When done right, advisory boards are exhilarating. We often gain insights and new ways of thinking from key opinion leaders (KOLs) that we likely never considered. In the hundreds of advisory boards I’ve been a part of through the years, I’ve been able to watch the greatest minds present complex science to clinicians and scientists of great diversity who provide feedback. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that some just seem to get their ideas across much more effectively than others. Always interested in growing my knowledge in leadership skills and elevating complex science for mankind, I was inspired when I read Extreme Ownership: How Navy SEALS Lead and Win co-authored by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, as a tool to develop both of these skills. From this book, I gleaned insight on how to improve advisory boards and onboarded my team in a leadership development initiative to further all of our skills.
The authors share many leadership laws that help us to become better communicators. One in particular that applies mostly to delivering great presentations and aligning people as needed in an advisory board setting is “Leadership Law 2: Keep It Simple.” Keeping things simple reduces confusion so others can grasp the concept better and effectively do exactly as needed.
In this leadership law, the following simplifying techniques can help to improve efficient communication and planning:
1. Keep it simple because complexity breeds error
2. Break large, complex tasks, into smaller, more manageable ones
3. Be crystal clear on the exact outcome your team is striving for
Visualize yourself running your next advisory board. You know that you want to end up with the most insightful and elevating Executive Summary to discuss with your leadership team. Here are some examples of how you can use these rules during your meeting:
1. Share simple and clear goals with each presenter. Ensure that they are aware their goal is to present simple insights of data or slides in order to have time for group feedback.
2. Break down complex data points by walking through them using PowerPoint’s animation features which will allow you to build the content. Then stop and ask specific questions around how they would suggest the story to be improved.
3. Let all of the advisors understand their role. It’s not about sharing who is the most educated or most experienced clinician; rather, it is about concepts like improving the science story, delivering a better method of sharing data points, or disagreeing with the marketing direction of the company. Let them know you want to hear from them and that their insights matter, but respect will be at the center of all feedback.
I recommend teaching these items prior to or at the start of the meeting. Quite simply, by focusing on these simple concepts, you’re sure to end up with rewarding and elevating advisory board insights that will help you ultimately improve the care for the patients you serve.
