In-person speaking is beginning to come back, so be prepared with these successful Q & A strategies. One of the make-or-break components of a presentation that many clients don’t think much about is the Q & A. For many informational speakers, it is a time in their presentation for audience interaction, to clarify the content […]
3 Top Tips to Help You Engage in Small Talk
As my clients are going back into the office, many are feeling awkward with small talk and in-person meetings and presentations. Small talk is important in our culture. Small talk enables us to quickly build rapport, connect with others, make a positive impression, and build trust. This results in developing and maintaining relationships that are […]
3 Ways to Influence Emotions In Our Audience
As speakers, we need to be intentional about how we use our emotions for influence. I am often asked by clients how they can be more influential with the emotions of their audiences. Some have an ask for their senior leadership, others want their audience to accept a change within their organizational processes or procedures, […]
3 Strategies to Keep You Motivated in the New Year
Staying motivated in our “new” normal requires successful strategies. Prior to the pandemic, our lives were fairly predictable – from how we ran our personal lives to how we worked. Our world became upended early on during the pandemic from not knowing the ramifications of the virus, to how long we were going to have […]
3 Questions for End of the Year Reflection
The end of the year signifies a time for reflection. Research has shown that taking time to reflect has significant performance advantages. For years, I have kept a weekly “win jar” where I have kept a visual account of my “weekly wins”. I have further refined this ritual to include an informal journal where I […]
Gratitude: Don’t Underestimate This Communication Superpower
I like to think of gratitude as a communication superpower. You might be familiar with research that touts the benefits of cultivating a gratitude habit: higher levels of happiness and well-being, less stress, and greater resilience. Gratitude is a positive communications practice that not only improves my own well-being, but the well-being of others. Here […]