Pause, Breathe, Receive

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…

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What Keeps You From Speaking Up?

What 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,…

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It’s Okay to Feel Nervous

It'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…

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Be More Visible in Business

Be More Visible at Work

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…

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Recharge & Refocus in Between Meetings

Recharge & 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…

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Use 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…

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“Mindset” Matters in Communication

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…

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Are You Giving People a Reason to Talk?

Networking event

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…

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Poise 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…

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When 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…

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