This document provides tips for preparing and delivering an effective briefing to senior management. It discusses researching the topic, knowing the audience and purpose, organizing ideas concisely, and delivering the briefing in a clear and engaging manner. The briefing should get straight to the point while providing necessary background context. Presenters should be prepared to answer questions and avoid information overload. Developing strong communication, listening, and strategic thinking skills through practice and feedback can help improve briefing abilities.

1. “Briefing Senior Management”
Thursday, December 11, 12:00pm EST
In collaboration with the Aspiring Leaders Network
www.fmi.ca/ALN

2. Panel
Dave Miller, Consultant and Ex-Senior
Federal Government Financial Manager
Jocelyn Gaumond, Manager, Financial
Systems & Client Services, Financial and
Reporting Products Directorate, PWGSC
Moderator:
Jack Diao, Financial Analyst,
Expenditure management , PWGSC

3. How to Prepare a Good Brief
– Prepare (start thinking about it early)
– Know your purpose/objective (why am I here?, update, decision, approval, inform,
etc…)
– Know your audience
– Know your subject matter (Research)
– Put your ideas/information on paper
– Organize your ideas
– Be clear, concise, to the point, convincing, positive, professional, respectful,
sincere, confident, precise, honest, compelling, polite, be brief
– Review and refine again (objective)
– Don’t sugar coat it (no BS)
– Be brief (the good information, the right information, back-up your information)
– Team work!!! You are most likely working within a team… consult the experts

4. How to Deliver a Good Brief
– Choose your tool (verbal or written)
– Get to the point
– Give some background info
– Admit it If you don’t know or are unsure but will find out
– Don’t read your document (make it conversational)
– Eye contact
– Timing is important
– Style, humour, being interesting, explaining things simply, clearlyDon’t
get off track, set rhythm, avoid dead ends, beware of the meeting villain,
be prepared for anything, know how to answer questions,
– Beware of information overload
– Give it to them straight
– Advanced skill: noticing your audience’s reaction

5. Other Things to Consider
– Using visuals
– Governmentt priorities
– Values & Ethics (respectful, transparent, have
integrity)
– Risk assessment & impacts
– Financial Tables
– The written words/the spoken words can sometimes
be misunderstood (good communications)

6. Required Skills
1. Communication
2. Listening
3. Strategic thinking

7. How to Develop Skills
– Courses
– Practice
– Get feedback
– Use available opportunities (seminar, networks,
BP2020 GCWCC, networking etc…)
– MC’ing at seminars, events, etc… (start small)
– Observe leaders, good speakers, good briefs,

8. Examples

9. References

10. Questions and Answers