Engaging people is tough. Even the best presentation, product or message is doomed to fall flat without the proper audience enthusiasm.
That’s what Scott Gould covered in his installment of ISACA’s Member-Exclusive Speaker Series. Gould—a renowned author, keynote speaker and engagement advisor for organizations like the United Nations— recently shared his guide on how to “Unlock the 3 Keys to Engaging People” as part of ISACA’s initiative to invite industry thought leaders, game-changers and ground-breakers to share in fruitful and inspiring conversations with members.
ISACA members in attendance enjoyed Gould’s expert insights, glimpses into his lived experiences and actionable pieces of advice, all while earning 1 CPE credit. The takeaways from this conversation are designed to not only encourage attendees to successfully engage their future audiences and improve their methods of motivating others, but also to advance their leadership skills and career opportunities.
Gould delved into the psychology of each type of engagement and the strategies through which each type could be operationalized for successful internal and external engagement. Addressing an extensive range of potential audiences—including teams, stakeholders, end users, entire communities and even dissenters—Gould discussed functional techniques that cover a wide variety of situations. He wanted members to leave the conversation prepared to successfully engage with any audience they interacted with in the future.
A few of Gould’s key points included:
- emphasizing and fostering togetherness;
- creating a welcoming community that others want to participate in;
- breaking down the elements, forms and psychologies of engagement;
- connecting in ways that inspire practical actions and outcomes;
- and winning over the “naysayers.”
In response, community members noted the importance of securing the right team to carry the project vision to completion and to motivate others is crucial for engagement. Attendees highlighted the gravity of clear and creative communication, especially regarding the implementation of necessary changes and improvements. A thorough understanding of the audience, including their motivations and values, is crucial for course-correcting and project success.
For additional insights into the exclusive conversation, the community’s commentary and feedback were compiled with Gould’s key points in a shareable infographic, which can be found below :
To participate in the next Member-Exclusive Speaker Series event, join the ISACA community today and sign up in advance to attend the next session.
Editor’s note: ISACA members can access full videos of recent Member-Exclusive Speaker Series events here.
