Biography
Martha GelnawMartha, what do you do?
I help them to lead by using their body, language and mood.
They are looking for a skill advantage to sell the vision that will excite people, create alignment in their teams to make sure that everyone is marching towards the same direction and the same goals all at once; as well as to help them set the proper tone for execution.
How do you help your clients be greater leaders?
Actually, my clients do it themselves. They do it using the proven skills practices that I teach them and coach them to apply that includes them using their body, setting the right mood and getting the language and narrative right.
Is this a methodology?
No. This is a set of skills, preparations and practices to help leaders listen and speak with their people in a way they want to be communicated with. This helps build trust and action faster than any methodologies.
What kind of skills are you referring to?
First, it’s critical to understand that the vast majority of us are average listeners and speakers – at best. So we begin with advanced listening and positioning skills that produce immediate differentiation in the eyes of their teams and other stakeholders.
Essentially, my clients learn how to out-listen any other leaders. This way they know what their narrative needs to be to inspire action from the individuals on their teams.
How do these skills give your clients a competitive advantage?
People in an organization want two things with their leaders:
Trust and connection.
Again, research shows most people don’t feel listened to by their leaders. So when someone shows up with “no agenda listening” they automatically stand out as someone they want to follow. I teach more than 50 listening skills and coach my clients how to effectively apply them.
You also mentioned speaking … do you mean presentation tips?
No – many of my clients are already great presenters. When I talk about speaking skills, I’m talking about the skill of speaking so that what you say is 100% relevant and resonant to what the team cares about. Easier said than done. This skill requires mastery of listening skills already discussed as well as storytelling and questioning skills. It requires clarity and focus on the objectives and outcomes.
Once you uncover what’s really going on with the other person, you can design and speak a story that is completely relevant to what they say they care about. You’ll find that teams aren’t used to this and they love it.
What are the three other skills you teach and coach?
Finding your natural and strong presence
Our attention span is less than a goldfish. A goldfish is 8 seconds. We have 7 seconds. Without speaking a word, how are you going to hold attention? I help you find the moves that strengthen your natural presence that captures and holds attention.
Promise management
First, you’ll learn skills at doing what you say you’re going to do in any situation and circumstance. To keep a promise, you have to manage your promises – my clients learn how to do this without breaking trust or losing confidence.
Second, you’ll learn how to draw out the promises your clients have made to management and whether they have everything in place they need to fulfill.
Conversation design
Positioning yourself relevant to your team member or client’s needs is key. After no agenda listening and understanding what is important to your stakeholder, what can you tell them about your vision for the future and how together you will get there?
How do I work with you?
Each person’s situation is different. If you find learning these skills will help you keep or exceed your promises, let’s talk.
Together we’ll determine if you can use me to produce the future you want and if you should hire me. Then, if you choose to move forward, we’ll co-design a program that is customized to your schedule, situation, and budget including establish mutual conditions of satisfaction we’ll use to track progress and measure success.
One thing I know for sure, the way we work will give you knowledge rather than information. Information is in the head; Knowledge is in the body. It’s the difference of knowing about or knowing how to do it.
For instance, if I master a forehand in tennis, it’s an accomplishment. I know about it. Whereas Roger Federer has more than 39 distinctions in what to execute in his forehand and when. It’s in his awareness and his body. He’s working from second nature. He is in a constant state of awareness and listening. He’s learned this through his practice.