Wash your hands. Then call me!

Life has been changing rapidly this past week. Many of you have joined me as newly-minted members of the Work From Home club. Welcome!

You've probably already found out that the upside (short commutes, savings on dry cleaning bills, wearing comfy slippers) can be outweighed by the downside.

So many adjustments, so many questions--about everything, especially communication: how do I present a professional demeanor when working from home? How can I communicate via video chat in a way that is confident, calm, and clear when the chaotic world threatens to intrude? How do I maintain focus so I can really connect? 

Luckily for you, I have answers. While every situation is different--from resizing a presentation for hundreds to reshaping that high-stakes meeting--many of the same guidelines apply:

Prepare--like you never have before. Especially if your  communication is of the conversational rather than presentational variety (meetings, rather than webinars).The rhythmic difference between being in the room to communicating through a device (phone, computer) means you can't "um, hmm, you know, like..." your way through things while you search for an answer.

Practice your bridge phrases--IF you do need time to think, figure out a few key phrases that work for you (DO NOT rely solely on "that's an interesting question"). Try "I am glad you brought that up,"' or "we've been working on something similar" that give you time to think. Nail them down by practicing them in the shower, or while washing your hands. For the queries that really stump you, the classic, "let me give that some thought and get back to you" never goes out of style.

Relax--but not too much! Even if you do most of your work on your couch or bed, find a table/chair combo that makes you sit up straight so you can speak with posture that conveys presence(even if you're in sweats from the waist downI).

It's a time of transition for us all. You may feel working on your onscreen/over-the-phone authentic leadership presence is just one more thing to do. But it's a fairly easy way to do some professional development (and self-improvement) that will help you rise to the top once we all get back into our offices.

So call or email me to book a session for you or your team. And I'm available if you need any speech, presentation, or talking points written, revised, or edited. If you want the reassurance of an expert to review your content, get in touch.

I'll be here. But wash your hands first!