11 Quotes on Expressing Gratitude

It's where we will find joy!

appreciation gratitude

As we finish up the Thanksgiving week I couldn’t help but think about gratitude. I’ve done my best over this week to focus on what I’m grateful for each day. In the good and in the bad, there is always a reason to be grateful. I’ve collected 11 quotes on gratitude for this week’s blog. […]

How Does Leadership Gratitude Impact the Team?

and three ways you can express it - Dilly Dilly!

business woman presentation skills leadership blog

Angela entered my office for her exit interview. This was probably going to end in a few tears and a hug. Angela had been with us for a couple years and she was absolutely phenomenal with her accounts. They all loved her and we loved having her on the team. But, she had an amazing […]

3 Signs You’re a Horrible Leader

and how to overcome them all!

boss leadership blog

My friend Jenny lowered her voice and leaned in to deliver the line of dialogue Bill had spoken to her just an hour earlier, “Get your feet off of MY DESK!” Bill was our new Regional VP and in just a few short weeks, he’d already gained a reputation of ruling with an iron fist. […]

3 Types of Questions Your Audience Will Ask

and how they reveal what the audience thinks of you

salesperson speaking in group leadership blog presentation skills

We were presenting our quarterly sales updates to our executives and most of us were not looking forward to it. No matter how well your quarterly numbers were, it always seemed like an interrogation. Afterwards I felt like one salesperson got off easy because he didn’t get any tough questions. Later I found out from […]

See How Easily You Can Make New Friends

4 Techniques Used by an FBI Agent to Make Friends

spy leadership blog

This week I finished a book on my flight back from Seattle. The Like Switch is by retired FBI Agent Dr. Jack Schafer. I love reading about people who use communication skills to navigate tense situations. I can’t think of a more tense situation than international espionage! Dr. Schafer shared tactics used by the FBI to gain […]

Do You Use All 3 Sources of Leadership Strength?

How to leverage your core values

Superman Logo

I love the modern superhero films from Marvel and DC because they seem to take us deeper into the character development and motives that made the heroes who they are today. Superman always fought for “truth, justice, and the American Way.” But I have one problem with that… Where did Superman get his definition of […]

4 Tools for Telling Better Stories

and why audiences will love them!

campfire storytelling leadership presentation skills

I’ve always enjoyed sharing stories when I speak. Unfortunately, when I started telling stories over 25 years ago, they weren’t nearly as engaging as they are today. I know I’ve still got plenty of room to improve, but you can trust me when I say, they’ve gotten much better! This is thanks to the generous […]

5 Virtues Found in the Best Conversations

Part 2 of 2: How to build trust with your conversations

Presentation Skills - Man in conversation

Last week we looked at the 7 Deadly Sins in Conversations. Rather than just avoiding those 7 to be a better conversationalist, we’ll look at the 5 virtues of outstanding conversationalists. If we can all focus on these 5 when we’re blessed by someone else’s company, the relationship will prosper because of it. Just as […]

The 7 Deadly Sins of Conversations

Part 1 of 2: How poor conversations kill relationships

people talking presentation skills leadership

First of all, please hear me, I’m no saint and I know it. What you’re about to read in this article, I’m guilty of them all and I know it. But one thing I also know about me… I’m an observer. It’s what I do. It’s what I get paid to do! I’m a professional […]

Two Secrets Leaders Use to Communicate Confidence

Thinking on your feet when you're asked to speak

meeting conference room

Everyone looked at him and waited to hear his response. All nine people in the conference room had their attention fixed on one person. After a brief but dramatic pause, he began to speak with a calm voice and a solid solution. The rest of the group seemed transfixed as they listened. It was hard […]