To make sure your message gets across in the way you intend, pay attention to a few key nonverbal skills. Considering most people want to do good work and meet expectations, delivering constructive feedback sure can feel like picking your way through a minefield of misunderstanding, hurt feelings, defensiveness, and…

Don’t waste the valuable resource and useful tool that is always with you. When you speak, others may hear and notice what you say, but not nearly as much as how you say it. The way you use your voice can and does convey an astounding array of emotions and…

When you understand these four components, you can promote a more inclusive culture and take steps to ensure your own sense of belonging. “Everyone here looks down on me.” Over a Zoom coaching call, the executive assistant at a large global corporation hunched over and looked downward, hugging herself. “I’m…

Words are powerful. So is silence. Awhile back I wrote I wrote a blog called “3 Times to Shut Your Mouth” which was — surprise, surprise! — about the nonverbal messages you send by literally closing your mouth. And while it is useful to know when to physically keep your…

Which of these ten tips do you already do consistently? Which do you need to start doing? As a young child, I was outgoing, confident, and friendly. I would approach strangers without a second thought (much to my parents’ dismay), boss my friends and siblings around, easily make new friends…

and boost your mood — January sucks. And I say that as someone who really looks forward to getting back into a routine and doubling down on goals and intentions after the fun, chaos, and self-indulgence that mark the last six weeks of the year. It’s a relief (for me, at least) to leave that…

Healthy relationships are based on trust, including your relationship with yourself. Human interactions require a basic level of trust to function, and that includes interacting with your own brain and living your own life. Like me, however, you have probably made a few [million] mistakes during your years on the…

Sometimes self-deprecating humor can be helpful in establishing connections… most of the time, it backfires. Here’s how to tell what’s best. I generally advise against using self-deprecating humor. Most of the time, it does not convey confidence and credibility. …

With these three attributes, you can navigate life with grace and charisma. About a month ago, I lost my mentor and dear friend, Mary Kogen. Mary was, on the surface, my college piano and pedagogy teacher. She taught me technique and chord progressions, how to break the binding of your…