Alleviate Anxiety Tip #1: Energize your brain

| February 15, 2014

This is the first post in a three-part series focused on helping you alleviate anxiety before giving a presentation. Many people suffer from fear and anxiety about speaking in front of groups. Did you know that you can reduce anxiety by nourishing your brain? You can. Fueling your brain will also reduce your fatigue and [...]

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When Mistakes are Good

| January 29, 2013

In his book, The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle explains how mistakes help us learn. Learning new speaking skills is no exception. For many executives, the fear of mistakes and the fear of public speaking are a one-two punch to their performance.

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Lookin’ Good on Video Conference Calls

| November 6, 2012

Video conferencing has become ubiquitous in both the workplace and at home. Services like GoToMeeting, Webex, Vidyo, Facetime and Skype used with a webcam, tablet or Smartphone make it inexpensive and easy to hold virtual meetings with almost all the benefits of an in-person meeting. However, looking good on video requires different considerations than face-to-face [...]

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Fast delivery can mean fast failure

| October 9, 2012

In our busy, fast-paced world we are at risk to accelerate everything – including our communications. Unfortunately, fast delivery can mean fast failure. A senior level executive recently asked me to review his personal communication process. He wants to improve. Yet, he felt there were communication problems jinxing his desired results. We began by observing [...]

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Jargon is Junk

| September 11, 2012

I was working with a client last week who riddled his speech with industry jargon and acronyms.  I felt frustrated and confused trying to figure out what he was trying to say. I was reminded of a wonderful and amusing blog post I read late last year by Dan Pallotta (@danpallotta). It was published in [...]

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Do you dread impromptu speaking?

| May 15, 2012

I was speaking with a client this morning who told me his boss was a superb speaker.  In fact, he said, there are times it makes him jealous.  My client said he is witness to his boss jotting notes on cue cards for 15 minutes, only to take the stage a few minutes later and [...]

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“Yeah, but…”

| April 13, 2012

I was at a party recently chatting with a small group of people when a new person entered the group, listened for a moment and then said “yeah, but…” As you might imagine, the group was ever-so-slightly put off. Why? Because “Yeah, but” is language that sets up opposition. “Yeah, but I hear “yeah but” [...]

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Lost Opportunity: Netflix’s Reed Hastings blows the apology Part II

| September 21, 2011

The second in a two-part series on Netflix CEO Reed Hastings’ attempt to apologize to subscribers for recent changes to the Netflix service and fees. In July 2011 the company announced the DVD-by-mail and streaming video service would be charged for separately and that the combined Netflix fee increases would be up to 60% higher [...]

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Lost Opportunity: Netflix’s Reed Hastings blows the apology (Part I)

| September 21, 2011

This is the first in a two-part series on Netflix CEO Reed Hastings’ attempt to apologize to subscribers for recent changes to the service and fees. In July 2011 the company announced the DVD-by-mail and streaming video service would be charged for separately and that the combined Netflix fee increases would be up to 60% [...]

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