Don’t Let Mismatched Nonverbals Make a Bad Situation Worse You know the feeling. You’re about to be the bearer of bad news. It could be at work—maybe you have to deliver a negative performance review, let your team know about budget cuts, or tell a client their...
Tips for Phone Conversations Did you know that your body language affects your tone of voice? Things like posture, movement, and breathing can all impact how you sound over the phone. When you have an important message to convey or want to increase your...
It’s Not Magic, It’s Technique Remember when you were a really little kid and your great-uncle Bill pulled a quarter from behind your ear, and you were awestruck and a little creeped out and wondered, “HOW DID HE DO THAT?” Later, you discovered it wasn’t actually...
Fall Colors: What’s Hiding Behind All That Work? Fall is not my favorite season. I miss the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures of summer. But the shorter, cooler days do produce something I absolutely love: gorgeous fall colors. As you might remember...
Surprise! I hate surprises. Yes, there is such a thing as “pleasant surprises,” like discovering my kids cleaned their room without being told (that WOULD be a surprise!). But in general, I do NOT like surprises. And I don’t just mean the jump-out-of-a-box...
Claiming vs. Violating Space One key ingredient for personal presence, as well as excellent public speaking skills, is the ability to claim space. When you claim space, you expand your awareness beyond your own personal space bubble, fill the area around you with your...