5 Ways To Improve Your Leadership Skills

5 Ways To Improve Your Leadership Skills

by Dan McCarthy

Like it or not, ?presence? is an important competency for any leader. You know it when you see it ? a leader with presence exudes self-confidence, is self assured, can be passionate about their beliefs, commands attention, communicates well, and makes people around them feel better and more self-assured. Regardless of where you stand on the presidential candidates, it?s clear that Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had it, while Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter did not. Presidential presence or lack of is often exposed in the harsh glare of televised debates, and as Richard Nixon found out in the 1960 presidential elections, it can make or break a candidate.

One of the reasons Reagan had such a strong stage presence was that he was trained as an actor. Leading executive development programs have long been incorporating acting lessons into their programs and/or follow-up coaching.  Don?t get me wrong ? leadership isn?t about being phony, or misrepresenting yourself. Authenticity is even more important, as people won?t follow someone they don?t believe. However, it?s a shame when a lack of stage presence gets in the way of a potential leader?s other strengths and ideas.

Given everyone may not want to take the time or spend the money to take acting lessons, here are five acting techniques you can begin to work on to improve your leadership presence:

1. Pay attention to your ?entrance?.
People form immediate and lasting impressions based on how you enter a room, your physical characteristics, and the first few words that come out of your mouth. Think about the impression you want to leave people with, and create a vision for your entrance. Will it leave the impression you want to create? Shaking hands (firmly) and introducing yourself to each person (with a smile) in the room is a great way to connect with people and create that instant, lasting impression.

2. Delivery of your ?lines?.
Pay attention to your verbals (volume, tone, speed, choice of words, articulation) as well as your non-verbals (gestures, posture, facial expressions, movements). Your delivery needs to support and align with your message, or people won?t hear what you have to say.

3. Know your lines.
Smooth, articulate delivery won?t help if you don?t know your subject matter. You need to be confident, knowledgeable, and really know what you?re talking about, or you?ll lose credibility. Don't ever let this happen to you!

4. Engage your audience.
Actors know how to connect and relate to their audience. You feel like inviting them into your living room to have a beer or a cup of coffee. Engaging your audience means inviting them to participate, asking questions, listening, and making them feel good about their involvement.

5. Exit, stage left.
Knowing how to leave is almost as importance as your entrance. Remembering people?s names, their questions or concerns, summarizing follow-up commitments, re-emphasizing your key messages, and your physical posture are all important components of a strong exit. You want to be seen riding off into the sunset, not slipping out of the room like you just committed a crime.

Dan McCarthy has been in the field of leadership development for over 20 years. He is currently the Director of Executive Development Programs at the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School of Business and Economics (WSBE).

Reach Dan by e-mail at daniel.mccarthy@unhy.edu
Dan's website is  www.greatleadershipbydan.com

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RAB's Jeff Haley Plays The AMEX Card

Exclusively at Radio Ink's Forecast 2012, set for December 6 at the Harvard Club in New York, RAB President/CEO Jeff Haley sits down with Clear Channel's Khartoon Ohan and Lou Paskalis of American Express to examine radio's role in creating the buzzworthy movement.

Haley says "This panel will be a live case study where we will look at a new marketing campaign from American Express that leverages one of radio's strongest assets -- its connection with the local retailer. We are extremely fortunate to have Lou Paskalis, VP/Global Media, Content Development & Mobile Marketing at American Express, and Clear Channel's VP of Integrated Media, Khartoon Ohan, on the panel. They will explain not only how the program worked, but the diversity of radio tools that American Express relied on to ensure its success."

Khartoon Ohan, VP/Integrated Media, Clear Channel Communications, has more than a decade of advertising experience. During her time at BBDO, she helped the agency gain over $3.5 billion in billing and was the winner of  numerous advertising industry awards, including honors from The Gunn Report, The Won Report, Cannes Lion International Advertising Festival, and  AD AGE, ADWEEK, Creativity, and Campaign magazines.

Lou Paskalis, VP/Global Media, Content Development & Mobile Marketing for American Express, drives the company's cross-channel communications innovation and engagement. He founded the award-winning "Small Business Saturday" and has an extensive track record as an innovator in media, consumer promotions, and sponsorship.

