You have a monotone voice if you have little or no variation in your pitch as you speak. Monotonous speaking is one of the most common ways that speakers and presenters become boring for audiences. By contrast, engaging and charismatic speakers usually have a lot of variety in their vocal tonality, hitting both high notes … Read more
Many clients and students come to us with a common challenge: “I need to learn how to be assertive at work.” You might need to get more assertive to get your ideas heard, command more respect, or get team members to follow through on your guidance more consistently. How to Be Assertive at Work: Tips … Read more
Does remote work increase productivity? Many studies say yes, and others say no. So which is it? Well, it turns out, it depends on the type of work you’re doing. Jerry Useem wrote in The Atlantic: If it’s personal productivity—how many sales you close or customer complaints you handle—then the research, on balance, suggests that … 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
Yesterday we saw Dr. Marc Siegel’s weak, meandering, and unclear communication skills. Here we can see Dr. Oz in the same situation: a medical professional with three news anchors. But with a very different outcome. Whatever you think about Oz’s opinions on medicine, the point is he is an excellent communicator. He is crisp, sharp, articulate, … Read more
Your first impression is critical. It’s probably the most important component of the selling and promotion process. So what should you be thinking about as you design your first impression? Visual appearance It’s surprising how many people I see who just don’t pay attention to their appearance. I can personally attest to the power of style and aesthetics. … Read more