He stood awkwardly in the front of the room. I remember him shifting on the balls of his feet as he read a script from behind the podium. We were called into the auditorium to hear the vision of the company. Rumors of impending layoffs circulated, increasing the tension in the room.<\/p>\n
Many years later, I don\u2019t recall the specifics of what he said, but I remember little things: the temperature in the room nearing sauna levels, the executive\u2019s monotone voice and lack of emotion, the woman to my left who asked the first question (and received the first non-answer) and the way the speaker ended his talk with a cough into the microphone and caused piercing feedback in the speakers. We filed out quietly, somewhat glad that we hadn\u2019t been collectively let go. We were all quietly pondering the meeting as if we could give it meaning after the fact.<\/p>\n
Years later, I would take the first of several CEO roles. The very first time I was delivering a strategic vision, I thought about the first one I attended and the mistakes made. I\u2019ve tried to avoid the most common pitfalls, but I still made my own share of errors along the way.<\/p>\n
Here are nine mistakes to avoid when communicating your vision:<\/p>\n
Mistake 1: Ignoring the room.<\/strong> That negative experience always has me thinking of the room logistics: sound, temperature, technology, and visuals. It\u2019s not only the physicality of the room but also preparing the room in other ways. Make sure your audience knows what to expect. Your message starts with the invitation, not with your first words. Today, the \u201croom\u201d is just as likely to be digital as physical. The same preparation required for a room is needed when you are going live on Facebook or YouTube. Leaders sweat the small stuff to ensure success.<\/p>\n\t\t