Monthly Insights & Musings
Five tips for amping up your communication skills in virtual meetings, job interviews, and business presentations – Part I
If you’re like many people, (me included), you’re working remotely and communicating virtually with colleagues, clients, students, teachers, and customers, via a wide variety of virtual meeting apps. What’s more, you’ve been doing it since this past March, so you’ve...
Marketing tools for the aspiring entrepreneur
Maybe it’s the lovely weather. Maybe it’s the change of season. Or maybe we’ve been inspired to think creatively and dream big while sheltering in place and working from home. No matter what the impetus, within the past month, I’ve consulted with so many people who’ve...
How to own—and rock—your next writing task – Part II
Hi, and welcome to Part 2 of my article on writing! I’m happy you’re here. In case you missed Part 1, here’s what we discussed: 1.) mindset, 2.) keeping your readers’ needs front and center, and 3.) how to overcome writer’s block. Today, I’m going to cover two more...
How to own—and rock—your next writing task – Part I
Writing! Love it or hate it, but you’re probably doing it. And you may even find yourself doing a whole lot more of it, now that you’re conducting far fewer (or possibly zero) face-to-face meetings with your customers and colleagues. Many of you know that I...
Five steps to becoming a great(er) communicator – even in a challenging conversation
You probably know people who always say or do the right thing at the right moment, and never seem to lose their cool. Whether it’s while facing an angry customer, uncooperative co-worker, snarky employee, or cranky boss, they never stammer, stumble, or get...
Is the Business Handshake Dead?
Last year, on a television talk show in Los Angeles, many eons into my career as a communication trainer, I was introduced (unbeknownst to me beforehand) as “the handshake guru.” I have to admit that I felt a little bit embarrassed, but I definitely appreciated the...
How to Ace Your Next Video Job Interview
Among other (probably less positive) monikers, we could call 2020 “The Year of Zoom,” as it seems businesses are doing everything via video calls these days. And job interviews are no exception. In my training with job seekers around the country (which I’m mostly...
How to Run a Video Meeting Like a Professional (Even During a Pandemic!)
It’s probably safe to say that video meetings for business (and sometimes even for personal life) are here to stay. Whether it’s an internal meeting within the marketing department, a sales meeting with an important client, or a virtual “happy hour” meetup with your...
Giving Effective Employee Feedback— Your Most Essential Management Tool
During your career as a manager, you will undoubtedly have talks with your employees about their behavior on a regular basis. In fact, one of your most important tasks will involve observing your employees and making mental (and possibly written) notes about their...
Ramp up your mojo with these six quick, fun, totally doable tips!
Hey there! How’s your mojo doing these days? You know, your mojo. Have you checked yours lately? Let’s take a look together. It’s a natural law, and it goes like this: Be good to your mojo and your mojo’ll be good to you. If you want your mojo all up and...
The Four Most Common Language Goofs in Contemporary Writing – Part II
Hello, friends! I hope you’re staying healthy and happy, and that you’re practicing social distancing, sheltering in place, going out only for essential errands, and wearing a mask when you venture into public. It’s the right thing to do, so let’s all do it! On...
The Four Most Common Language Goofs in Contemporary Writing
It’s/Its, You’re/Your, Who’s/Whose, and They’re/There/Their Part I Whether it’s a snail-mail letter, an email, an office memo or even a text to your boss, correctness definitely counts in the professional business world. And it counts, big-time, if you’re...