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Let’s Talk About Change

Dr. Joanne G. Sujansky, Certified Speaking Professional, featured in Professional Speaker Magazine

Change is a hot topic. Most people today face major changes in their personal and professional lives at rapidly increasing rates. Whether you are a presenter advising leaders and managers about a change process, a motivational speaker inspiring audiences to improve their lives, or a technology expert helping organizations keep pace with the times, your presentations are bound to involve the subject of change. And, since there’s no shortage of individuals willing to talk about personal and organizational transitions, you might ask, “How can I stand out?” “How can I deliver a memorable presentation on change?”

As speakers, trainers, and change management consultants for nearly 50 combined years, we’ve developed four steps for making an outstanding presentation related to change.

1. Expand Your Knowledge and Self-Awareness
2. Customize Your Speech
3. Involve Your Audience
4. Help Your Audience Take Positive Action

Expand Your Knowledge and Self-Awareness
The only way to speak successfully about change is to have expertise and experience on the topic. So, know your subject by thoroughly researching change management theories and reading relevant books. Then, explore your feelings about change and resolve any fears you may have about unexpected or imposed changes. Be prepared to use personal stories in your speech and to talk frankly about transitions in your life and the effects of your reactions to change. Review your promotions, marriage and family circumstances, and job or career changes for presentation material, asking yourself:

• How do I handle change?
• What have I learned from my past that can help me speak about change?
• How can I use my expertise and personal experience to address others’ feelings and thoughts about change?
  

Customize Your Speech
When the subject is change, your audience is likely to have a wealth of experience. They may have changed their careers or their addresses dozens of times and/or lived through corporate downsizing, mergers and strategic restructuring. They may have been uprooted as children, experienced the loss of parents, siblings or friends, or survived life-threatening illnesses. Before preparing your talk, find out about your audience’s past and present experience with change. Conduct telephone interviews or solicit information via e-mail, summarizing and weaving individual responses into your talk. Ask sample audience members two or three questions, such as:

• What information could this presentation cover to help you handle changes in your life?
• What tip would you give to leaders in your organization to help people accept current changes?
• Of the transitions that you’ve made in your life, which one was the toughest? What did you learn that you can pass along to others?
• As you think about the changes that you’ve managed in your work/life, which one makes you the proudest? Why?

When gathering information about or from your audience, let people know that you will not attribute their remarks without their permission. If individuals say something you’d like to use, ask them if you can mention the comments in your speech, or request that they share their insight with the audience as part of your presentation.

Involve Your Audience
If you have been invited to speak about change, chances are that your audience is already deeply involved in a change process. Attendees may be dealing with personal or workplace changes or at different points in a variety of life transitions. They may fear, resist or welcome change. Whatever their position in relationship to change, you can bet that they have feelings, opinions and questions to share. By involving them in your presentation, you acknowledge what they already know and give them opportunities to learn more about themselves and change management. Adults learn best when their inner experience validates newly received information, so when you make an important point, give your audience a chance to integrate what you’ve said with their perceptions. Invite them to apply or comment on your information. For example, if your audience is large, you might ask a question or two and have individuals share their answers with a neighbor. If your audience is small, you might instruct small groups to interact around a set of questions related to change. One question that works regardless of audience size is, “Think back to an important change in your life. How has your experience at that time influenced your current reaction to change?”

This article may be reprinted for your use in an organizational newsletter and or e-zine provided that you contact Kelly Hanna, Director of Sales and Marketing at 724-942-7900 to gain permission.

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