As I write this, we’ve been living in Zoom-land for almost a year. The good news is that we’ve mostly gotten used to communicating with people in boxes (or “Hollywood Squares,” as in the old game show). The bad news is that lots of people are even more reluctant to “let the dogs out” (show Read More
Blog
Your Goal is Good Audience Experience
Whenever you speak in public—whether it’s a stand-up presentation (remember those?), a few remarks to open an event, a comment in a meeting, or “just” talking to your boss or a colleague—you get to choose what your goal is. Your goal can be to “be eloquent,” “impress the audience,” or “show people that I know Read More
Sometimes Music Is the Best Way to Talk!
As the whole world knows, New York City was devastated by COVID-19 this past spring and summer. In the first eight weeks, we lost more than 24,000 people, including my friend Jan Fornéy-Holden, may she rest in power. In June, when the worst of it seemed over, the City started letting restaurants serve diners out Read More
When a Zoom Meeting Is Better
Maybe We Won’t Go Back to In-Person Meetings, Ever I’m pretty sure that—when you long for the trappings of your previously normal life—in-person meetings aren’t at the top of your “things I wish I could do again” list. (At the top of my list? Hugging my adult daughter, who I haven’t seen for almost ten Read More
Act “As If”: Because the Only Thing We Control is Ourselves
Lately, A Feeling of Control is Hard to Come By… Like many people, I like thinking that I’m in control—of myself, of my prospects, of my own life. But with the unchecked pandemic, the coming climate chaos, the near-collapse of our economy (because Wall Street is not the economy!), this insane back-to-school season, our endangered Read More