Communicating effectively with an executive audience comes with its own set of unique challenges. For less experienced individuals, updating the leadership team or presenting to a board of directors can be particularly difficult to navigate. First-time presenters may come into the room expecting that the executive group will have sufficient background on the material at hand; often, executives lack this context, an obstacle that the presenter may not have prepared for. A presenter may also make the mistake of not providing a short, digestible summary of their material—without that, executives may be unable to make a critical decision efficiently.
Last week, I hosted the 13th virtual meeting of the Novarica Women’s Network on the topic of communicating with an executive audience. Our panelists, COUNTRY Financial VP Deana Lauria, Shelter Insurance Companies EVP & Treasurer Teresa Magruder, Electric Insurance CIO Kimberly Koury, and Principal Financial Group SVP Kara Hoogensen, discussed key challenges and best practices for presenting information to an executive group.
I’ve included some takeaways from our conversation below:
Before meeting with an executive group, adequate preparation is required. Do a little research on your future audience and build your presentation around their business and technology priorities. One panelist suggested meeting with a member of that executive group beforehand and presenting your key points to them; their feedback can help you further tailor your presentation focus. Another advised that when preparing, try anticipating the questions that will be asked, and practice your responses ahead of time. Aligning your presentation to the strategy of the company is key to engaging your audience and highlighting the importance of your message.
Nerves are normal, and there are ways to calm yourself and stay focused. It can be easy to get “amped up” before high-stakes meetings. One panelist recommended doing some breathing exercises to combat the rush of adrenaline that kicks in. Acknowledging the nerves can also help quell anxiety; it’s perfectly okay to feel nervous anticipation before meeting with a leadership team. Remembering your preparation and staying focused on delivering your message clearly can help you refocus away from your anxiety and on the mission at hand.
When delivering a message to an executive audience, be clear and get to the point fast. Knowing your audience and tailoring your message appropriately are critical to keeping executives’ interest and obtaining their buy-in. Tell them a clear story, and “cut to the chase.” Do not keep your audience in suspense about what you are presenting. Be careful not to get caught up in the weeds; though low-level details may seem critical, staying high-level is necessary when presenting to a group without the extensive background and context that you’ve developed while working with the material. If specifically questioned by an audience member to provide a far greater level of detail, it’s okay to simply acknowledge the question, and offer a time to “take things offline” and follow up with them immediately after the presentation.
The next Novarica Women’s Network Virtual Meeting will take place on May 26, 2021, at 11AM ET on the topic of “Driving Innovation in Insurance.” Speakers include Novarica’s Vice President of Research and Consulting Deb Zawisza. More information is available at here.
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