Communication
Engage your audience: The Q&A
Q&A sessions are powerful opportunities to clarify your points, engage your audience and empower them to act. Don't throw away this influencer opportunity.
When the moment is right, are you ready for a motivation conversation?
Having the courage and patience to understand people's motivation can help them -- and you as a leader -- move forward.
There’s a secret to mastering executive communication
When you present to executives, you want to be confident, concise, factual -- and prepared. Learn more about these key executive communication tips.
How to give a powerful presentation
Good presentations persuade, combine stoytelling and logic, and offer a clear path forward. Learn more about public presentation best practices in this article and video.
Express your best self: Go for connection, not perfection
Here are some ways to be prepared for your next presentation so that you can focus on connecting with the audience and not worrying about being perfect.
The No. 1 communication secret of great leaders: Be clear and concise
Keeping it short and sweet is a key communication skill for aspiring leaders. Here are some specific ways to get your message across quickly and effectively.
Maybe slap your face before your next presentation
A pre-presentation ritual will help reduce jitters, add energy and build confidence before facing your audience. Learn what Stephen Colbert does, plus some tips that might work for you.
What you say matters: Bring executive presence to your presentation
When you present to leadership, you belong. Act like it, and don't rush.
Organize for understanding: How to fight information overload
Good presentations need to be organized or else you risk confusing or overwhelming your audience.
Emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness
Self-awareness isn't easy, but it's a key component of emotional intelligence, better relationships and better outcomes.
Clarify your core message: Up the value of your presentation
Great work deserves a great presentation. Here's advice on discovering your core message so senior leadership knows what you've accomplished.
Initiate difficult conversations with these 4 steps
Difficult conversations take work, and starting them is often the hardest part.
What are the rules of conversational engagement?
Conversations go better when you understand the rules and how to react in certain situations. Here are 10 such rules to think about.
Improving communication at the intersection of change and transformation
How and where you communicate matters as much as what you say. Here's how to manage communication during rapidly changing times.
4 simple steps for creating a powerhouse presentation
Presentations don't succeed without planning. Read on for the beginning of a series on cracking the presentation code.
How the right software can increase collaboration
Collaboration is more important than ever, and the software and app choices made by companies could be the difference between productivity and frustration.
Stop talking and start bottom-lining your meetings
Be more strategic about your meetings and how you communicate during them. Learn how.
Best practices for visually engaging virtual presentations
Visuals are a key part of any presentation, and virtual meetings provide unique challenges. Learn more about winning visuals when you're not in the room with your audience.
Success at work happens one negotiation at a time
(Almost) everything is a negotiation. Knowing this can help you advance your aims at work -- and you don't need to be a jerk or steam-roll everyone to succeed.
3 ways to manage up today
Executives are busy, and how you communicate with them makes a difference -- especially when you need something from them.
3 rules to prevent conflict mismanagement
People have many ways of avoiding conflict. Here's what you need to know about avoiding conflict avoidance -- and what to do when your organization is conflict-averse.
Fixing broken meetings with better communication, collaboration and outcomes
Meetings can be better with a structured, scientific approach. Learn how.
Success as a leader demands strong self-talk
When we get in our own heads, we often go negative, even if we are outwardly positive. The key is to recognize this tendency and actively reset yourself. Learn how.
Own the virtual room in your next presentation
Preparation, backup plans and knowing when to make eye contact are just some of the 15 tips here for better remote presentations
Stop walking on eggshells
Conflict and disagreement are inevitable. How we handle that is up to us, however.
Why great leaders speak last
Leaders can dominate meetings and stifle ideas if they're not careful. Try this approach instead in your next meeting to draw out your employees' ideas and contributions.
Help your team talk about topics that block success
Success depends on what gets talked about -- and what doesn't. This is the perfect space for the leader to step into. Here's how.
What inaugurations can teach you about your communication
Inaugural addresses are a showcase for communicating to the nation. What can we learn from them about our everyday communications?
Q&A: How associations can solve communications challenges
SmartBrief's Tim Welsh, Director, Content Partnerships, shares his career path from associations to SmartBrief, as well as why associations can benefit from SmartBrief's email offerings and take advantage of the new normal.
How to develop charisma in a virtual world
Virtual meetings are much different than in-person, but charisma is not only attainable but remains desirable. Here are some tips on how to be a charismaic, engaged executive even through a screen.
What’s next when your apology is not accepted
When you try to apologize and you aren't successful, it's time to be reflective, not combative. Learn more from a reputation expert on how to understand why your apology failed to connect.
Talking vaccines: The new communications hurdle for employers
Vaccines are here, but employees are concerned and, in some cases, resistant. What can employers do to encourage vaccinations and be clear about workplace policies?
How to get uncomfortable and elevate your leadership in 2021
Conflict avoidance is a bad idea when you're the boss. Here are some ways to overcome reluctance and be the leader your people need.
Leadership techniques for working with high-conflict people
When you find yourself in conflict with a co-worker, don't hide from it or write them off with labels. Instead, here are some ways to productively address the problem.
The genesis of racism: One leader’s story
Racism cannot be tolerated at work. That still leaves room for leaders investigate what fuels and underlies those feelings and behaviors.
Engaging your audience is about connection, not performance
Performances are for actors. Speakers and presenters, on the other hand, simply need to be themselves. Learn more about the 4 key distinctions.
A star is born: Doing a live on-camera interview
Video interviewing is a skill for all leaders, not just people seeking a job. And there's no better time than right now.
Less is more: Communication tips for maximum impact
Here are four quick tips for better presentations and public speaking gigs that are smoother, more engaging and don't run over your allotted time.
Share your unique perspective (UP) when presenting
Influential communication requires great facts and specifics, but storytelling is what makes them memorable. Learn more about crafting your unique perspective.
Pause before you post: A lesson for leaders, not just teens
Offensive or poorly thought out public statements can do lasting damage, even when they're honest mistakes. Leaders need to be especially thoughtful before posting.
Reclaim home court advantage for virtual presentations
Public speaking requires a comfort level, and virtual events are no different. Here's how to create a home-court advantage at home.