You’re sitting at a meeting. Powdered sugar from your donut is falling on your blazer. You planned to sit back and listen. Your vocal chords and your brain have just left for the Bahamas when you’re called on to say a few words. “What?” you croak as a spray of powdered sugar mists the air. I’m not prepared. I couldn’t. I have no notes. I have no knowledge. I have no opinion. I pass.

Well, before you pass go and fail to collect your $200 bucks and the recognition you’ll get from your pithy patter, I’d like to prove to you that you can talk about anything - and, at the drop of a donut.

Let’s brainstorm. You’re asked to speak about wine. What could you say if you weren’t an expert? You could speak on the dilemma a wine dunce faces when ordering wine. You could speak on alternatives to wine; making one glass of wine last all evening; cooking with wine; how to get wine stains out of clothes; how to find cheap wine glasses; where to find a liquor store with great service; health effects of moderate wine drinking. Even if you don’t know a Chablis from a chamois, you can say a few words about wine.

What if you were asked to speak on management trends and you’re still trying to make the golden rule work (give yourself a standing ovation.). You could speak on how management has changed in your company. You could speak on what you think the next trend will be; what work will look like in the year 2007 (no one else knows either); what would happen if we were simply kind and respectful to each other; what works in a sandbox; the best manager you know; how management techniques work in a family; what’s bunk and what’s funk and on and on. Even if you think theories X,Y or Z are formulas for alphabet soup, you can say a few words about management trends.
The secret is to:

• Stop. Don’t hide behind the fifth amendment. And, don’t leap right in with a blathering of blather. Take a breath and...

• Huddle. Gather your thoughts. You have several options here.

• Choose. Pick a focus. Pick a “headline.” And, pick a point of view. Then, quickly think of an example to support your point of view.

Here’s how it works. The chair asks your opinion on management. You pause and consider your focus. Gather an example and open your mouth. “Management: Back to Basics.” [your headline] “My point of view,” you continue, “ is that the flavor of the month management has to be grounded in the basics.” [Your point of view.] “For example, [Here comes your example.] in my firm, we rely on courtesy, communication and commitment. Three management basics that never go out of style. And with that foundation, we can grow and explore new business and success.”

Take a bow. See. You can speak about anything.

Karen Susman speaks across the country on Communication, Management and Wellness. She coaches individuals and groups on presentation skills. Contact Karen at kdsus@aol.com or toll free 1/888-675-8818.

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