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Please don’t miss this opportunity, take it! And don’t give it to someone else. Always take exposure with an exec. If you fail that’s how you learn and grow. Also if you fail, remember we’re all human. Maybe I’m wrong but I am almost sure that we’ve all failed miserably at one point. As long as you learn from it. Interacting with leadership, presenting and storytelling are essential skills. You can’t learn them by tiptoeing around the shallow end and letting others present your stuff. YOUUUUU CAN DOOOOOO ITTTTTT. I have faith. You can’t make it far playing things safe.
This is the way to go. View it as an opportunity, not as something that has to be done. Tge reality is, you have no idea what the relationship is the other individual is with the CMO. The CMO may be looking for new blood and new ideas. Or maybe they're tired of the way the previous person always skirts the details. Or maybe provides too many details. Regardless, this is your opportunity to gain the experience, not the other way around. Trust your instincts, approach the conversation the way you normally would, ask questions to make sure you're fully understanding their feedback, and then make sure you thank the CMO for the feedback at the end.
Definitely practice and observe others presenting. What do they do well?
When a coo coached me on presenting to executives the main tips shared were:
1. What is your main point or "ask". Is it to inform or request approval for example. Presenting with a clear purpose is important. When you intro yourself state your purpose first and any background or context of previous conversations with that exec if any. They are presented with lots of info all the time so the refresher helps.
2. Practice.
3. Be concise. Say your point for each slide and stop. Coach yourself not to ramble.
4. Keep presentation short. There are various suggestions on length so go with what you have seen in the company. Is it 5 slides or 10 slides with an appendix.
5. Design of the slides matter. Should be polished and clean. No typos. Check data.
6. If questions to your work or thinking arise, be honest if you don't know. That is where anxiety creeps in. What if you're asked something you hadn't considered?. Don't worry- think of the presentation as a conversation. The executive is purely providing their input. They love that..shows where they are engaged. Questions are good. You want to be truly interested in that - explain obstacles you encountered and how you could tackle them. Ask for people resources to help if needed. When an executive says to work with so and so, then that should carry more weight and you will likely get more help.
7. Summarize the meeting and action items and send to attendees. Assign action items where necessary and follow up to resolve them.
Good luck! You will get better with time.
If it’s your work you should present - either way taking responsibility for your own contributions either good or bad. That’s how you grow!
Ahead of time set up a dry run of the deck with the other strategist to practice and get their feedback on your presentation skills and where to improve & integrate them into the presentation where you need support.
Yes it’s a bad career move to have the present your work. Truly take every opportunity and learn. It’s the only way.
Let them take the lead, learn what they do well and where they fall short, based on your opinion. When you're ready, step in and take the reigns on your work.