Blog

Why Should You Care About Why?

Be specific and show your WHY with a few emotional words.
Example: I’m on a mission to help executives construct meaningful relationships. As a behavioral communications expert and founder of Competitive Edge Communications, I support leaders in becoming confident communicators by developing an understanding of their verbal and nonverbal communications. I show them how to use words to change minds and behaviors to change outcomes.

Tweaking 2 letters changes everything

Think about the word Resolution – looking in my trusty dictionary, it means “a firm decision to do or not to do something. The action of solving a problem, dispute or contentious matter.” Do we really want THAT? But what to do? Tweak two little letters….

You never know what adventure awaits

“Life is either a grand adventure or nothing” ~ Helen Keller
I had no idea I would be spending New Year’s Eve with cookbook and lifestyle author Jane Webster at her home the Chateau de Bosgouet and a group of her friends. I’m glad I jumped at the opportunity! Ms. Webster is a charming host. She prepared a marvelous multi-course dinner for a “small” gathering….

Know How To Say “No”

A couple days ago guest blogger Gary Ryan Blair shared 15 ideas to save you time, energy and money in “What is this two-letter word costing you?”. But, how do you say no? In business, saying no is often about respecting and valuing your most precious commodity, your time. So, How To Say “No”

When you must say no, be direct. Saying no is not a time to beat around the bush. Although no often sounds more polite with a short pre and/or post-amble, “I’m sorry, I can’t,” just begs for a reply of “But why?” A short explanation proactively stops the inevitable “Why?”

Reading the Room?

3 Tips on How to Observe What is Really Happening in a Room

For our leaders of tomorrow, and anyone else that desires to enhance their communications skills, one of the first skills to harness is the power of mindful observation. The value of training our observation skills is to bring the subtle or the nuance of what we are observing to our conscious awareness.

Happy Birthday or is it Happy Anniversary…!

Wow, can you believe it – it’s hard for me to believe that it’s been one year! A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone for making it one amazing ride – What Your Body Says (and how to master the message) hit the bookstores one year ago. Happy Birthday (or is it Anniversary), what a difference a year can make!

Haggling: Counting Gestures in China

Haggling is not part of the common culture, at least for me, in the United States. When I was encouraged to haggle here in China, it was really my first experience with hard-line haggling. Sure, “Is this your best price?” has left these lips before and I’ve asked for discounts back home — I’ve even haggled in Europe and Africa — but nothing compares to the art of haggling in China.

Five Body Language Tips To Influence Others

Have you ever heard things like, “She’s nice, but not leadership material.” He’s just not confident enough for the job” but you know you are confident and leadership material. I know how frustrating that can be – to be judged before they even know you, maybe even before you’ve even opened your mouth! Attendees of my trainings tell me those and similar sad phrases that keep them from getting ahead all the time.
Why does that happen?

Smile and the World Smiles with You

A smile sends a message that endears someone to you or repulses you. It can express empathy, happiness, sadness or even embarrassment. There are real smiles and fake smiles and all sorts of smiles in-between. In his book The Face: A Natural History, author Daniel McNeill, suggests that “the first smiles appear two to twelve hours after birth and seem void of content.” As the mother of two, I assure you, even if my newborn sons had no content to their smiles, their smiles certainly had emotional content for me.