powerful counsel | powerful messages | powerful conversations
Remember when the New Year was a time of delightful anticipation? We’d make plans to conquer the world? In March 2020 I looked back with a sinister laugh at my January and February 2020 self and said, I’m never doing THAT again. But even though … [Read more...] about What’s next?
Let’s talk about words. If I say “ruby” to someone at a jewelry store, I’m going to get something very different than if I say “Ruby” on GitHub. Shared vocabulary is a prerequisite for any successful conversation. It’s your responsibility both as … [Read more...] about Words. They matter.
‘’Perception is reality.” Lee Atwater coined this phrase in political campaigning because he saw that what people think is more powerful than what’s true. Objectivity does not exist. This can be super frustrating, but it’s TRUE. People do not … [Read more...] about Reality?
Let me state the obvious: The three minute presentation you give at a university recruiting day should be radically different from your board meeting. The language you use at a biotech conference to a bunch of doctors is different from the language … [Read more...] about Context matters!
Your customers, investors, employees may be disappointed or angry. You may need to apologize. If so, do it immediately. Do it gracefully, patiently, and consistently. Via every communications channel. Take control of the narrative. Suck up your … [Read more...] about A good apology
Founders bring companies into being because they don’t take no for an answer, because they bravely tackle obstacles, because they never, ever give up. But these qualities play havoc with founders when they try to communicate externally. Ninety-five … [Read more...] about Proof
Whenever you communicate with anyone you are crossing a bridge. You are trying to get part of what’s in your mind into the uncharted territory of their minds. This is always a non-trivial process. Because every person you speak to has their own … [Read more...] about Perception = reality
I said this last year, but it bears repeating. It’s OK to say “I don’t know.” In our world right now there are so many questions and so few answers. Not knowing is really frustrating. Especially when you’re a leader who is supposed to know. But … [Read more...] about “I don’t know” is OK. Really.
A media interview looks like a normal conversation, but it’s really a carefully proscribed Kabuki dance. Every participant fills a well-defined role. A spokesperson’s role requires discipline, charm, and tenacity. The spokesperson has a message to … [Read more...] about Doing the Kabuki dance
Being a PR person can be hard. No one else is going to tell the CEO that she looks like she’s picking her nose when she touches it when she’s nervous. But the PR person has to tell her! Because a CEO who looks like she’s picking her nose every time … [Read more...] about Weird little habits
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