Hype File, Swipe File, Hire File
You might have heard of different files, most commonly the swipe file, something you’re inspired by and will use as inspiration in work or play. Think of a private board for things to use in the future.
Something I recommend most is a hype file:
Save screenshots where people have given you compliments
Sent you nice feedback on work,
orWhen friends have just said thanks, something nice or say you have gone over and above etc.
My hype file is pinned in my Apple notes and is great when you’re having a crappy day or need a kickstart when having a low point. I split mine out into work hype, into home hype and friends hype.
A spin on the hype file is called a brag document when you have had great feedback, when they’ve got great coverage (for you, your work etc) about them or your product etc.
Hire File
When I was in-house and developing my department (think of org design with connected profiles) I would create a Hire file.
It is a notes file of the areas we were not as strong in and is not just a list of roles but a file full of examples of very strong profiles from LinkedIn that would be great additions to my department. Hire files are more than just skills but are a well-rounded profile that would be a great hire for these roles or roles to craft in the near future.
I would look at my hire file and see profiles of people on LinkedIn and craft job specs around their style of profile and on a couple of occasions they actually applied for the role and were standout candidates.
In your hire file don’t be afraid to save LinkedIn profiles or export to PDF and save in your hire file and reach out to these profiles, speak to them and say what you are looking to do and the timeline, often they will get back in touch closer to the time of hiring or you can keep them as warm leads.
These are all recommendations I make to my coaching clients, especially for CEOs, CPOs and CMOs.
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13 Simple Tips To Improve Exec Presentations
In my coaching and consultancy roles, I am often asked to help less experienced team members present or provide experienced operators to deliver more effective presentations.
Here are my top recommendations:
Breath, they’ve all been there. Mistakes happen - it’s how you react and push forward
Know your content, know the flow of the slides, and get used to the tech and clicks. Fewer slides = less that can go wrong.
Never just read the slides.
If you’re in doubt, download the deck as images and reassemble out of numbered order into order (this also applies to conference speaking - I did this with my recent keynote - community as the next business moat)Understand the audience and who is the decision maker - numbers and context CEO/CFO, numbers and operating flow for COO, request of team and time required from CMO, request from the CPO and always think about the customer (internal and external) timelines and costs (budget asks). Remember simple tables save you time and space
Remove transitions and too many clicks and use the company template.
AI-created slides are easy to spot and often too formulaic and not in the style and culture of your businessYou’re presenting to management, not at a TED conference - images are important but rarely translate as well as you think. Same with emojis - semantics and clarity matter
Kill the (department and industry) jargon & if you have to use it explain it so simply a 5-year-old gets it
Exec summary always - summarise asks, requests and next steps
Remember content over design: design and layouts are important but the findings, asks and recommendations have to come across and land
When presenting you are primarily speaking to the room (virtual or IRL) first but now in hybrid and on-demand replays you have to remember you will have people reading, flicking through and watching after your walk-through
Lead your presentation, set the guardrails and expectations upfront (time management is critical)
Have clear recommendations - if in doubt one problem two solutions. Preferred recommendation first and then back up with less time and emphasis
Send pre-read (some execs expect this, whether they have time to read or not) and always link to data sources, excel/sheets, videos
Always take note of the notes, decisions and follow-up actions
Lastly, ask yourselves if you are a subject matter expert or a department head/lead does this translate so a non-expert understands it - will it pass the mum test?
Good luck!