How to Prepare for a Panel Discussion

If you’ve been asked to be on a panel, it sometimes feels like you don’t need to prepare.  After all, you’re simply going to be asked about your experience, right? While it’s true that you’ll be asked questions about your experience, it’s best to plan a couple of stories to illustrate your points. Let’s say you’re on a panel about effective training. Take the time to recall two or three stories that you can share on the day. Try to make them funny or cautionary, as that will make them memorable. A little preparation can make a big difference when it comes to panel discussions. Click to Tweet

How to Network with Industry Thought Leaders

If you see a story in a compliance-related magazine or blog that resonates with you, don’t be afraid to reach out to the author to tell him or her how much you enjoyed the work.  Compliance professionals who care enough to write about the profession tend to love hearing how their word affected or helped others within the profession. By reaching out, you’ll differentiate yourself. If you see a related article or blog post, send the link to the original author. Pretty soon you’ll have a new contact, and potentially a new friend. Click to Tweet

How to Grow My Network

One of the best ways to improve your skillset is to find a mentor who is a couple of layers more senior to you. But how do you do that in a world in which so many teams are small or may only consist of one person? One great way is to ask for introductions to other people within the profession from people you already know. Perhaps you only know one other person in compliance. No problem – ask him or her to set up a group coffee or to introduce you via email to someone she knows. Ask a specific question to get the ball rolling, and soon you’ll have your own network to share. Click to Tweet

How to More Effectively Engage an Audience

How do you start a training or presentation in a way that is guaranteed to engage your audience? Simple – try starting with a question. Whether the question is rhetorical or asking for feedback, you’ll immediately get the audience members’ minds engaged in answering your question. This will begin the presentation or training on the right foot, and show your audience you are interested in their thoughts and experience, as well as completing the task. Click to Tweet

How to Build Trust as a Compliance Officer 

One of the most important aspects of being a wildly effective compliance officer is the ability to manage other people’s expectations. Prepare people for bad news or for how long it will take to get an answer. If people aren’t aware of the length of time something will take, they may get resentful. Likewise, if the answer is likely to be no, manage that expectation early on. The more you can manage expectations, the more likely you are to be trusted by others. Click to Tweet