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

09/03/2026

Another story from the chronicles of Carmen's camp counselor adventures.

(For those new here, Carmen is my daughter.)

Good news: This week's curriculum has received a significant upgrade, transitioning from origami frogs to the Universe. The Universe holds much more potential, don't ya think?

This meant Carmen and her troupe of six-year-olds marched across campus to the planetarium to see the stars. The excitement was palpable but short-lived.

Unfortunately, their time at the planetarium was led by an instructor who overestimated his audience's comprehension, lecturing on the nuance between nebula and nebulae and showing a 20-minute video designed for adults.

((sigh))

The kerfuffle that followed required patience and bribery from Counselor Carmie.

Bring on the fruit snacks.

Why am I telling you this story?

Because it's an important reminder that we, as presenters, know our topics better than our audience. It's critical to meet our audience where they are and explain content in terms they can understand.

For example, Nubula=space cloud.

It's hard to go wrong when you use fewer words per sentence, fewer syllables per word, and ditch your jargon.

You'll avoid kerfuffles and save face, and your audience might understand what you're trying to say.

09/01/2026

“How do I know when just to listen and when to help?”

Short answer? You probably won’t. Not every time.

Because humans don’t walk around holding up signs that say:

“I’m venting, please nod sympathetically.”

“I need your advice stat!”

“Fix me, but gently.”

(Wouldn't it be fantastic if they did? Sigh... )

But you don’t need perfect instincts or a sign around someone's neck. You just need to pause and ask a question.

Something that sounds like...

“Want me to listen or help?”

Or:

“Do you want space to vent, or some help figuring it out?"

When someone’s overwhelmed, offering “fixes” can feel like a spotlight on what they haven’t done yet, which can add to their stress.

But when they're ready for solutions? Your fixes=pure gold.

If you're not sure despite asking, stay in listener mode until they ask for help. That tiny moment of presence might be the most helpful thing you do all day.

We don’t earn trust by having the answers.

We earn it by asking better questions.

08/27/2026

A senior executive told her direct report, who was mid-share and mid-struggle...

"You know you have a choice in how you feel."

Helpful? Technically.
Empathetic? Not even close.

He didn't walk away empowered.
He walked away thinking: "Cool. So my feelings are wrong?"
So much for bonding and trust.

Here's the thing: Emotions aren't a problem to solve.

They're signals. Invitations. Sometimes loud, sweaty messengers in business casual. If someone's opening up to you, they don't need your perspective first. They need your presence.

Try saying something like this instead:

"That makes total sense."
"Want to talk it out or just rage-walk around the building?"
"What would help right now?"
Once they feel heard?

Then invite reflection, growth, and so on. But don't fast forward to "You've got this" until they know you've got them.

You can't coach what you won't witness.

Empathy first. Always.

08/25/2026

What quietly wrecks good businesses?

It's not strategy or product.

It’s the stuff no one’s saying out loud.

When communication gets filed under “soft skills” (insert eye roll), it’s the first thing to get skipped and the last thing everyone wishes they’d done better.

What fills the gap?

Confusion. Assumptions. People talking around or, even worse, about each other while pretending they’re aligned.

It’s a mess.

The kind that, when swept under the rug, clogs calendars, frays trust, and stalls progress.

But we can clean it up.

If you’re building something to last, something with your name, your values, your fingerprints all over it, your words need to work as hard as your spreadsheets.

Because here’s what strong communication does:

Saves time. Less circling back. Fewer “wait, what?” meetings.

Saves face. Fewer foot-in-mouth moments. Less rework. Less regret.

Saves legacy. Because leadership that outlives you needs your voice, not just your vision.

And no, this doesn’t mean becoming a polished keynote machine.

It means showing up like a human. Saying what you mean. Listening like it matters. And doing it before things break, not after.

Why should you care?

If your business is your legacy, communication is the glue that holds it together.

So talk like it counts.

08/20/2026

Certainty feels good, doesn't it? Safe. Like armor. And in today's world of hot takes and highlight reels, conviction gets rewarded.

But what happens when confidence turns into control? When the team goes quiet. When you walk out thinking you've nailed it, only to realize later that they were nodding, not agreeing.

Could conviction be the problem?

Conviction is defined as a firmly held belief or opinion (thanks, Google). It's not bad. It's just not everything.

(or a fact)

Why should you care?

Because the best leaders know how to toggle between clarity and curiosity. Telling and asking. Leading and listening.

Conviction should serve not steamroll.

Always sure? You're missing things.
Never sure? You're not leading.

So ask yourself:

Are you here to be right or to be trusted?

One builds teams, the other just blusters.

08/13/2026

Want to hear something that absolutely drives me nuts?

People on airplanes trying to yank their carry-on luggage down from the overhead bins. Gah.

It’s usually the person with a “carry-on” that’s not really a carry-on but a wildly overstuffed, awkwardly-shaped bag. (Whatever happened to those metal bins we used to test bag size? Do we no longer follow rules? Sigh...)

They’re slow. They block the aisle. They’re in the way of people (i.e., me) trying to make a connection, get to the bathroom, or just get off the plane.

For. The. Love.

Being calm, patient, and understanding in that moment? Hard. But here’s a trick I use to manage my angst:

When I’m frustrated with someone who isn’t behaving the way I want them to, I say to myself,
“Oh... that’s me. Hello, me.”

And I literally picture myself doing the exact thing they’re doing.

(Insert image of Alex struggling with her own awkward, overstuffed bag in the overhead bin.)

And just like that? The person becomes a little less annoying.

Why?

Because sometimes, we’re more empathetic with ourselves than we are with others.
What I call a "mistake" in myself—like overpacking—is a character flaw in someone else.

