Oh F***. You and your company are having a WFIO moment. There’s a horrible crisis and your investors, your customers, your team, the press want answers What do you do? First, you need facts. What actually happened? What’s verified? What’s rumor? … [Read more...] about Ouch. Crisis.
Learning, learning, learning
"Knowledge is the new money," said Michael Simmons in Quartz. Lots of researchers will tell you that the half-life of a job skill is about five years. Gulp. If we’re going to thrive as the world continues its rapid paroxysms of change, we have to … [Read more...] about Learning, learning, learning
We are always climbing!
Welcome to 2022. What’s this year gonna do to us? If 2020 and 2021 are any indication, we’d better be resilient! Here’s a bracing perspective re-set from The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday: “Behind mountains there are more mountains. Elysium … [Read more...] about We are always climbing!
Graceful goodbyes
Everyone’s quitting - to go back to school, to go run an alpaca farm, to travel. You’re left with a ton of work to do and a team that looks like swiss cheese. Receiving resignations from your talented people is one of the great miseries of corporate … [Read more...] about Graceful goodbyes
Not too cold, not too hot. Just right!
Being too nice in media interviews is a liability. Being a brilliant jerk is a recipe for disaster. So what’s the happy medium? Treat the reporter as an equal - you are respectful, but you feel absolutely no obligation to answer questions that … [Read more...] about Not too cold, not too hot. Just right!
But don’t be a jerk!
In my previous post, I said don’t be too nice in media interviews. Nice is great, but being assertive is essential in a media interview. On the other hand, it’s easy to go too far. Maybe you are that brilliant jerk running this week’s super-hot … [Read more...] about But don’t be a jerk!
Be nice – but not too nice
You’re an authentic, open, relatable person. You love to listen. You are the boss everyone fights to work for. You are the leader every customer trusts. Being a good person is important to you. GREAT. But if you bring your “nice” mindset to a … [Read more...] about Be nice – but not too nice
Do your work, grasshopper
My favorite kind of communicators are people who understand that communication is a discipline, a skill that must be taken seriously. They invest time and energy not just in creating content, but in learning how to deliver it well too. Are you a … [Read more...] about Do your work, grasshopper
Your talk can be a symphony
What’s a crescendo? In a symphony or an aria, it’s a swelling of music that tells listeners that THIS is the most important, the most lush, the most beautiful part of the piece. Composers do so many intricate and wonderful things to build to … [Read more...] about Your talk can be a symphony
Are you a robot or a human?
Do you want to know if you’re robotic or empathetic when you speak? Analyze yourself. Watch recordings of yourself speaking. When did you look natural? Enthusiastic and energized? When did you look nervous or robotic? Note the time … [Read more...] about Are you a robot or a human?
