Not every executive has the opportunity to testify before Congress. Those who do must be prepared to the nth degree, for that time in the witness chair can make or break your industry.
The C-suite Blueprint blog has 10 years of what I hope you will agree is rich content, so I've been revisiting some previous posts during July and August. I hope you've profited from this greatest hits collection.
The approach of September heralds the final issue of Summertime Rewind. Don't fret. There will be fresh insights and opinions for you post-Labor Day.
Here's your last chance to fold in these refreshers to your beach reading this summer. And as always, feel free to add your comments in one of two ways:
- If you read the C-suite Blueprint blog online, post your thoughts in the "Leave a Reply" box
- If you follow the blog and receive each article by email, simply hit reply and offer your insights
Now for the conclusion of Summertime Rewind.
It's the most important business meeting you'll ever have.
Done right, five minutes spent testifying before a Congressional committee means attaining your public policy goals, pushing legislation that can make billions for your company, and burnishing your reputation — both organizationally and personally.
Done wrong, you are in a world of hurt. Think of all the corporate and government officials who have been trotted before Congress, filleted, and left with a never-to-be rehabilitated name.
How can you place yourself as a winner when petitioning your government officials? Over the years, I've talked to some really smart people — government relations (GR) experts who counsel executives on best testimony practices on a regular basis. I've overlaid some of my own experiences, too.
There exists a series of essential questions that must be considered by any organization that plans to take a seat at the witness table. They include such riddles as:
- What traits do successful witnesses share?
- What can be done to mentally prepare witnesses to avoid intimidation?
- What are the major differences between the oral statement and the written testimony?
- What procedures do you follow in drafting the oral statement?
- What steps do you take to prepare a witness for delivering the oral statement and the Q&A?
- How important is Congressional staff?
- How do you organize the training session to prepare your witnesses to deliver the oral testimony?
- What about follow up steps?
- What methods do you use to debrief your witness?
- How do you use today's testimony to get better when testifying the next time?
These last two questions bear particular examination. It is one of my longstanding frustrations as a communications strategy consultant that so few organizations and executives heed the need to improve over time. They neglect opportunities capable of advancing their careers and causes. My humble hope is to open eyes to the fact that sharpening one's communications edge is a lifetime endeavor, not one to be revisited only when an important opportunity — such as testifying before Congress — looms.
I invite you to chime in with your favorite techniques and words of wisdom in the Comments section below. I look forward to the dialogue.
Nervous about your upcoming Congressional testimony? Chapter Five on advocacy in A+ Strategies for C-suite Communications has what you need.
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