A Critical Attitude toward Yourself Can Turn Other People Off Here’s an example of bad attitude toward yourself: I recently worked with a new job interview client—let’s call her Gina—who’s done some interesting short-term jobs, but doesn’t know what her future career should look like. Normally, we’d spend our 1:1 session time identifying options and Read More
Miscellaneous
Should You Be Memorable or Precise?
Sometimes You Have to Choose I live across the street from two restaurant sheds* that take up five parking spots. That’s what a client of mine recently said in an interview about her New York City neighborhood. (*”Restaurant sheds” are outdoor dining areas located in parking spaces, driving lanes, or on public sidewalks.) I loved Read More
Take This “Fear of Public Speaking” Quiz
While it isn’t true that most people are more afraid of public speaking than of death, it’s certainly true that many of us fear getting up in front of an audience. So it makes sense to start by asking… Just What Is This Thing We’re So Afraid Of? Think of public speaking as any time Read More
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
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