Are you knocking on my door every few weeks to tell me you’d be a great media spokesperson? That’s the best way to ensure you’ll never do an interview. When I was running communications teams and making decisions about which spokespersons to risk … [Read more...] about Recalcitrant or overzealous?
Less is more
No CEO wants to read a 30-page briefing doc before a media interview. No CEO has time to memorize a dozen soundbites. Nor should said CEO deliver 12 different soundbites in her CNBC interview. Give your brilliant, motivated CEO three soundbites. … [Read more...] about Less is more
Less babbling please!
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
