Communication
A Riddle: Why Explain Why?
In my early journalism classes, I was taught the five “W’s” of good news stories, and that most should be in the first paragraph at that. Who, what, when, where and why are the five, with…
The Power of NO!
Over the years I have counseled entrepreneurs to think of a “no” response in terms of “yes, but…” There is always another way to say “no” that leaves the door open for creative thinking. Well, almost…
In Marketing, Practice Like You Play
Anyone who has ever played organized sports (or music or dance for that matter) is probably familiar with the coaching axiom, “practice like you play.” In other words, if you practice sloppy, you’ll play sloppy…
3 Ways to Harness the Power of Storytelling for Your Business
As the co-founder of an education company that advises on the college application process, I often hear my students say that they want to go into business. The problem is, they can’t articulate why. They…
Why Creating Change Requires an Emotional Connection
Why change? Should you change? Is it time to make a change? If not now, when? These are all questions organizations struggle with all the time. If things are going well, do you really want…
On Miscommunicating
We know what we want to communicate: it may be something we need to say to our customers to teach, engage, or convince them. it may be to our people, to coach and improve their…
How to Encourage Open Internal Communication for a Successful Brand
Are your business or nonprofit organization employees or co-workers openly communicating? If not, it has a big problem. How can they ‘live the brand’ internally and externally if they’re afraid to rock the boat or…
5 Reasons Your Employees Quit, and How to Stop Them
If you own a business, then you know that keeping your staff as excited about their jobs as you are can feel like an uphill battle. The fact is that most employees disengage from their…
Why Communication is the Most Important Skill You’ll Ever Have
We all know the importance of hard work and skill. Honestly, communication is more vital than either. It’s THE key to success, both in business and in life. When I was younger, my parents would…