Saying less is so much better than saying more. ALWAYS. There are three absolutely vital skills every great communicator must master: Pause. Repeat yourself. Choose your words before you speak. It’s human nature when someone asks a … [Read more...] about Less babbling please!
Questions are vital data!
You’ve just finished your brilliant twenty minute presentation on your new genAI-enabled customer service solution, but the customer’s only question at the end is: “What have you heard about capacitor tariffs?” What? You may be thinking, “Was this … [Read more...] about Questions are vital data!
Use your forcing functions
Almost every communications leader I’ve met wants to help their executives become better communicators, whether it’s for the All Hands, an industry panel, or CNBC. But it’s a rare executive that wants to devote time to skill-building when there’s … [Read more...] about Use your forcing functions
“I love that question!”
Spring conference season is here. Are you leading a breakout? You’ll want to encourage and engage with questions from the people who chose to come to your session. A user conference is about building a deeper relationship with your audiences, making … [Read more...] about “I love that question!”
Your eyebrows
I couldn't care less what your eyebrows are doing when you’re doing a media interview or a talk. Why? Because if you over-rotate on worrying about what’s up with your eyebrows, your face will look even stranger and you’ll forget your … [Read more...] about Your eyebrows
One thing at a time
Want to be a better communicator — whether on podcasts, industry panels, or in media interviews? You will need to build skills! But please focus on building one skill at a time. If you’ve never done a TV interview before, you may think you need to be … [Read more...] about One thing at a time
Why?
Do you know your Why? Simon Sinek’s work is now ubiquitous. We all know how much a Why matters. When you communicate from your Why, your purpose shines through in everything you say and do. Your audiences feel it. You reach not just their heads, … [Read more...] about Why?
Incrementalism
There is no substitute for daily practice. Real change comes from consistent, patient, disciplined, daily focus on new behavior. Want to learn to patiently listen during difficult conversations with employees? A daily practice of meditation will … [Read more...] about Incrementalism
Silence is a strategy too
Yes, I am a communications coach. I help people deliver great messages to all sorts of audiences. But sometimes silence is the most powerful form of communication. More often than not, the best way to position yourself in an email battle is not … [Read more...] about Silence is a strategy too
Plans. Good.
If you want to do a terrible media interview, don’t have a plan. Don’t be clear about your business objective, don’t define a communications objective that will help you achieve your business objective, and definitely don’t have messages or proof … [Read more...] about Plans. Good.
