Pitches, proposals, sales, presentations and positioning statements all try to answer the questions "What do you do?" and "How can you help me?" How you answer those questions require great clarity in order for you to make a powerful impression. A powerful self-introduction, whether it's at a social function, professional conference or as part of your internal positioning is a must.

You need an answer to the question whether you are asked in an elevator (engage), a version when they follow you into the corridor (explain), a version when they follow you into the boardroom (explore).

Have you ever been stuck in an elevator, a social function or boardroom meeting, and been presented with the question; 'What do you actually do?'

This is one of the most commonly asked questions when someone meets another person for the first time. For most people a simple job title is the most common response, which unfortunately leaves little impression in the recipient’s mind. However, when you come into contact with a Thought Leader they have a particular gleam in their eye and their response is quite often inspiring. It is not that they are enthusiastic and over the top, it is just as if they have found a secret formula that positions them as an expert — someone that others want to find out more about. Even further, the Thought Leaders that have really worked on their positioning provide you with something that you can easily repeat to others — further enhancing their brand, reputation and capabilities.

Who should attend this workshop?

• Thought Leaders
• Business Consultants
• Learning and Development Experts
• Corporate Trainers
• Executive Coaches
• Professional Speakers
• Life Coaches

The process you will learn in this one day workshop is built around the nine steps of positioning.

The positioning matrix is a process and discipline every Thought Leader should develop. With a little preparation and practice, using this process, you will quickly learn how to communicate your ideas in a way that captures the attention of others and is rigidly flexible.That sounds like a contradiction in terms, doesn’t it? Bear with us; you’ll soon see what we mean.

This process was created to help people share sentences that introduce themselves and their ideas in an elegant, effective and quick fashion. The art and discipline of creating a positioning matrix is now taught all over the world by Thought Leader mentors and has proven to be incredibly powerful. Many Thought Leaders attribute the Positioning Matrix as the key reason for achieving the opportunity to win some of their largest contracts.

You can apply this process in initial elevator greetings, simple corridor conversations and inflight conversations, right through to formal proposals that outline your ideas or in high-stakes presentations delivered to introduce or gain acceptance of your big ideas.

Although we recognise we are not what we do, Thought Leaders still need to be able to answer the question ‘What do you do?’ in a way that makes us better known and creates interest. Many card-carrying introverts find the prospect of commercial networking about as attractive as having root canal treatment. Still, we recognise that without sharing our expertise with staff, customers, clients and attendees, no one besides us will know our Thought Leadership.

There are basically three critical reasons why you would explain to someone what you do:

1. To be Remembered

2. To be Understood

3. To be Recommended

To be memorable, a great positioning statement and self introduction needs to be well-designed and delivered with impact. The energy and activity involved with how you answer this question will determine the outcome.

In the especially competitive world of today, we need to work harder on being memorable so that in every situation from interviews to boardroom presentations - you effectively communicate the value of what you do and who you are.

During this short, sharp and focussed session, you can expect to learn how to:

• Make a point quickly
• Position what you do
• Leverage your point of difference
• Ask for the kind of business you want in your introduction
• Be remembered and referred through a great positioning statement

What others have said about the program:

Loved the presentation and the focus on future & omission discipline.  I was really excited to come to this seminar and really got huge value. Rohan Dredge

Made me think about what I do when I talk to others about what I do. A great demonstration on how to position myself and walk through my strengths. Catherine Anderson

This gave me the clarity and structure and a new awareness on how to put things together and being future focused. You have given me so many ideas and I love how it was practical and interactive. Outstanding. Matthew Ward

You gave me lots to work on.  I really liked the 'flip side' of uniqueness and how I should be more future focussed in my positioning. Kerrie Scott

I now know the different levels of positioning I can use and how to turn my weaknesses into strengths. Great stuff. Andrea Bernard