“They don’t follow rules.”
“They’re lazy.”
“They’re inconsiderate.”

This, my friend, is called the fundamental attribution error. And it’s everywhere—especially at work.

Like when someone:

doesn’t read an email all the way through

shows up late to a meeting

makes a mistake on a report

So what?
If you find yourself frequently frustrated with others, maybe it’s not just about them.
Maybe it’s you, seeing in others what frustrates you about yourself.

What might change if, the next time you’re irritated, you pause and say:

“Oh, that’s me!"

08/11/2026

Picture a seasoned executive in a performance review. She leans across the table, looks someone in the eye, and says, “This isn’t working, and here’s how to fix it.”

No fluff, no ten-slide preamble, no “per my last email” snark. Just clear, firm truth delivered without setting anyone on fire. That’s not softness; that’s kindness with teeth.

It’s easy to get this wrong.

It’s easy to go too soft, trying to spare someone’s feelings and avoid awkwardness. It’s just as easy to swing too hard the other way, too blunt, mistaking harshness for strength.

I’ll be the first to raise my hand here (insert shudder as I think of the times I’ve embarrassed myself trying to strike the right balance).

And no, this isn’t the “tough love” many have experienced, the kind that sounds like, “I’m saying this for your own good,” but leaves behind bruises and resentment.

Genuine kindness doesn’t puff itself up with superiority or hide cruelty under the banner of honesty. It’s not about control or punishment; it’s about helping, supporting, and respecting even when the message is hard.

Softness tiptoes.
Kindness walks in, steady and clear.

Softness says “yes” to dodge discomfort.
Kindness says “no” with respect, knowing honest boundaries build trust.

Some of the kindest people are the ones who hand over tough truths wrapped in care, no sugar, no syrup, just the solid stuff.

Kindness isn’t weakness; it’s the disciplined practice of strength, delivered well.

08/06/2026

Let’s just get this out of the way: you are not a vending machine.
I know.
Shocking.
You do not exist to spit out perfectly packaged answers whenever someone pushes your buttons. You're not here to deliver a crispy solution to every problem that drops into your lap. And you sure as heck aren’t stocked with unlimited wisdom treats waiting to be dispensed.
But wow, does it ever feel like that sometimes, right?
Someone walks into your office, sighs dramatically, stares off into the middle distance like they’re in a Hallmark movie, and says something like, “I just don’t know what to do.” And your brain? Oh, it kicks into overdrive. The cape comes out. You’re ready to solve. Ready to deliver. You’ve got an A4-sized “What You Should Do” list ready to roll.
And that’s the problem.
When leaders get into the habit of solving everything, they accidentally create an environment where people stop thinking for themselves.
Here’s the truth: constantly dispensing solutions doesn’t help your team grow.
It doesn’t help them build confidence or capability.
It just creates more dependency. And eventually? Burnout for you. Because guess what happens when you try to be a vending machine in a world that keeps shaking you for snacks? You fall over.
Your job as a leader is not to be a vending machine. It’s to be a support. A coach. Maybe an occasional gentle challenger. Sometimes the person who just sits in the room and says, “Hmm, tell me more about that,” and lets the silence do the heavy lifting.
It's harder than it sounds. But it's better than standing around waiting for someone to jam a quarter in your side and demand a fix.
So the next time someone brings you a problem, before you serve up a silver-plated solution, try this instead:
Ask them what they think.
What have they tried?
What do they think might work?
What’s getting in their way?
Give them space to think. And then maybe, maybe, offer a little feedback. But only if they’ve earned it by putting in some thought first.
No free Reese Cups around here, folks.
Don’t be a vending machine.
Be the person who keeps Reese Cups in their desk but only hands them out when someone’s done the work to deserve one.

08/04/2026

Carmen, my not-so-little, little, and I were chatting about work.

She’s employed at a small, not-too-busy boutique. It’s not hard work, but it’s also not a lot of fun standing on your feet for hours waiting for someone to buy a Pandora bracelet.

She said, “I’m not cut out for the oil rigs. And TBH, a corporate job, even though a lot of people complain about them, sounds pretty good to me.”

“Tell me more,” I replied.

“I mean, come on! You get a desk, a CHAIR, a little computer to bee-boop-bee-boop on, and PTO? SIGN. ME. UP.”

Now, I don’t know precisely what “bee-boop-bee-boop” means in corporate terms, but it sounds better than retail.

She makes me laugh.

But why am I sharing this with you?

Because her perspective is worth considering.
People complain a lot about their jobs. But Carmen’s words remind us that what’s an “awful” job to one person might be a dream to someone else.

A chair.
A desk.
Paid time off.
To some, those are givens.
To others, they’re luxuries.

It’s all in your perspective.

07/30/2026

"No one lives in my head with me."

She said it with a smirk and a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Funny because it’s true. In the context of our conversation about people’s inability to read minds, it’s an important reminder: they can’t.

If we’re carrying a buried grudge, frustration over silence, or an unmet need—and waiting for someone, anyone, to do something about it we could be waiting a long time.

Maybe forever. And none of us has that kind of time.

Chances are, the person (or people) we’re struggling with won’t pick up on our clues, especially if those clues look like stonewalling, sarcastic comments, or pouty faces.

So while it might be awkward, uncomfortable, or even painful to share what’s really going on in our heads, it’s necessary.

For them. For us. For work. For home.

So if you’re avoiding a conversation, hoping it’ll just go away, chances are, it won’t.

Stop waiting. Start talking—because they can’t read your mind, and if they could… would you really want them poking around in there?

Address

Fishers, IN

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.pswithalex.com/

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