Some Common Topics Covered

Having intention to focus on your audience first
Becoming a master of studying context
Managing attention
Creating connections
Structuring & facilitating relevant conversations
Prewiring to reduce uncomfortable surprise
Thinking on your feet
Driving & managing change
Influencing decision making
Valuing & welcoming diversity
Listening to learn

Applying verbal economy
Answering first
Granting random access to detail
Diffusing conflicting emotions
Working to build trust
Establishing a lean & reliable framework for clear & succinct communication
Remembering in the midst of it all that interruptions, contention & fingerprints  can be very good things

Our core offering is a two-day seminar designed for a maximum of 6 - 8 business leaders where we explore the dynamic of an executive context more fully. 

We work as a group to simulate upcoming real-world conversations to allow practice in applying new tools.  Participants receive real-time feedback from the coach and fellow leaders in the course.

Participants of our work hone their ability to:

•  Leverage their message without relying on notes or PowerPoint slides to be successful.

•  Prepare in a way that lets them "think on their feet" and move the discussion on the fly.

•  Better position data and ideas through pre-wiring.

•  Manage power dynamics and handle challenges without giving up personal power or authority.

•  Gain alignment in the first 90 seconds through framing -- a precision tool for getting key data on the table quickly.

•  Attune communication with a diverse or global audience to establish trust and credibility.

•  Reduce anxiety and nerves in high-stakes situations or negotiations.

•  Use verbal economy.

•  Compress a thirty-minute conversation or presentation into 5 minutes.

•  Close strong.

Discussion topics include:

How to create a connection with your audience

Research regarding what we can do to encourage trust

The "split focus" we need to manage when we introduce slides

Research around how audiences decide

How to manage attention:  Yours & that of your audience

Gender differences 

Exercises help participants:

Initiate important business conversations

Check out mind reads

Prepare for conference calls

Develop stronger eye contact  

Increase awareness of impact of body language

Practice verbal economy  

Handle tough questions & challenges

Increase awareness of impact of clothing 

Relax            

Frame messages from audience’s perspective                 

NANCY’S BIOGRAPHY

Nancy has cross-cultural coaching & teaching experience in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Scandinavia, throughout the Americas, Europe and the UK.  She is conversant in French, studied Mandarin, and Spanish is next on her list.

Professional Background
In 2011, Nancy formed a LLC and now customizes and delivers global training and coaching under her own name/brand, Nancy Leathers Graves, to Fortune 500 company leaders globally.

Previously, she was a business partner with the communications consulting firm of Margaret Keys for 10 years.  Prior to that, Nancy spent 15 years working in-house (executive coach, training team & project manager, Human Resource leader, EAP counselor) for Dell Computer, Motorola, and Hospital Corporation of America.

Specialties
Creating a safe space for people who have fear of public speaking or resistance to change. Helping people navigate around communication barriers.  Teaching quick techniques that help individuals and teams build trust and increase flow of communication.  Working with all-women groups, international teams, and ESL clientele.  Staying in integrity with her work by constantly striving to model what she teaches.  She absolutely loves her work.

Over the past ten years, Nancy has held a key focus on and love for working with women in groups and individually.  She invites and helps create “women’s circles” wherever she is working to encourage women to engage, voice their questions and thoughts, and create supportive connections with and for each other.

Education
•  Master of Arts degree, Organizational Development, University of Texas at Austin, USA

•  Bachelor of Science, Education/Counseling & Psychology, Texas State University, USA

•  Post graduate studies in the field of optimal performance and systems theory