September 2105

Getting the tone right

It has been a looong time between my blog posts. I have been busy with my latest play, Bigger Than All of Us, which had its premiere reading at the Kennedy Center on September 7th. My latest blog shares insights I had while working on the script at the same time (more or less) I was delivering speaker training to clients this summer.

And I've posted details about my next Executive Communications Skills One-Day Blitz! workshop this fall. Check them out here.

Tips you can use!

Can the uptalk

It is time for this annoying habit to go. And it is no longer gender-specific; men are uptalking, too. Get rid of it! It's hard to take someone seriously who can't make a declarative statement without seeming to question it. 

Take good meeting notes

You can use them to buttress your argument or help clarify your point. Just yesterday a client thanked me for urging her to keep detailed notes of her meetings, said it "worked like a charm." Try it; reading back what you have recorded keeps others focused and on track in future discussions!

Take up your space!

Standing tall when you speak makes you seem bigger and bolder. Yes, even if you are a small of stature or an introvert! Use that knowledge and embrace your power -- don't shrink from it. 

July/August 2015

Little words tell a big story

After a hiatus from bloggging, due to my month-long sojourn at American University, I'm back with some reflections on little words that can be big communications disrupters.

And I've posted details about my first Executive Communications Skills One-Day Blitz! workshop of the fall. Check them out here.

 Tips you can use!

Yes, they are looking at you!

Maintain your centered, grounded "leadership persona" when you get offstage or leave the podium. Even when you're in the  audience, active listening and attentiveness can reinforce your authority and credibility.

Days get longer; speeches don't

Things around the office might be slower in the summer, but resist the temptation to add to the slower pace by running long when you speak. If anything, keep speeches and meeting presentations shorter than you usually do (which should always run 10% shorter than you think they "need" to be). People want to get out and enjoy their day, not be stuck late at the office because you forgot to edit your remarks.  

From sauna to freezer
Experiencing a multitude of temperatures throughout the day poses a fashion dilemma for even the most savvy woman in business. As an alternative to the old standby office cardigan, try wearing a shawl to provide a extra layer of warmth fashionably. Added bonus: A rolled up shawl takes up less room in your brief bag or tote than a folded cardigan!

June 2015

Getting the story out

Why do writers write? This month's post discusses the human compulsion to share stories. Don't ignore that power, even in unlikely situations.

If you can take a professional development day this summer, think about   tuning up your communication skill set in my Executive Communications Skills: One-Day Blitz? Check my workshop schedule for upcoming workshop dates.

 Tips you can use!

Simplify, simplify, simplify

Your clarity of expression mirrors your clarity of thought. If listeners gets lost in your dependent clauses or confusing vocabulary they'll stop listening. Use simple sentences and active verbs. It's easier to keep an audience with you than to get them back! 

Be bold this summer!
Now is a good time to clean out and polish up your communication toolkit. Try a new approach! Fewer folks around can mean more in-depth feedback, and a slightly slower pace gives you more opportunity to tweak, refine and try again. Look at the tools you are using and see how you can creatively maximize their potential. Come fall and you'll be ready to hit the ground running. 

You may be hot but are you warm?
You may think you don't need that vocal warm-up because you aren't feeling the back and neck tension that comes from a winter's worth of shoulder-hunching. But remember, runners warm up before a race, even when it's hot out. You should, too.