A521.7.4.RB_SiegmundWayne

The Secret Structure

     In my upcoming presentation, I plan to convey my future story by showing an event-based journey developed by concepts of milestones I have imagined throughout my life. In creating this presentation, I will attempt to display not so much a timeline, but an event line that travels off into the distance, or future where it climbs from the frozen tundra up to the peaks of mountains, and then down to the end of my physical future. 

     My presentation somewhat follows Duarte's (2011) description of Freytag's Dramatic Story Structure where there is an exposition, a rising action, a climax, a falling action and a denouement. However, I also feel if the presentation was to be broken down into smaller finite segments, we would inevitably see the structure of Duarte's (2011) likeable hero that meets roadblocks, and through mentor-ship, emerge transformed. At the same time, Smith (2013) says to "keep your speech simple, with a clear beginning, middle and end."

     The presentation provides an account of how I see my life unfold into the future from now as the starting point. As time goes on, a new conceptual stage appears describing how things in my life are in hopes of turning out, providing the positive tone and motivation to work and live towards these phases. The purpose of this model is to show that a positive forward-looking perception attracts positive events and helps maintain a positive outlook even during times when roadblocks are encountered, because the next event is already positioned to be a positive stage.

     In learning how people react to great speeches and presentations through contrasting and comparing between what is and what could be, it is easy to see how people would want to buy off on what is trying to be sold-namely the what could be. Beard (2011) states, "for oratory to be really powerful, it has to be about something that matters, and it has to be the real words of the person making the speech." I see sharing my future is contrasting events of what may be, as in the most likely, and what could be if we only...persevered, continued to support our idea, shared our thoughts, took calculated risks, etc. 

     It must be understood that these great speeches and presentations are shared by those who have lived a great deal of what they have shared and have done so passionately. It is through knowing and feeling so strongly about something, that it becomes about the principle and its purpose in being presented. It is the belief that this idea shared must be accepted based on the contrasting information between what is and what it could be, the excitement and passion behind the idea, and because a person with a very relative, popular and positive reputation is the one supporting and pushing it.

     A great presentation can replicate great speeches in that it can also show contrasting ideas through a passionate, and well-structured delivery. Brady (2013) shares that "you need to deliver the message with passion and charisma." Making the audience the hero that needs the help of the presenter to clear the obstacles so they can see the greatness of the presenter's idea, establishes trustworthiness. Presenting the idea through story helps the audience connect with the information in a personal sense, providing clarity and understanding for buy in. In future presentations, I will incorporate this structural pattern representative of great speeches.

References:

Beard, M. (2011, February 25). What makes a great speech? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/feb/26/kings-speech-oscars-mary-beard

Brady, A. (2013, may 9). What makes a great speech? [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-arlo-brady/what-makes-a-great-speech_b_3854861.html

Duarte, N. (2011, November). The secret structure of great talks [TED Talks]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks#t-1051706

May, K. T. (2012, October 31). How to give more persuasive presentations: A q&a with nancy duarte. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://blog.ted.com/how-to-give-more-persuasive-presentations-a-qa-with-nancy-duarte/

Smith, J. (2013, August 13). How to give a great speech. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/08/13/how-to-give-a-great-speech-3/#b1baf5d4da07

    

A521.9.4.RB_SiegmundWayne

A Different Kind of Leader

     In today's military, it is obvious to see the changes that have taken place in leaders over the last 70 years. In the past, communication typically was conducted from the bottom up. Whereas, in contrast, it now flows more equally top down as it does bottom up, ensuring a more well-informed community across the board. As a Chief Petty Officer, a senior enlisted rank in the United States Navy, I have been able to witness first hand the leadership amongst the officer ranks, as well as the leadership from the enlisted ranks. I have found many different leadership styles used throughout my community, to include Transactional, Transformational and Servant, as well as a combination of these (Cintron, n.d.).