Visit the 2012 Forecast Site and purchase your tickets for the event HERE

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The Curtain Closes After 21 Years

12-1-2011

In this era of sudden layoffs, stealth format flips and a corporate fear of one last verbal tirade, it's a rare occasion an on-air talent gets to say goodbye to his or her fans. For Shellie Hart it was a different story Wednesday as, at age 47, she reminisced with listeners who told her they grew up listening to her on KUBE-FM in Seattle. After 21 years on the air Hart and Clear Channel came to a mutual agreement that it was time to move on. She aired her final 5-hour shift taking calls from people she only knows through her time as their Disc Jockey. After her final show we spoke to Hart about her time on the air and she made one specific point repeatedly throughout our interview. "Radio is so personal." It's that one-on-one connection with the listener, whether it's via the mic, at a remote or raising money for charity that makes radio special. And connecting on a personal level with people is what made Hart special to Seattle for over 2 decades.

Listen to our interview with Hart HERE
Check out the comments on her Facebook page:
http://www/#facebook#com/#!/shelliehart

Reach out to Shellie via e-mail at shelliehart@me.com

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CBS Names Marty Linck PD in St. Louis

Linck will program CBS radio's KEZK and KYKY in St. Louis according to Senior Vice President and Market Manager John Sheehan. Linck starts December 19th. Shehan said ?As a native of the city, Marty embodies the St. Louis mentality and knows what the local listeners want to hear.  His creative and strategic abilities to program and market radio stations in today?s PPM world are a benefit to Y98 and FRESH 102.5. With his experience in the market, ratings success and uncanny talent to program music, we look forward to the inventive and multi-platform ways Marty will bring character and excitement to our stations.?

Linck joins CBS RADIO St. Louis from WCJK radio in Nashville where he was Program Director of the ?Jack? station for the past five years.  Prior to that he was Program Director for ?101.1-The River?& ?97.1-The Rock?.  He also held programming and creative services positions at KSHE, KIHT, KXOK and KPNT all in the St. Louis market.

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How To Win Big In A Small Market

11-29-2011

Robert Wynne is the President of Wynne Broadcasting Company, a cluster of five radio stations in Klamath Falls, Oregon. In the most recent issue of radio Ink magazine Wynne was voted one of Radio's top managers for 2011. Wynne has put in years of tireless dedication to the radio business. His detailed concern for what his station puts out over the air every day and dedication to the local community were just a few of the traits that put him on our list for this year. He says those two things are more important than titles or personal benefits. "I buy the best equipment we can afford, devote resources to multiple backups of our equipment plants for consistency, carefully scrutinize every minor detail of anything that affects our image and give back to the community in every way I can. I pay close attention to all aspects of my operation on a daily basis but also spent abundant time envisioning and creating future plans and strategic alliances."

What are you most proud of about your people and station(s)?
I am most proud of the integrity, consistency, longevity and dedication that I see every day from my people. We have an outstanding Program Director that has been waking up our community on our Soft Rock station for the better part of his career. His dedication and commitment to not just our stations, but our community is something that makes me proud every day. In addition I am blessed to have key employees leading my Traffic and Sales departments as well. Again, these are people that have been with the stations for a long time and are truly dedicated to serving our clients, listeners and our community. These people have a passion for radio and it shows.

I am proud of the fact that my stations are locally owned and operated. Todays radio world is dominated by giant radio corporations and out of town owners. A local operation and owner such as myself is becoming increasingly rare in our industry.

Although we are in a small market, I am proud of the fact that year to date we have donated over $200,000 in airtime to help local groups and organizations make our community a better place to live. In the last three years of this difficult economy we have donated over $650,000 in airtime to our community. I can hold my head up high anytime our stations or my broadcast group name is mentioned in public and feel blessed we have been able to help our community by our commitment to local public service.

