Elizabeth Holmes was charged in 2018 with an “elaborate, years-long fraud” by the SEC. At its peak, her company Theranos (founded in 2003) was valued at $9 billion. Holmes was recognized as a genius innovator, the female Steve Jobs, an example for young women everywhere. She was celebrated by Forbes magazine as the youngest self-made … Read more
Social Presence seems like an elusive concept. We can definitely recognize it when others have it, but it’s tough to replicate. These are practical steps you can take to build your social presence immediately. 1. Say things that are slightly risky Key word being slightly. You want to push the envelope a little bit without … Read more
(Listen or read the post below) Some people think they have to act powerfully in every situation. Their goal is to “win” every battle. Always have the cleverer comeback. Always interrupt people more than they interrupt you. Have others laugh at your jokes, but don’t laugh at theirs. And the classic: never break eye contact … Read more
(Listen to the audio or read below) You can’t sell something if you aren’t completely sold on it yourself. Or can you? What if it’s your job to persuasively communicate something, regardless of your personal feelings? We might see this with sales development reps (SDRs), account executives, management consultants, or marketing professionals. We can also … Read more
(Listen to the audio or read the post below) Continuing on the theme of charisma from my previous post, I was thinking about what really makes charisma. Why do some people seem to be “blessed” with this mystical magic of magnetism, and others hopelessly condemned to a life of mediocre influence? There is one essential … Read more
Charisma is “the ability to attract, charm, and influence the people around you.” It’s also defined as “a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure” And as: “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.” Notice anything in there about extroversion? Of course not. The essence of … Read more
I gave a presentation recently here in New York about group conversations. We discussed: The basics of group dynamics. Understanding the types of group situations there are, dynamic vs rigid group situations, and how to take pressure off of yourself when approaching a new group. How to contribute and engage with a group even if … Read more
If you want to become a better speaker, there is a wealth of information available. Today we have access to countless apps, blogs, video courses and scientific papers. Many of these resources are great. They have useful information and they help us understand how to improve our desired skillset. But when it comes to speaking … Read more
Jonathan and Thomas both have a great idea for their companies. Jonathan works at a multi-million dollar firm, and so does Thomas. They are equally qualified and talented. They both give their proposal to senior team members at the same time of the fiscal year. They both speak to the key decision-maker, who is equally … Read more
Asking open questions is a great technique for rapport-building and connection. An open question is a question that gives the recipient the opportunity to express themselves: for example “what’s your favorite thing about living here?” or “how did you get inspired to work on that project?” (One reason why so many conversations stall out in … Read more