Don’t sit.

Pop quiz: If you’re addressing a room full of people, do you stand or sit?   Stand. Yes, even if you want it to seem casual and laid back. Yes, even if there’s another person there feeding you questions. Yes, even if you don’t feel like it and prefer to sit.   Here’s why. Imagine ... Continue Reading

Street fighter

Recently I had an experience that falls right into the “Everything is a metaphor for everything else” category.   The head coach at my gym was describing what it feels like to train too hard without adequate rest and fuel. He said, “It’s like in a video game where you’re a character that’s walking down ... Continue Reading

“How do I know if they’re getting me?”

I have a question as a speaker: how do you insure that your words reach the global audience and not just a few?–PHY   Thanks for this great question. It’s is a tough one! I don’t think you can guarantee that your words reach everyone, but there are concrete steps you can take to get ... Continue Reading

Presenting with confidence

The number one reason people are sent to us for coaching is this: “Person X needs to be more confident.”   I’m going to tell you a secret. No coach can give you more confidence. And? That’s not really what matters in this scenario.   When someone says “Hey, we need to get so-and-so some ... Continue Reading

Stand up straight.

I know, I sound like your grandmother. But when your back is straight, your presence shines.   When actors are trained in a conservatory or graduate school program, they learn to bring their bodies and voices to a neutral place. They lose any regional accent they may have and maximize their ability to use their ... Continue Reading

Tough conversations and intention

A few thoughts I had about how to use intention to help us have tough conversations, maybe the kind we really dread, the ones we rehearse before we have them.   Before you practice your next tough conversation, think about this: IMG_0122 from Angie & Ignite CSP on Vimeo.  

Coaching audiences: a wish list, part 1

I was at a seminar recently. The people who had put it together did a great job, and the information they were giving us was interesting and useful. They had clearly planned and prepared. Most of the audience were paying close attention, nodding along, asking questions.   There were two people near me who were ... Continue Reading

The camera is your friend.

When I first started coaching communication skills, I had to haul along a bunch of recording equipment. It’s really helpful to be able to video clients in action, so they can see what’s working and what they can improve.   Now, of course, most of us have excellent recording capability in our pockets at all ... Continue Reading

Worthwhile for the audience.

In a world of barely-average communicators, you stand out once you start using intention as the active foundation of your message. You may seem more earnest, more sincere, more “into it,” than your colleagues. You won’t blend in; it will be clear that you’re doing something other people are not.   For some people, that ... Continue Reading

Personal setbacks

One of the blogs I read daily is Stephen St. Amant’s “Savenwood.” Very often, Stephen’s words happen to be exactly what I need to hear! I asked Stephen if I could share his recent post, as it encapsulates so much of what I believe about showing up with intention.   You’re not aware of the ... Continue Reading