Want to be heard?  Stop Talking.

Want to be heard? Stop Talking.

You probably don’t believe that silence is one of my favorite tools. Certainly when I taught a presentation skills class to Johns Hopkins graduate students, they did not expect me to talk about silence! But I did. And at the end of the week, their final...
The Bat on the Table

The Bat on the Table

Sometimes, or is it all the time, we get so wrapped up in our own little world that we fail to grasp what’s going on around us. A few years ago, I rushed home after work to pick up my son for a chiropractic appointment. “Jeffrey, get in the car!” I bellowed. Since I...
A Thimble or a Beer Stein?

A Thimble or a Beer Stein?

You’ve followed all the rules for an effective performance review with your assistant:  you found a time that works for both of you; you booked a private spot; and you made sure you wouldn’t be interrupted.  It all seemed to be going well until he suddenly...
The Gift of Feedback

The Gift of Feedback

  Receiving feedback can feel like a gift, or feel like a hard slap in the face, can’t it? So I have a lovely neighbor who is full of love and light.  When she sees me, she always finds the positive to report on. “I love to see you pounding away on the pavement,”...