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 […]
effective communication
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 […]
Be Concise with your Message or Pay the Price
Lately, I have been asked by many of my coaching clients if there is a way to make their messages more concise. In this day and age of virtual presentations, short attention spans, and distractions, getting your point across in as few words as possible and still making an impact is an art. And it’s […]
3 Lessons for an Effective Speaking Process
We all have hurdles to navigate for an effective speaking process to make a difference with our message. As the weather has warmed, my husband and I took a quick trip up to the mountains near where we live to do some hiking. Unbeknownst to me, my husband had chosen a hike that did not […]
Lost Your Audience? Ideas to Get them Back when Speaking
You delivered a killer introduction that grabbed your audience’s attention. Now ten minutes into your presentation, you begin to see the tell tale signs that you are losing them. This happened to me when I first starting teaching on the collegiate level many years ago; I would get frustrated. The course material was mostly theory, […]
Preventing Miscommunication with Active Listening
Have you ever talked with someone and known that they were not there with you? Effectively connecting with others includes the use of active listening skills. It isn’t difficult to tell when speaking with someone that “no one is home.” For communication to work both speaker and listener should be actively engaged. Listening involves much […]