Heat waves and mindsets

Audience, Reading people

It has been very, very hot in my hometown over the past week. People are hiding in their basements, seeking out air conditioned venues, and generally doing as little as possible.  Men, women, children, and animals alike are sticky, sweaty, itchy, and irritable. This is affecting not only how people are saying their message, but…

The chatty chameleon

Reading peopleLeave a comment

It helps to be a bit of a social and verbal chameleon.  Matching your language, demeanor, and expression to the expectations of your audience is generally a good thing. Adapting yourself to your audience is not about abandoning your personal style or changing your message to suit someone else’s expectations.  It’s about increasing your personal…

Listen closely

Reading peopleLeave a comment

I’m frequently asked what the most important skill in speaking is.  It’s pretty simple: listening.  I’m not being trite or spouting cliches! To be a good speaker, you must be a good listener.  You need to listen with your ears, eyes, and brain  – and not always in that order.  Really skilled communicators, really dynamic…