Would you like a side “word” salad with that hard conversation? Word salad – a bunch of words strung together that make very little sense. Originally used to describe the language of people suffering from a neurological mental disorder. Sometimes called passive aggressive or talking around in...
What if your introduction could change your listener’s brains? The reality is…you WILL change your listener’s brains. The real question is HOW you want to change them and WHAT you can do to make that happen. In his 2018 TED talk, Simon Lancaster compares presenters to drug...
Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking and one of the most commonly reported social fears. One way to minimize the fear of public speaking is to remember that you have given hundreds of thousands of presentations in your lifetime. It’s true! Every time you are in...
First impressions matter…so make the first 5 words count. How often do we hear people begin presentations, meetings, classes, etc. with something like “I’m so excited to…”, “Thank you for being here…,” or my favorite “We have a lot to cover so let’s get …” Your brain...
High performers realize that they are the most influential person in their life. Why? Because they have a running dialogue in their head 24/7. For that reason, let’s guard what we think about. In the words of the Apostle Paul, they take “every thought captive.” Research from...
One signature behavior of emotionally intelligent leaders is inspiration. Those who know me well know that I’m a recovering English teacher with a love for words. The word, “inspire” literally means “to give life.” One of the best ways you can give life is simply to start...
Stop for a moment. Grab a pen and a sticky note. Write down 3 words to describe who you WANT to be as a leader. (Ok...
Stress, anxiety, and confusion seem to be ever-present in today's society. But don't worry—here are a couple of hacks for creating calm in chaos. 1. Manage Triggers When you feel triggered by an event, the key is to reset or pivot quickly so the trigger doesn’t drain...
My favorite aunt once made a German chocolate cake… and left out the German chocolate. We have a lot in common when it comes to not liking chocolate, but why make a German chocolate cake when you’re getting rid of the German chocolate? The point...
Are you living "above the line" or "below the line"? This question is central to understanding the concept of accountability in leadership. All of you have heard us discuss the famous “line of accountability,” but let's delve deeper into what it really means and how...
