How to Communicate with Senior Execs

So many lessons learned on this. What’s interesting for me is having had the experience of being on both sides: being the presenter and being the audience. There are some definite key things to do….and not to do.

  1. Too much data. I used to think I had to explain how I got to my conclusions. Nope. What I needed were a few key data points that drilled it home. No one was interesting in seeing how I got there. They wanted to know what data was informing me…but not the actual nitty gritty of the actual spreadsheets.  So no need to show your work. If you’re nervous, put it in the appendix.
  2. Tell them what they need to know up front. Often, we build up to the big reveal. Senior people don’t have time for that. The executive summary should be the synopsis. Tell me everything I need to know…the key points sooner than later.  The rest of the presentation lets you showcase why, how, etc…. But don’t just dive in…you’ve lost me already.
  3. Missing key data: big pet peeve of mine?  Bar charts without the actual numbers. I like to see the numbers. Sometimes the scale of the bar charts makes the variances seem bigger than they are….so show the numbers. Second pet peeve? Missing percentages. Same issue. 5 errors out of 500 isn’t too bad. 5 out of 10 is.  Give me the context.
  4. CONTEXT: the lack of this is the number one problem with presentations. We’re so embedded in the data and the work we forget that the people we are presenting to don’t have context. If they do, great….you can skip the page. But you have to assume they don’t. Explain…clearly, simply, concisely. Don’t assume.
  5. Why are you presenting? I know that sounds basic, but not all updates are the same. There’s an intent.  Is it informing? Getting a decision?  Reassuring?  Giving bad news? Think about why you are being asked to present…..and what is the outcome you want. Then step back and look at your presentation. Does it do the job?
  6. Pay attention to feedback. If you get none, ask. Silence isn’t really great. Negative criticism is rare.  Someone should be telling you how it went.