Riggs spoke recently at a Long Island (NY) meeting of TAB – The Alternative Board, where he delivered these Five Tips for Better CEO Communications.
1. Clarify your meaning. “Poor communication is the single biggest problem facing leaders in corporate America. Telling someone that you expect them to Get Results is not communication. You need to provide clear expectations. You need to hear back from your report that he or she undersands those expectations and knows how to follow up. The four words you never want to hear are: ‘I didn’t know how.’”
2. Frame your expectations. “Go beyond stating what you need. Define your time frame and provide the context of what you need, when you needd it and why you need it. Wait to hear back that your employee really understands what it will take to get the job done.”
3. Do your communicating one on one. “Large group meetings suffer from a lot of problems. Employees usually hate them. The best way to communicate is one to one. The employee, not you, should do most of the talking. Start the meeting with a few general questions: What does your week look like? Or: What are your priorities for the week? Then listen.”
4. Manage face-to-face, not by email. “Read a seven-word email, and you have seven opportunities to get the message wrong. Meet someone in person, watch them and listen to them, and they have a much better chance of getting it right.”
5. Meet often and purposefully. “Avoid the end-of-the-year, Big Meeting scenario. It’s better to meet every week and focus on what’s coming up, rather than meet infrequently and evaluate what’s already happened. I’ll put it this way: the annual Performance Evaluation is basically worthless.”
Riggs’ website is Bizlockerroom.com. Reach him by email at kelly@bizlockerroom.com.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
