Some years back, Ellen was teaching a two-day presentation skills class and one of her students had a big moustache. A really big, “handlebar” moustache. A lighter-hued version of this: Now, the moustache itself was not a problem. The problem was that the student (let’s call him Snidely Whiplash) liked to twirl the ends of…Continue reading Don’t Fidget
How to Bring Up the Elephant in the Room Without Losing Your Courage (or Your Job)
A typical work day for most of us is filled with conversations. Managers and direct reports discuss what work needs to be accomplished, by when, and what success should look like. Colleagues talk about the impact that recent changes are having on their roles and their teams. Leaders articulate their vision for the company’s future, and how to…Continue reading How to Bring Up the Elephant in the Room Without Losing Your Courage (or Your Job)
30 Workplace Situations That Lead to Conflict (and What to Do About Them)
Having conflict at work is inevitable. With all of us managing so many competing priorities, negotiating limited resources, and aiming to be both tactical and strategic, it’s amazing that any work gets done at all. And despite the fact that so many situational, organizational, and systemic issues in our companies contribute to our stress, we tend to…Continue reading 30 Workplace Situations That Lead to Conflict (and What to Do About Them)
3 Ways to Be a More Approachable Leader
You’re busy. You’re stressed. You’re overworked and under-resourced. It’s one thing to feel that way. It’s another thing to share those feelings with your colleagues honestly, openly, and without blaming others. Neither of those will likely undermine your impact and credibility as a leader. What will? Acting out on these feelings in a way that makes others reluctant, or even…Continue reading 3 Ways to Be a More Approachable Leader
The Standup Speaker
Before you read any further, take a few minutes (5:46, to be exact) to watch this YouTube video of 14-year-old standup comedian Dylan Roche. Isn’t he hilarious? He also provides very good examples of three elements that standup comics and public speakers have in common. 1. They both perform in front of a live audience.…Continue reading The Standup Speaker
3 New Ways to Manage Your Time That’ll Give You Hours Back Each Day
I have yet to meet the professional who has declared, “Time management? I’ve got that handled.” (And if that’s you, please send me a DM on Twitter so I can interview you for a future article). Most busy professionals struggle with assessing how much time certain tasks will take, managing multiple priorities, saying no, and many more…Continue reading 3 New Ways to Manage Your Time That’ll Give You Hours Back Each Day
How to Talk to Your Boss About Your Career Goals
People managers wear many hats: delegator, goal-setter, accountability-partner, brainstorming buddy, performance evaluator, obstacle-mover, resource-allocator, and more. (This, of course, is all in addition to their day jobs of actual work.) And there’s one critical role for managers that often doesn’t get addressed: career developer. According to research by Right Management, the global career and talent development expert within ManpowerGroup, only 16…Continue reading How to Talk to Your Boss About Your Career Goals
The World’s Worst Presenter
One of our favorite TV shows, Whose Line is it Anyway?, frequently includes a bit called “The World’s Worst . . .” in which the players must come up with various examples of the worst characteristics of a variety of professions. The world’s worst surgeon, for one example: (Player mimes performing an operation.) “Am I…Continue reading The World’s Worst Presenter
Saying These 2 Words During a Big Presentation Could Damage Your Credibility
Every presentation is an opportunity to demonstrate your confidence, competence and character. You have the chance to prove that you understand your audience’s concerns, and show how you can meet their needs. And, when you do it well, you also get to boost your personal and professional credibility. Until you say, “I’m sorry.” Saying, “I’m sorry”…Continue reading Saying These 2 Words During a Big Presentation Could Damage Your Credibility
3 Mistakes Managers Make During One-on-One Meetings
The late, great fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld once remarked, “I don’t do meetings.” And if you were Karl Lagerfeld, you didn’t have to. For the rest of us, however, meetings are a part of getting work done, even if they often feel like an interruption of our real work. No matter what you think of meetings in general, having regular, focused, and productive one-on-one conversations…Continue reading 3 Mistakes Managers Make During One-on-One Meetings
Before You Say That You’re Too Busy, Ask Yourself These 3 Questions
Despite the ubiquity of technological advances, for many of us, time management is more of a problem than ever. Whether you keep postponing finishing your client presentation because your boss keeps throwing new projects at you, or you can’t schedule your family vacation because you have too many high-priority tasks, getting a handle on getting things done can…Continue reading Before You Say That You’re Too Busy, Ask Yourself These 3 Questions
How to Respond to Someone Who Just Got Bad News at Work (Don’t Say ‘Look on the Bright Side’)
When you see your friend or colleague at work, you hopefully get a warm smile, a friendly hello, and maybe a little chat about your favorite TV show that was on last night. But at times, as soon as you see him, you know something’s wrong. His shoulders are slumped, his gaze is distracted, and that smile…Continue reading How to Respond to Someone Who Just Got Bad News at Work (Don’t Say ‘Look on the Bright Side’)
10 Presentation Myths and Realities
1. Myth: You won’t have stage fright if you imagine that your audience is naked. Reality: If you think your audience is naked, you won’t be able to look at them at all. (Or you won’t be able to stop laughing.) 2. Myth: There’s nothing you can do to hide your nervousness when you get…Continue reading 10 Presentation Myths and Realities
Difficult Person Driving You Nuts? Here Are 3 Strategies to Try If You’ve Tried Everything Else
Working with a difficult person (and, often, more than one) is as expected in the workplace as attending pointless meetings. We’ve all desperately tried to get a colleague tobehave better, like the one who complains every time a change is announced, or who nitpicks at every detail in your presentation, or who completely withdraws when given…Continue reading Difficult Person Driving You Nuts? Here Are 3 Strategies to Try If You’ve Tried Everything Else