Attending an event in person isn't something most of did a lot of the last couple of years. I believe that's beginning to change. Regardless, whether an event is in person or virtual, whether it’s a meeting, presentation, or conference you might think you have little control over what you take away from the event. [...]
Is there too much on your menu? When my father was in his late 80s he didn’t get out much. However, one thing he looked forward to was our weekly Sunday morning breakfast. It became a tradition. We varied and rotated restaurants over the years, but usually stuck with the same staples. Dad always had [...]
Becoming a better leader should be the goal of everyone who manages people. I don't think anyone in a leadership role wants to be a poor leader. At least, I hope not. And I think many would admit they have room for improvement. Unfortunately, it's been my experience that most people in leadership roles never [...]
I’ve shared a lot on networking but today I want to concentrate on what to do at a networking event to make it your most productive use of your time and take advantage of the opportunities presented. What to Do at a Networking Event Come Prepared Do you have a notepad, business cards, attendee list, [...]
Are you a networker or a faker? Do you classify people at networking events? You may place people in categories by industry and knowledge, but I’ll wager there’s another category you may not consciously consider—are they real or phony? This division supersedes all others. Think about it, you don’t want to waste time with a [...]
How to add action to your words doesn't have to be complicated. I was having dinner and drinks with a few friends last week when one of the group discussed completing her first class as a teacher. She had recently retired from journalism (do journalist ever really retire?) and was teaching a writing class at [...]
There are a bazillion articles, tutorials, analyzers, and videos on how to write an elevator pitch — so why one more? I have a slightly different perspective, which I’ve found to be successful. The elevator pitch (EP) theory is, when introduced, there is very little time to capture someone’s attention. How to Write an Elevator Pitch The [...]
Here are 17 axioms to live and lead by most of which I've learned the hard way. As self-evident truths or principles, axioms are effective, timeless standards to conduct our lives and business affairs by. There are various axioms I use in my life. Even though I sometimes fall short, I have better results when I use [...]
You don't have to network alone. It's easy for me because I’m an extrovert. If there's such a thing as an extra-extrovert—it’s me. I draw energy from being with others. When I present or perform, the bigger the audience, the better, and when I go to networking events—I’m not shy. If you’re like me and [...]
Guest post by Robby Slaughter. Randy Clark wrote a nice piece entitled Why Communication in the Workplace Sucks. And he’s correct: workplace communication does suck, and the reasons he gives are certainly valid. Because yes: we don’t listen, we don’t give our full attention, we don’t think carefully about which medium to use when communicating [...]
