It will also help you speak spontaneously, if you can trust that your core content is safely stored (and able to be retrieved) from your long-term memory. Don’t agonize about your accent, but do slow your speaking speed. And pause early and often, which serves two benefits – first, to help your audience comprehend your message, and second, to give you a break.
Don't Let Your Your Inner Fears Limit Your Career
OCTOBER 2017
Executive Summary by Matt Brubaker and Foster Mobley
Fear is a natural and universal human phenomenon, affecting top executives as much as anyone else. The majority of management literature is focused on helping leaders conquer their fears. The problem is that stifling fear doesn’t make it go away. In fact, failing to address it can lead to highly unproductive and dysfunctional behaviors. To turn your fears into career fuel, start by acknowledging them rather than pushing them away. Then interrogate your fears to better understand them. What’s behind your deepest anxieties? Then choose a different course of action. This is about deciding what to do next and making commitments—understanding what truly matters to you. Finally, act on your choice, in a way that aligns with your values.
How do Deal with a Boss Who Stresses You Out
JULY 19, 2017
Executive Summary, by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
For the majority of employees, the leaders in their organizations are a source of stress rather than inspiration. Since bad bosses are ubiquitous, it is hard to avoid them. So what’s the best way to deal with a stress-inducing boss? First, learn to predict their behavioral patterns and ensuing moods, which will help you prepare yourself for dealing with the situation. Try not to make things worse by being a source of stress yourself. If you annoy or upset your manager, or the work you produce is unacceptable, you can expect the worst aspects of their personality to emerge. Instead, make yourself indispensable to your boss, and ensure that he or she looks better with you on board. No matter how stress-inducing your boss might be, and how good you become at coping with their dark side, the only way to ensure you remain on their good side is by being a valuable resource to them.