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I help executives, professionals and public speakers craft captivating messages, deliver top-notch presentations and communicate effectively in their workplace.

This week, I spent time with a group of IT leaders. For some, that might sound dull. Others might think, "She was with m...
05/14/2026

This week, I spent time with a group of IT leaders. For some, that might sound dull. Others might think, "She was with my people!" And some are likely wondering, "IT leaders… in a group? How’d you make that happen?"

(Stereotypes exist for a reason—hopefully, you’re laughing.)

They didn’t have name tents, so we made our own. I always include one that says, "Make your own name tent—bonus points for creativity." Then, I watch the fun unfold.

This group got creative—one tent featured mountain imagery, another had flowers, one used a different color for each letter, and my favorite: "Pedro—because there is no Spanish for Bob."

It’s easy to dismiss these activities as a "waste of time." But they aren’t.

A small moment of creativity can spark connection. Like with Pedro, who shared that in Spanish class, he was always Pedro—because his real name didn’t have a Spanish equivalent.

Isn’t communication always easier when you know something about the other person?

So, here’s a challenge: How can you connect with someone today? Bonus points for creativity.

My dad was a blue-collar guy. He worked for the phone company for nearly forty years. He was a cynic, a self-professed c...
05/12/2026

My dad was a blue-collar guy. He worked for the phone company for nearly forty years. He was a cynic, a self-professed curmudgeon who didn’t think much of folks in executive roles.

Once, when I was debating whether to leave a job, he said, “Let me tell you something. At work, when you leave, it’s like pulling your finger out of a bucket of water. You won’t leave a hole.”

His words stung—and they rang true. Life goes on without us when we leave a job, a relationship, or even this earth. And, in most cases, someone else steps in to take our place.

But Dad missed something in his analogy: while the hole we leave may fill in, the ripple remains.

And we have control over the ripples we make.

Did we speak up when it mattered?

Did we listen when someone needed to be heard?

Did we own our mistakes and apologize?

Our words and actions shape the world around us. They leave lasting ripples long after we’re gone. The water may settle, but the impact remains.

So the real question is—what kind of ripples are you leaving?

I was coaching a leader recently who was completely unaware that his team found him intimidating. He thought his “direct...
05/07/2026

I was coaching a leader recently who was completely unaware that his team found him intimidating. He thought his “direct style” was efficient. His team thought it was terrifying. When he found out, he was horrified. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” he asked.

Well…because you’re terrifying, Steve. That’s why.

Here’s the thing: ignorance isn’t always the enemy.

Sometimes, it’s an ally. When we don’t know something, we have an opportunity to learn, adjust, and grow. Steve had a choice—double down on “that’s just how I am” or shift his approach. To his credit, he chose the latter. Over the next few months, he worked on pausing before speaking, softening his body language, and making space for conversation instead of just directives. The result? A team that was more engaged and, ironically, more efficient.

So, if you ever find out you’re the “Steve” in the situation, don’t panic. Take a breath and get curious.

Instead of assuming everything’s fine, ask your team (or colleagues or clients): “What’s one thing I could do to communicate better?” Then listen. No defensiveness. No justifying. Just listen. You might be surprised by what you learn.

We all know that one coworker who prides themselves on "just being honest" but delivers feedback like a wrecking ball. A...
05/05/2026

We all know that one coworker who prides themselves on "just being honest" but delivers feedback like a wrecking ball. And then there's the one who dances around the truth so delicately that you leave the conversation wondering if they said anything at all.

Welcome to the fine line between candor and tact.

Candor is about honesty—saying what needs to be said.

Tact is about delivering that honesty so people can hear it. Both are necessary, but when out of balance, things get messy. Imagine a manager telling an employee, "Your report was a disaster. You completely missed the point."

Ouch.

That's candor without tact.

Now, take the same feedback with a little finesse: "I see where you were going with this report, but we need to align it more with the company's goals. Let's go over a few key points to adjust."

That's tact.

It's the same message, but now it's helpful.

Being direct is good. Being considerate is better. Being both?

That's leadership.

So, where do you land? Are you the human sledgehammer, the chronic sugar-coater, or that rare unicorn who gets it just right?

Imagine you've built your dream house—every detail is carefully chosen, reflecting your vision and hard work. But now, y...
04/30/2026

Imagine you've built your dream house—every detail is carefully chosen, reflecting your vision and hard work. But now, you open the front door, allowing a flood of guests inside. Some bring thoughtful additions; others arrive with spray paint and sledgehammers, reshaping everything you created.

And then, without realizing it, you pick up a sledgehammer yourself—chipping away at your walls, doubting your choices, and letting criticism take control.

Dramatic? Maybe. But this happens when outside voices and self-doubt take over your inner dialogue.

You are the person you will speak to the most in your lifetime. Your voice shapes your confidence, decisions, and success.

Is your inner voice working for you—or against you?

Take a moment to check-in. The way you talk to yourself matters more than you think.

Did you know the second Friday in January is dubbed "Quitter's Day"? I didn't until I read about it in Bob Goff's book C...
04/28/2026

Did you know the second Friday in January is dubbed "Quitter's Day"? I didn't until I read about it in Bob Goff's book Catching Whimsy.

It's the day when many people give up on their New Year's resolutions. Some goals are worth quitting—like when I set an unrealistic gym goal and quit from exhaustion. My hamstrings were grateful.

But, many goals are reasonable and meaningful, yet we still quit. We tell ourselves they’re too hard or not "worth it," or we simply get bored. Later, we wish we’d stuck with them—whether it’s presenting to our team, setting better boundaries, or connecting with others.

So, what can we do when working on our goals gets tough?

Ask yourself one simple question:

"Can you do it today?"

This question takes the pressure off. Tackling a big goal one day at a time feels manageable. It gives you the freedom to choose not to do it tomorrow—and a sense of success if you take action today.

So, if you’re struggling to keep your goals, try asking yourself,

"Can I do it today?" Just today.

Then ask again tomorrow.

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