Ultimate Truth About Executive Presence At The Whiteboard

Looking to stand out with poise and presence in your company? Whether you’re the CEO or an aspiring leader, presenting at the whiteboard is a winning decision. If…you know how to present with skill, executive presence and authenticity. Many leaders shy away from whiteboard presenting. At first glance, it looks too down to earth, too simple and too low tech. However, these qualities are the exact reasons why whiteboard leadership presentations are so incredibly powerful. Let’s examine why smart leaders use whiteboard presentations to connect with their employees, clients, board of directors and stakeholders. Down To Earthr As smart leaders know, it’s essential to keep important topics and values very down to earth. Rolling up your sleeves, grabbing a marker and sketching out ideas is extremely practical. Instead of relying on fancy tools, slick presentations and expensive special effects, real leaders prefer to be down to earth. Using simple words, everyone will understand. Sketching out ideas and solving problems with an everyday marker, sends a dramatic message. The message: “your leader is right here with you. We’re solving problems and inventing the future together.” Isn’t that the kind of leader you are? Simpler While many business problems and solutions are extremely complex, great leaders have a knack for keeping things simple. To emphasize simple solutions is, in fact, the mark of brilliant thinkers. A whiteboard presentation is really only as good as the thinking that created it. If the presenter is a clear thinker and the message is well thought out, it will be profoundly simple. This kind of simplicity is extremely rare. But when you see it…well, the light bulbs go off. There’s a magic moment. Wow. That’s special. As a leader or aspiring leader, aim for this kind of remarkable simplicity. Don’t settle for an idea that is complex and convoluted. One rule of thumb that may help you: test out your whiteboard sketch on a young child. Say, 5 years old. If he or she ‘gets it’ and has a big grin in response, you’re good to go. Low-Techr There’s no question that high tech tools are awesome, appealing and very attractive. But let’s not forget the point of tools. Tools help leaders communicate their message. When you use a low-tech tool such as a classic dry erase board or whiteboard, you send a direct message. It’s a story in itself. The story is: this is a hot idea. It’s so hot that it works directly…just a marker and a board and you get on fire. If you’ve been tracking it, there’s a flurry about visual storytelling, whiteboard selling, story selling and leadership. More and more business leaders are picking up a marker to share their story. Why? Because it’s a good time to be basic. Go low tech. Go down to the roots. Show people that with simple tools, great things are possible. The truth is: leaders have always relied on visual storytelling to inspire people. Whether they used paintings on cave walls or marker sketches on whiteboards, the effect is the same. Great leaders inspire others with emotion, passion and visual stories. There’s nothing so compelling as seeing a brilliant leader step up to the board and simplify a complex problem—right in front of your eyes. It is riveting. If you want to ignite results and lead change, get the coaching, skill development and training you need. Presenting with poise, command of the tools and complete confidence is all part of your leadership presence. With whiteboard presenting, you, your story and your whiteboard presentation combine to send one powerful message.