Presenting strategy involves two key elements: ‘presenting’ and ‘strategy.’ That may sound like a statement of the obvious, but the reality is that many people neither connect the two elements or develop the necessary skills in both disciplines to be effective at communicating strategy at company events. The result can be a lacklustre performance that can have a very negative effect on your attempts to implement strategy and manage change.

Fortunately, there is a solution. To be good at presenting strategy, we need to have a burning desire to master both advanced presentation skills and a complete understanding of our strategies. Without that ambition, we cannot expect to make a significant impact when it counts. What drives that burning desire may not be the same for everyone. For some, it will be ambition and a competitive drive, for other perhaps a fear of failure, for others, a thirst for knowledge. Whatever our reasons, we need to be motivated because doing anything well in life takes hard work and practice.

Think of it like signing up for college in September for that course you’ve wanted to do for some time. There is a reason why you have chosen that course. You want to do it for a specific purpose. You perhaps need the qualification for your career. You know it is going to take up a lot of your time, but you are prepared to make the sacrifice because what you are working hard for isn’t just the qualification, ultimately what you are buying, is the hope of a brighter and more rewarding future.

Learning advanced presentation skills and understanding strategy is no different. You are hoping for a brighter future for both yourself, your organisation, and those people whom you manage.