On Thursday, 2 July 2009, EO New York member David Rosenberg had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to talk with US president Barack Obama. As the owner of Hycrete, a concrete solutions company built on a foundation of corporate and environmental responsibility, David is leading the design and growth of his community.
David was one of eight CEOs of leading cleantech-focused companies that spent an hour and half with President Obama. The session, which was held at the White House, consisted of a roundtable discussion with the president and his senior staff. During this memorable event, David and his peers discussed their companies, how they were innovating and growing, and what the federal government could do to help.
One of the most valuable lessons David gained from this thrilling experience was how to get his message across in a short amount of time.
“When you’re talking to the president and his senior staff, you have to know what message you want to get across and do it concisely,” said David. “Even in a roundtable discussion, one has limited opportunities, so you have to make sure you make the most of it.”
David was able to make the most out of this opportunity by preparing in advance and sticking to his communication plans. Here are a few things David did to ensure his message came across clear and quick:
Understand the Audience
One of the biggest things David did before attending the event was educate himself about the audience, as well as what the president and his senior staff hoped to get out of the discussion. By doing his homework, he was able to deliver his message with precision.
Prep the Message
To adequately convey his input, David had to deliver the Hycrete message clearly so everyone in attendance could easily understand. He decided to focus on his company’s value proposition, how they are innovative and how they are able to scale given the current macro-economical environment. By being specific about his messaging, he could better get his points across.
Hit the Highlights
When it was his time to talk, David focused on the highlights. David knew he only had a few minutes, so he discussed his focal points and concluded with specific actions of his company; e.g. his company’s environmental benefits, examples of large projects they have completed, how they are growing domestically and internationally, and how they invest in training. By providing the audience with key messages about his business, David didn’t have to worry about sending mixed messages.