How can I practice public speaking without speaking in public?

Lately I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole on the website Quora. Have you seen this? Anyone can ask any question, and people from all over the world chime in to answer it. It’s fascinating.   I did a search for “public speaking,” and the list of questions went on for pages. They covered pretty much ... Continue Reading

Using the right tools.

My husband, Charlie, is remodeling our laundry room, and in this process, he needed to build a counter. He used a mitre saw to get the edges just right, sandpaper to get it ready for the stain, and a hammer and small nails to attach the edging to the sides. In order to get the ... Continue Reading

Manipulation.

My company coaches people to be more effective communicators. The primary approach we use is intention. Begin with the end in mind—what do I want my audience to feel, think, or do as a result of what I say? Now, what do I need to do to make that happen? How can I reach that ... Continue Reading

Everybody likes to be right.

Everybody likes to be right.   Okay, maybe not everybody, but pretty much everybody I know.   Being right makes us feel good. Our status as a-person-who-knows-things is secure again, at least for the moment, when we are right.   But what happens when there is no measurable, provable “right”? What happens when there are ... Continue Reading

I love easy.

Remember the Staples “Easy” button? It was a symbol of how simple Staples makes it to get all of your office supplies needs met. It spoke to us because we’re always looking for that thing, that person, that tip that’s going to alleviate a little bit of the hassle of daily life and help us ... Continue Reading

“Great job!”

I heard a great piece of advice I wanted to share with you.   If you’re giving specific criticism, give specific compliments as well.   This gem came from my daughter, Nora. She was describing an interaction with one of her bosses, who uses the “compliment sandwich” technique. You know, when you need to give ... Continue Reading

Creating what you want to avoid.

Years ago, when my daughter was in fourth grade, her class was performing a dance for the school’s winter concert. I remember her telling me that doing the dance made her feel self-conscious. She didn’t want anyone to see her doing these big exuberant movements that she thought were silly.   I asked her to ... Continue Reading

When you’re the tourist

I’ve been in the UK for the last four days. It’s not my first visit, and I consider myself a pretty seasoned traveler. But there were numerous times when I realized that the knowledge I take for granted, the way I navigate streets or airports or even grocery stores, is completely dependent on being somewhere ... Continue Reading

Listen to the last word.

Ignite CSP coach Anne Thibault has some advice for those of us who might be…eager to get our own voices in the room. Learn more about our Conversational Agility workshop here! 

Widen the spotlight.

When I’m nervous before I speak or give a presentation, I listen to my self-talk. What words are echoing through my mind on a loop? What am I saying to myself, and how is it going to affect me?   What I usually hear is:   Why did I say yes to this? I’m probably going ... Continue Reading