     Going into my 17th year, I have already begun incorporating a Transformational leadership style by taking our task oriented environment, and meeting twice a week with all staff in effort to make each other aware of one another's schedules, intentions, and ideas. From these meetings, I am able to coalesce everyone's schedules, discuss their individual, and or group intentions, and provide a collaborative atmosphere for new ideas to flourish.

     Personally, I have been engaging with my leadership, peers and subordinates on a level playing field. Meaning, I have been approaching each staff member with equal respect, an open mind, and an energetic disposition. I feel having a positive energetic feeling about yourself is a contagious feeling. This does not mean that we push our energies, or agendas on other, but merely present it. It has served me well. Creative Commons (as cited by Burns, 1978) "defined transformational leadership as a person’s ability to engage others for the purpose of building motivation" (pg. 2).

     Going forward into the last five years of my military career, I intend to take the transformational aspect of my leadership style it into high gear by creating a culture of transformational leaders. ""It is not about sustaining the status quo, but aims at constant improvement at both the personal and organizational levels (Steinwart and Ziegler, 2014, pg. 54). It is my plan to  keep in the practice of ensuring leadership is not dependent on rank, that our leadership works with the greater community at large, and not ignore it, and is in keeping with personal integrity and authenticity (Denning, 2011) practices so as to set the example of what behaviors are expected and work in synchronicity, rather than against.

     By meeting with staff members individually, providing them with work ethic expectations in a motivational manner, each member could potentially grow using their own methods to engage and interact with each other in order to accomplish personal and professional objectives. Cintron (n.d.)states  "The essence of transformational leadership is the capacity to adapt means to ends to share and reshape institutions and structures to achieve broad human purposes and moral inspirations."

     If staff can learn to use their personality style with this effective leadership style, we can grow a community of transformative leaders from the mildly meek and quiet, to the boisterous and loud. It is merely a matter of integration of collaborative desires and understanding personalities, so as integrate one another's intentions and honoring them.

References:

Cintron, (n.d.). Leadership styles in the  military. Retrieved from http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/leadership-styles-military-25296.html




Creative Commons, (n.d.). Transformational Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.langston.edu/sites/default/files/basic-content-files/TransformationalLeadership.pdf

Denning, S. (2011). The leader’s guide to storytelling: Mastering the art and discipline of business narrative. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Steinwart, M. C. & Ziegler, J. A. (2014). Remembering apple's ceo steve job as a "transformational leader": Implications for pedagogy. Journal of Leadership Education. p.54. DOI:10.12806/V13/I2/R3

A521.8.3.RB_SiegmundWayne

Cornerstones of Speaking

     In the past, my presentations used to be one dimensional, so to speak. That is to say, I would utilize a PowerPoint presentation and speak to it. I have learned much in the ways of tools that provide depth in giving a presentation. These tools include developing a technical presentation that can be brief from, or spoken to, clothing choice, body language, voice fluctuations and inflection, facial expressions, gestures, and the environment that surrounds you. The objective is to capture the audiences' attention, and keep them engaged. With the right combination of these tools used at the right time and proper technique, presenting can be a very rewarding experience.

     In the future, I plan to know the presentation material so well, that my focus will shift from the material to the audience, employing body gestures, catch phrases, pauses, expressions, and vocal tone, rhythm, pitch, volume, prosody, timbre, and register (Treasure, 2016). In this sense, I can focus on these techniques and their employment while engaging the audience, instead of just talking about something that be of interest to the audience, but become less interested due to the delivery of the information.

     In giving a presentation, I will also be looking to approach the material with a storytelling flair when engaging the audience. If my intention is to get the audience's attention, and keep it, I will need to focus on not just what I'm saying, but how I'm saying it, such as vivid and emotive language (Valmont, 2016). Using certain techniques carefully, so as not to over do it, can provide the speaker with the right amount of energy that can captivate the audience, ensuring their attention is on the information you are presenting visually and audibly.

References:

Treasure, J. (2013, May 13). How to speak so that people will listen [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkEAFaV818&feature=youtu.be

Valmont, M. (2016, July 24). Storytelling: How to tell great stories that engage everyone. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkEAFaV818&feature=youtu.be