How to Speak to Business Leaders

By Jason Alba
This course helps you improve your mastery of language used with managers and executives to help you be effective and influential in conversations with business leaders. We talk about the why and how of learning new language, as well as discuss key terms in various business functions, and have a conversation about terms to avoid.
Play course overview
Course info
Level
Beginner
Updated
Mar 15, 2016
Duration
2h 7m
Table of contents
Course Overview
Course Overview 2m
Understanding Business Language and Your Influential Power
Introduction 1m Meet John 1m Why Understand the Language of Business? 3m Your Impact on Decisions and Direction 2m Building Trust in Your Relationships 3m How Business Leaders Think 2m How Technologists Think 2m Where Business Leaders and Technologists Intersect 2m Examples of Great Teams 2m Why Business + Tech Teams Fail 2m Marketing 101: Features vs. Benefits 4m Wrap-up 2m
Using and Understanding Core Financial Words and Phrases
Introduction 0m 5 Rules 3m Business Functions 1m Business Vocabulary 1m Words and Phrases Disclaimer 2m Financial: GAAP 2m Financial: Profit & Loss Statement 1m Financial: Revenue 1m Financial: Cash Flow 2m Financial: Expenses 1m Financial: Profit 2m Financial: Gross Margin 1m Financial: EBITDA 2m Financial: Balance Sheet 1m Financial: Fiscal Year 2m Financial: Burn Rate 1m Financial: Fixed Costs 1m Financial: Debt 2m Wrap-up 1m
Using and Understanding Core Marketing Words and Phrases
Introduction 0m Marketing: Marketing 2m Marketing: Sales 1m Marketing: The 4 P's 1m Marketing: Target Market 1m Marketing: Customer Profile 2m Marketing: Market Segmentation 2m Marketing: Demographics 1m Marketing: Disposable Income 2m Marketing: Sales Cycle 2m Marketing: Trademark 2m Marketing: Price Gouging 2m Marketing: Brand 1m Marketing: SWOT Analysis 1m Marketing: Inbound Marketing 1m Marketing: Marketing Funnel 1m Marketing: Above the Fold 1m Wrap-up 1m
Using and Understanding Core Human Resources Words and Phrases
Introduction 0m Human Resources: FTE 1m Human Resources: Exempt Employee 1m Human Resources: Set a Precedent 1m Human Resources: Arbitration 1m Human Resources: Attrition 1m Human Resources: Millennials 1m Human Resources: Cafeteria Plan 1m Human Resources: Corporate Culture 1m Human Resources: Corrective Action 1m Human Resources: Cross-functional Team 1m Human Resources: Due Diligence 1m Human Resources: Emotional Intelligence 1m Human Resources: RIF 1m Human Resources: Employee Engagement 1m Wrap-up 1m
Using and Understanding Core Executive Words and Phrases
Introduction 1m Executive: NDA 3m Executive: Pivot 1m Executive: 50,000 Foot View 1m Executive: Transparency 1m Executive: Gatekeeper 1m Executive: Champion 1m Executive: Low-hanging Fruit 1m Executive: Back Office 1m Executive: Show Stopper 1m Executive: Best Practices 1m Executive: Push the Envelope 1m Executive: Controls 1m Executive: Material 1m Wrap-up 1m
Recognizing Counterproductive Jargon and Other Things to Avoid
Introduction 0m 5 Ideas of Offending Language 3m Warts and All 1m Cut the Fat 1m Eat the Dog Food 1m Paradigm Shift 1m Synergy 1m Hockey Stick 1m Wrap My Brain Around 1m Pick Your Brain 1m At the Speed of Light 2m Sexy 1m Obviously 1m Stupid 2m Open the Kimono 1m Wrap-up 2m
Description
Course info
Level
Beginner
Updated
Mar 15, 2016
Duration
2h 7m
Description

In the first module, we talk about your potential power and influence, and why you should walk down this path of understanding and using business leadership language. Then, we talk about words and phrases in finance, marketing, HR, and at the general executive level. Finally, we'll talk about the surrounding words and phrases to avoid, giving some examples and the reasons why to avoid them.

About the author
Jason Alba
About the author

Jason Alba is founder of JibberJobber.com, an online relationship manager for professionals to manage their career and job search. Jason is the author of I’m on LinkedIn – Now What??? and coauthor of I’m on Facebook – Now What??? and specializes in helping professionals with career management, network, and personal branding.

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Section Introduction Transcripts
Section Introduction Transcripts

Course Overview
Hi everyone, my name is Jason Alba, welcome to my course, How to Speak to Business Leaders. I started my technical career programming on internet while still in college. And later on, went on to become an IT Manager, and then General Manager of a Software firm. In 2006, I was laid off and chose to start a company to help job seekers organize and manage their job search. My website, jibberjobber. com also helps people keep track of and nurture networking relationships. I'm passionate about professional development, and to have over two dozen professional development courses in the Pluralsight library. In this course, I talk about how you can get better at communicating with business leaders, specifically we talk about words and phrases that you will likely come across as you are involved in meetings that are not technical, but business-focused. We'll talk about the value you bring to the table as a technologist talking with and advising business leaders. Too often I've seen technologists who indeed have something to add to business decisions marginalize themselves and not contribute at a leadership level because they haven't bought into the value they have. The end result to these tactics is that you will be more comfortable in a business conversation, you will understand what people are talking about, and you will be able to contribute more effectively. After watching this course, continue your learning by diving in to other professional development courses like How to Get Your Next Promotion, Working and Communicating with Different Personalities and Prioritizing Tasks and Managing Time for Greater Productivity. I hope you'll join me on this journey of improving skills and your career with the How to Speak to Business Leaders course at Pluralsight.

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