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
public speaking
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: In these and many other situations, flexibility 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
How to Interrupt Someone (Without Alienating Them)
I Believe in Listening… In fact, I’ve taught workshops and seminars on the subject; Listening skills are key to my coaching; and My shelves are filled with books on how to listen better. … But I’m Also a Confirmed Interrupter The truth is that: I get impatient when people talk slowly, in circles, or in Read More