Communication
Pause, Breathe, Receive
Last week I had a video chat with my friend and colleague Jen. I met Jen 2 years ago when she presented at a women’s retreat I hosted. Her background is eclectic. Jen is a salsa dancer/instructor, mindfulness teacher and career coach. She is compassionate and grounded. In a short period of time, we’ve learned…
Read MoreWhat Keeps You From Speaking Up?
Earlier this month I facilitated a leadership program for 15 professional and entrepreneurial women. The day focused on leading and communicating with others. During the day the group participated in a variety of experiential learning activities, including one known as “Helium Stick” (see photo above). Here’s how the activity works. The women form two lines,…
Read MoreIt’s Okay to Feel Nervous
Imagine this … You have a big sales pitch coming up. You’ve been promoted to a leadership role and have to manage people. You’ve been asked to present to clients, donors or the board. You’re speaking on a panel or at a conference. And you’re nervous Maybe your heart races and hands shake. Or you…
Read MoreBe More Visible in Business
Last Saturday I took my fourteen year old niece, Abby, to the sold out Twenty-One Pilots concert at the TD Garden in Boston. You may or may not know who they are (click here if you care to know more). To think that a band who avoided the mainstream can sell out big stadiums like…
Read MoreRecharge & Refocus in Between Meetings
“How did the conversations go?” I asked Julie. She said, “They went well and people seemed to appreciate the time to ask questions. But boy am I drained!” Talking to people can feel exhausting! See, Julie is in the midst of communicating big changes to her employees, and they have a lot of concerns regarding…
Read MoreUse Metaphors to Bring Ideas to Life
Looking for a way to spice up your speeches and presentations and connect better with your audience? Metaphors can help you do just that. Last week my husband, Michael, asked me for some public speaking help. He was preparing to speak at a human resource conference about building a leadership coaching culture in business. “I…
Read More“Mindset” Matters in Communication
Imagine this. You’re really good at what you do, yet when the time comes to give a presentation, speak in public or conduct a meeting, you feel uneasy. Maybe your heart races, or you have a hard time organizing your thoughts. Maybe you look around the room and wonder, “how the heck did I get…
Read MoreAre You Giving People a Reason to Talk?
I hear from clients all the time who say, “My employees don’t talk to each other!” To which I’ll ask, “Are you giving them a reason to talk?” A Reason to Talk My 14 year old niece, Abby, called the other day. She’s not a phone person, so my heart skipped a beat when I…
Read MorePoise Under Pressure
I love rock & roll. So when my husband, Michael, and I had the chance to see Joan Jett & the Blackhearts play at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston last month we jumped at the chance. At 59 years old, Joan Jett still knows how to rock the stage! Her look hasn’t changed…
Read MoreWhen Presentations Don’t Go As Planned
I recently gave a talk that didn’t go as well as planned. Humor fell flat. New elements didn’t engage the audience in (what I consider) a meaningful way. Nerves got the best of me. As I drove home this ticker tape ran through my mind: “That was awful” “What were you thinking?” “You’ll never speak…
Read More