Describe the makeup of a successful GM/Market Manager in Radio
A successful GM/Market Manager must be versed in all aspects of the radio stations he or she is leading. By definition, the owners of most radio stations believe the GM must be strong in sales and relationship building in the community. However, they must also be capable in all departments, Traffic, On Air, Production, Accounting, Engineering, IT and Marketing. A successful GM/Market Manager must be able to talk intelligently to all employees in every department and truly lead the team by example, dedication and the ability to ?roll up their sleeves? and help out in any situation. A successful GM/Market Manager must also have the ability to envision the big picture and develop and constantly modify a strategic plan for success without getting mired down in marginal situations.

What is it about YOU that makes you successful?
Never ask anyone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself. The dirtiest jobs in a radio station are an important part of what makes the whole system work. I believe I am successful because of the tireless dedication to the radio business that I have built over the years. I am more concerned about our on air product and our reputation in the community than I am about titles and personal benefits. We may be in a small market but that is no reason to think small. I buy the best equipment we can afford, devote resources to multiple backups of our equipment plants for consistency, carefully scrutinize every minor detail of anything that affects our image and give back to the community in every way I can. I pay close attention to all aspects of my operation on a daily basis but also spent abundant time envisioning and creating future plans and strategic alliances.

What will the top three challenges of 2012 be for radio managers?
Number one?.keeping radio local and relevant. As the number of music, news and entertainment distribution options continue to increase it is imperative that local radio super serves the local community on all levels. It is all about local content and programming. As the saying goes ?All politics is local??.and the same applies to radio in the future. Your station may sound and look great but if it is not a relevant part of your local listeners day to day life your future is rather bleak.

Number two?finding and keeping talented people. The amount of talented people entering radio as a career has fallen to dangerous levels. We are seeing a new generation that has no interest in working in radio and the unique challenges that make it a business that ?gets in your blood?. As each year passes it will become harder and harder to find capable individuals dedicated to our business.

Number three?understanding and embracing the technological advances and creations that lie ahead and having the wisdom to embrace those that can advance our local image and disregard those that offer no practical improvement to our core audience. We need to understand that not everything new and shiny should be embraced with our limited budgets. Some may look or sound great but in reality offer a very limited return on investment and affect a minimal portion of our precious audience.

Reach out to Wynne HERE to congratulate him or discuss his successes.

(11/29/2011 11:38:55 PM)
I've Had the pleasure of knowing Bob for many years, I consider him a friend and a true professional at what he does. He works hard within our community and I consider him a great asset to our town. I've had the opportunity to work with him on large event we produce and his character, honesty, and integrity along with his imput have largley helped in it's success.
(11/29/2011 7:26:18 PM)
Thank you for wanting to keep the LOCAL in RADIO!!!!

(11/29/2011 4:24:45 PM)
"I buy the best equipment we can afford, devote resources to multiple backups of our equipment plants for consistency, carefully scrutinize every minor detail of anything that affects our image and give back to the community in every way I can. I pay close attention to all aspects of my operation on a daily basis but also spent abundant time envisioning and creating future plans and strategic alliances."

This type of commitment separates the doers from the posers. Worth pondering and sharing!

- Rod Schwartz - Grace Broadcast Sales(11/29/2011 11:45:50 AM)
Dear Robert: Advance to the cloning department - immediately. Well said.
(11/29/2011 11:06:02 AM)
AMEN, Robert! AMEN!

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Veteran Minnesota GM Marc Kahlman Out

12-1-2011

Kalman has been in Twin Cities radio for over four decades. Wednesday morning he announced his retirement from radio stating "It's time for me to move on to other things." Kalman is the GM for Cumulus owned KQRS, KXXR and Love 105. He was also GM at KDWB and GSM at WCCO. Kalman is 67. He was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2002. His last day on the job will be December 16th.

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Report: Stern May Become Reality Show Judge

You never know with Howard. This could be a publicity stunt in the end. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Stern is "in serious negotiations" with NBC to be the next judge on "America's Got Talent." Piers Morgan is leaving the program which leaves an empty seat at the table next to Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. The Journal says Howard's asking price is $15 million a year and, the paper says, the program might even be moved from California to New York to accommodate Howard.

Howard continues to air his long-running successful morning program on SiriusXM. Read the entire journal article HERE

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