Talk The Walk!

In management as in marriage, the ‘C’ word is crucial. Like Hilton’s essentials for a hotel’s success, ‘Location, Location, Location’, here the winsome threesome is –‘Communication, communication, communication’.




Yet, people emerge from even the most elite educational powerhouses, with tongues tied up in knots.


What use your ideas if you can’t convey them convincingly? What use your leadership if you find it awkward to express yourself? What use yearning to be a sought-after guy if you mumble a speech and stumble so badly over a punc-line that the joke falls flat on its face?


Public Speaking Skills make all the difference to how you come across.


Tips abound to get over your fright in addressing a roomful of people. ‘Imagine them naked’ is among the most absurd – it could result in the most embarrassing consequences. ‘Avoid eye contact’ is as stupid because using your eyes is among the best ways to win ‘ayes’.

Here’s my maxim: bring about a ‘C’ Change.
The 6 C’s are – Content, Conviction, Confidence, Contact, Conflict (on occasion) and Cool (always).


In our eagerness of ‘how’ to say, we can’t overlook the primary importance of ‘what’ to say. Work on ideas first. You’re never going to win over anyone to views in which you yourself don’t believe.

Once you have content and conviction, the third ‘C’ is a shoo-in, with a little rehearsing.

Personalising your message is the surest way of getting it across – and the best messenger is eye-contact.

Conflict, via controversial remarks, is a great way to wake up your audience - but use this judiciously.

Finally, keep your cool – lose your temper and you lose the battle.