Imposter Syndrome is the feeling that you’re not really as smart or capable as other people believe. That you’re constantly fooling them. And that, any second now, you’re going to be found out. Unmasked. Exposed as…an imposter. People who suffer from Imposter Syndrome—and lots of very smart and talented people do—think that their success is Read More
public speaking
Why Is It So Hard to Engage People in a Zoom Meeting?
Back in the (not so distant) past, people didn’t think much about whether their meetings were engaging. You showed up in a conference room, resigned to whatever was going to happen, participated to whatever extent, and then went on to your next three meetings. Working from home, and meeting on Zoom (or other video platforms) Read More
Trying to Acknowledge Other People’s “Service” in the Pandemic
The Korean woman in the apron handed me the paper bag and stepped back. We bowed to each other, the way we might have at a Korean church. “Su go ha se yo,” I said, which translates to “Keep up your hard work,” but that isn’t it exactly. The phrase is a kindness, meaning, I Read More
How and When to Stick to Your Point
Public Speaking Requires Flexibility… When you’re trying to communicate with other people, you need to always be on your toes. And even when nothing goes technically wrong — like the lights going out, or a fire alarm sounding — there may be reasons to adjust what you’re doing: If your audience looks confused, it’s good Read More
Don’t “Deliver” Your Slides, Add Value to Them!
A common misconception is that slides are the core of a presentation. In fact, lots of people describe giving a talk as “delivering their slides,” as if the slides are what matter, and they’re just onstage to click through them. This is totally backwards! Wonderful though slides can be (and yes, they can be wonderful), Read More