I’ve had the opportunity to speak on several recent occasions about the power of our words and how we can make a better audience connection. Recent research emphasizes that how we communicate—our choice of words, tone, rate of speech, and nonverbal cues—profoundly affects our ability to build trust and connect with others. Most of us […]
Communication Skills
How Using Both Resolutions and Intentions Help with Communication Goals
A hybrid approach between resolutions and intentions can help you reach your communication goals. Considering that many people no longer set resolutions for the New Year as they are quickly broken, what’s an alternative to a resolution? What if instead of a resolution, you set an intention? While resolutions are goal-oriented and focused on specific […]
3 Ways Practicing Gratitude Can Benefit Speakers
As speakers, practicing gratitude can strengthen your overall communication. Probably because Thanksgiving occurs at the end of this month, we often associate this month with gratitude. I would venture to say that most of us are more attuned and likely aware of the benefits of gratitude. However, there are a range of lesser-known benefits that […]
4 Benefits of Engaging in a Conversation With Opposing Views
Engaging in a conversation from different viewpoints can promote healthy communication. As someone who has specialized and taught communication skills over the past decade, the One Small Step program piqued my interest. After hearing the StoryCorps founder’s interview, I signed up to participate in the One Small Step program. At this time in our country’s […]
How AI Tools Can Increase Our Productivity As Speakers
There are ways to leverage AI tools to help us be more effective with our written and verbal communication. With the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), we can learn to leverage this digital tool in several ways to enhance our work, improve our presentations, and engage our audiences more effectively. Here are ways where […]
5 Ways Pauses in Speech Create Impactful Presentations
Utilizing pauses in speech can create a deeper connection with your audience. At a recent speaking event, I was conversing with an audience member before I took the stage, and the concept of “ma” came up. What is “ma”? No, it’s not another word for your mom. It’s a Japanese concept that translates to “pause”, […]