Communication
Are you approachable?
When I interview the stakeholders on the strengths and gaps of the leaders I work with, it’s not unusual for me to hear that...
Communication
Communication
14 ways CEOs can set the tone for their team from afar
The Young Entrepreneur Council is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that...
Communication
What should managers regularly ask team members?
The Young Entrepreneur Council is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that...
Communication
When institutional knowledge blinds us
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
Redefine your communications, redefine your culture
Do you remember Buzzword Bingo? It’s been a while, but you can still find this bingo-style game online. The object is to tick off...
Communication
Developing your leadership presentation
One of your principal duties as a leader will be to deliver speeches. Learn how to develop your presentation so that it conveys your...
Communication
Leadership through conversations
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of facilitating a discussion for a webinar for alumni of Georgetown University titled, “Conversations are the Work...
Communication
Do you speak “vision”? Managers as interpreters of important company messages
Many years ago, when I was a corporate training consultant, my client hired a translator named Antonio to work with me to convert a...
Communication
Don’t respond defensively!
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
Leadership communications: 4 steps to co-opt those voices in your head
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
12 principles of inspiring leadership
This post is an excerpt from “Communicate to Inspire” (February 2014, Kogan Page) by Kevin Murray. Be yourself better Authenticity as a leader is...
Communication
Finding common ground with your audience
#467307343 / gettyimages.com One of the most challenging assignments as a speaker is making a presentation to a group of people with varying...
Communication
Breakthrough moments: Connecting with your audience
I recently returned from a whirlwind vacation that included visiting three of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. As much as I tried to “go off...
Communication
How to make one helluva good person, together
I sat with two leaders in one of the last meetings we’d have. Six months of hard work by these two dedicated leaders who...
Communication
How to have difficult workplace conversations that produce positive results
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
Sailing into a high-performing team
How clear is your team’s “organizational constitution”? Does every team member understand and align to your team’s desired purpose, values, strategies, and goals? If...
Communication
Nix the “thank you” in your next speech
The parental prompting to say “thank you” is a common childhood experience. Most of us remember when we were young, our mothers repeating over...
Communication
How to start a human capital initiative
Managing human capital as a resource is like assembling a kind of jigsaw puzzle, using talent for pieces and a strategic plan for the...
Communication
Why your message isn’t getting through
Whether in conference rooms or as conference keynotes, we all have something to say. But if you’re overly focused on yourself, are a churning...
Communication
The crash of Flight 401 and the lessons for your company
Graphic from the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation (click to view full size) A warm late December evening in Miami awaited the 163 passengers...
Communication
6 tips for communicating effectively with remote teams
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
Establishing a healthy agenda
Look up the word “agenda” in any dictionary and you will likely find a definition similar to this one: “a list, plan, outline, or...
Communication
Breaking down silos: How we did it in 4 steps
Going from a one-woman marketing consultancy to a burgeoning agency is not something one plans, but a couple of years ago, I found myself...
Communication
Dealing with personality stallers — ours and others
This post is adapted from “Enhancing Your Executive Edge: How to Develop the Skills to Lead and Succeed” (McGraw Hill, June 2014) by Kim...
Communication
4 tips to help leaders communicate during a crisis
Even though it happened over 20 years ago, the memory is vivid: While working in corporate America, I was waiting for a fax for...
Communication
7 phrases a transparent leader would never use
Transparency. It’s not just a business buzzword, it’s a way of life in today’s world. For a business to stay alive and garner respect...
Communication
Finding a role for “grace in business”
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
How do you convey to employees that you are a thoughtful leader?
The Young Entrepreneur Council is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. YEC recently launched StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that...
Communication
Turn PowerPoint into performance art
A big challenge when presenting in PowerPoint is the dual task of creating content and delivering authenticity simultaneously. While the slide may contain information,...
Communication
Influencing snap decisions
We all make snap decisions. Many issues we decide on the fly should be made that way. Fax the document or e-mail it? Delegate...
Communication
Mindful listening in leadership
The concept of mindfulness has been in the media a lot lately. What does it really mean? It’s the quality of our attention in...
Communication
How to break a stalemate
“Creating an undesired stalemate is the height of stupidity.” That anonymous quote sums up the feelings of many of us who find ourselves stuck...
Communication
Are you succeeding at work? 4 methods to foster effective communication
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
Are poor presentation skills costing you money?
How many times have you walked out of a meeting saying, “Well, that’s an hour of my life that I will never get back!”...
Communication
Conquering the jitters: 3 lessons you can learn from the stage
On a business trip to Eastern Europe not long ago, I found myself on the receiving end of a television microphone. I had just...
Communication
How to be a conscious listener — what it means for us and others
I am a huge fan of SmartBrief; great articles about leadership. I was very pleased that my article “Listening is our Most Important Skill”...
Communication
10 facts every CEO should know about verbal communication
As an Internet/tech entrepreneur since 2005, I’ve founded multiple tech startups, written on various publications, and featured in dozens of interviews and podcasts. My...
Communication
Help employees remember your pearls of wisdom
What you teach employees during mentoring, coaching or skills training will be out of mind as soon as you’re out of sight unless you...
Communication
7 communication tips for millennial leaders
This post is part of the series “Communication,” a weeklong effort co-hosted by SmartBrief’s SmartBlog on Leadership and the folks at Switch & Shift. Keep track...
Communication
5 reasons to re-examine how leaders communicate
“The average person tells four lies a day, or 1,460 a year; a total of 87,600 by the age of 60. And the most...
Communication
Conversations and stay interviews are the work of a leader
I recently conducted a few exit interviews for clients, asking people about their reasons for leaving. What did they value about the organization? What...
Communication
Exude confidence when speaking to your CEO, part 1
It is important to make a personal connection when you meet senior people in your organization. This is especially true when presenting to an...