Communication

Deliver bad news and survive

November 8, 2018
Difficult conversations require some forethought. Map out what you want to say and rehearse if necessary. Here are four additional tips.

Why you need to stop talking to start leading

November 8, 2018
By giving my clients that airtime, I’m able to understand their challenges, relate to their needs and extend the empathy they badly want and need. For me, listening is how l learn. For my clients, it’s a way to show I value them.

Deliver feedback that gets results

October 11, 2018
To maximize the impact of your input, prepare before you speak. Here are some guidelines.

Detail person … or micromanager?

September 27, 2018
Flush out any micromanagement tendencies you may have by answering these questions.

Before a speech, calm your nerves fast

September 26, 2018
If you’re about to present—and you’re an anxious mess, try these unusual tips to help calm your nerves fast.

Help! I’m not funny!

September 13, 2018
Q. I give a lot of presentations and am always envious of people who can evoke a laugh in all the right spots. I myself just don’t have that skill. Can it be learned?

Dump that snazzy video equipment!

September 6, 2018
Many an office will splurge on a nice video camera, light kit and editing system with dreams of hitting their company intranet, website or YouTube with snazzy content. But struggling with complicated hardware is often overkill because of the way videos are produced or perceived these days.

Deliver stronger briefings

August 22, 2018
When people ask you to “brief” them on something, make sure you get to the point—without sacrificing completeness and clarity. Follow these rules.

Is MBWA now DOA?

August 9, 2018
Q. I used to hear a lot about “management by walking around,” but not so much anymore. Has it become passe?

‘You’re choosing sheet cake over us?’

August 9, 2018
Q. I just had a top person tell me he won’t be attending an absolutely vital meeting next month because he’d promised to be there for his kid’s birthday. When I pushed him a little, he said it was a thing he “really needed to do.” Do I respect this guy totally or think of him as lacking in what it takes to bring him up to the higher levels?