What Will the Audience Remember?
Recently I asked a client, as I often do: How would you like your audience to feel? He answered with a lengthy summary of all the points of his talk, then said, “Of course, they won’t remember everything.” I asked again, “Okay, so putting the elements of your content aside, how do you want them …
The Intention Crossroads
Let’s say you discover you’ve dropped the ball on something at work, and four of your team members are affected. It’s immediately clear to you that it’s your fault, and you feel bad. This is a prime opportunity for default intention to rear its head. You might want to defend yourself, to shift the blame, …
That One Habit That Gets in Your Way
I was thinking recently about a time I was directing a play, and one of the actors was very hard to hear. The role was a curt, brusque military man—a person who makes his presence felt wherever he goes. Clearly, a person like that needs to be heard! For several days, I mentioned in rehearsal …
My Priorities, Your Priorities, Our Priorities
In many fields, teams work together to achieve something. Could be a software launch, a complex tax return, building a house, or winning a basketball game. In each case, though, lots of things have to get done, and different people are responsible for various tasks. Ultimately, they all have to come together in a timely …
“And She’s OUTTA Here!”
Have you ever seen a sports coach argue with a referee? Like, really go after it? The coach might be really really angry, or she might be…doing it for the team. I was thinking abut this today when a client and I were talking about whether a default intention is ever productive. My inclination is …
It’s Not About You
People are almost always thinking about themselves. So they’re not thinking about you. And when you’re most worried that they’re thinking about you? They’re still thinking about themselves. I find this really freeing! What’s possible when I remember that I’m really the only person thinking about me?
Care and Feeding of Your Creative Contributors
Simon Sinek, speaker and author, says: An excessive drive for order interrupts the beautiful chaos needed for creativity to thrive. This quote gets at the heart of a specific dynamic I have been noticing and wrestling with lately. In any organization, you need the “order” people and the “creativity” people. (Let me acknowledge right here …
Good Gestures…and the Other Kind
Ignite CSP senior coach Vivian Smith shares a few tips about what to do with your hands–
When It’s Tough to Be Your Own Cheerleader
I hate running. I know there are a lot of people who love it, who find peace and even exultation in running. That sounds great! My experience is more like: “This is terrible, my legs are heavy, I’m so slow, nobody is as slow as I am, this is dumb, when will this be over”—at …
“Why Don’t They Ask Questions When I Say, ‘Any Questions?'”
See if this feels familiar: You’re in the audience of an enthusiastic presenter. Her slides are pretty good, and she clearly knows her stuff. She drops a lot of knowledge on you. After talking for 20 minutes, she takes a breath and says, “Any questions?” She looks around for a second, scanning the room, then says, …
