CAREER COACH
I hate public speaking, but my boss delights in calling on me without warning to address the group. I also blush which makes me feel even more selfconscious. I appreciate the opportunity to raise my profile, but I fear it is in a negative way. Any thoughts?
I bet you don’t blush when you are out with your friends sharing a story, right? The intense fear many people have about speaking at work is often due to the stakes being so high. We know that we are being judged, and that the audience isn’t necessarily the most forgiving or friendly. In fact, some in the room might delight in you flaming out if it is a competitive environment. (Not to freak you out even more, but this is the truth behind the fear.) Explain to your boss that being surprised and called upon to speak doesn’t help. You need to be able to prepare so that you know what you are going to say. With more practice and success under those conditions, the fear will begin to subside.
I have to attend a weekly meeting that is run by another executive. It’s awful. People hate coming and talk about it openly. My reputation is suffering because people assume that since I am the other senior executive, I am also responsible. If I say something it will cause a strain. What should I do?
Well, let’s think about this logically. If you do nothing, then nothing will change, and you will continue having ineffective meetings that people hate and damage your reputation. How does that sound? The risk of causing strain with a colleague by addressing their leadership style and meeting savvy doesn’t seem so big, then, does it? Invite your colleague to breakfast or lunch. Give them feedback about what you are hearing. Make sure it’s not about him or her personally. Invite a dialogue about how the meeting can be conducted more effectively. Perhaps suggest some anonymous feedback from participants. If there is no cooperation and no improvement after that, consider taking it to the next level. You can enable the current conditions or try to influence change, but if you don’t do anything, then you can’t complain.
Gregory Gian grande is a chief human resources and communications officer in the media industry. E-mail your career questionstogotogreg@nypost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @gregg ian grande. His Goto Greg podcast series is avail ab leo ni Tunes.