I didn't turn on my mic
I was co-presenting with - Patrick Donadio, MBA, CSP, MCC on Communicating Your Value: Strategies to Articulate Your Unique Value, Increase Visibility, and Expand Your Professional Network at the NSA Ohio Communication Mastery annual conference.
Patrick started our presentation. To avoid any potential echo, I turned off my mic.
When it was my turn, I was more than ready.
I started strong by asking the big roomful of people, "Who is a brand for"?, except my mic was never turned on.
After 30 seconds or so, my speaker friend, Michael Davis, shouted at the back, "Your mic isn't on!"
Did I feel embarrassed? NOOOO!
I felt grateful that Michael reminded me.
That was the end of the story!
NO, it wasn't.
Later in our presentation, it was my turn to speak about "Amplify Your Brand".
I started with this.
Well, I kind of already demonstrated what it looked like when our voice didn't get amplified.
When I didn't turn on my mic, yes, I have a voice, but it wasn't amplified.
When you are clear about your brand and who you serve, you can communicate your brand with confidence, authenticity, and vulnerability.
But you are still only one person and one voice.
Who can be your brand ambassadors?
Who can be your mic?
Leadership lessons:
Leaders don't sweat the small things.
Leaders focus on the big picture.
Leaders show gratitude.
Leaders don't waste a failure moment.
Leaders use humor strategically (if you can laugh at yourself, you are more approachable).
Who are your mic?
What's the last time you turned a "disastrous" moment into a leadership moment?
Thank you Nan Li, MBA for a great picture.
