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Many communication experts offer "band-aid" fixes to create executive presence. Advice is shoved at us, such as: Speak louder Use (or don't use) your hands Smile More Real communication starts from within. I've worked with hundreds of leaders trying to unlearn terrible advice The more they were told what to do, the harder it was to feel authentic, and their audiences could tell. If you'd like to break the habit, start from the inside out: Use this "setting intentions" 3-step

When one of my clients first came to me, he was convinced his challenge was simple. "My boss doesn't listen." But the real issue was something deeper and surprising. My client was a seasoned executive...sharp, respected and known for his expertise. But when it came to his boss, he shut down. He would start his ideas strong and then shut down He would stop mid-sentence if he didn't get immediate approval or encouragement He silenced himself as soon as any question was asked He

Let's be honest, there are people on your team you are in need of real support, development and encouragement. You may have noticed something, a mistake, a missed opportunity, or even a breakthrough, and you mean to say something - but you hold back. The problem is you're confused. You don't want to demoralize them and you also don't want to deliver false flattery. You tell yourself: "Well...now is not the right time." "I'll bring it up in the annual review." "They know what

That's what my client told me, frustrated by yet another meeting where she got sidelined. With new compliance measurements on the horizon, her message mattered. But in meetings she was uninspiring, She walked people through her team's work, in granular detail, step by step by step. Her thought, "They'll see and appreciate our extremely thorough effort." Instead, people tuned out. They didn't see why the work mattered to them. And, as a consequence, she didn't get the go-ahead

Which means 92% are not good listeners. (The math is incredible!) Here is what this actually looks like: You're moving fast. Meetings are stacked. Decisions need to made. So you listen...kind of. You nod, but your mind is already to the next problem. You hear what's being said, but you're already formulating your response. The result? People feel dismissed. Misunderstandings grow. Trust quietly erodes. Here is the mindset shift: Leadership isn't just about getting the job don

Ever told yourself, "I'll just do it myself...it's faster." If so, you're not alone. You're got too much on your plate. You're exhausted and overhwhelmed. You're putting out fires. You're doing ALL the WORK (including work that your team should be doing). You know, you need to delegate. But deep down, something holds you back. Because if you delegate and something goes wrong, you're the one fixining it. you're the one who looks bad. you're the failure. PLUS (you tell yourself

"I was told to stop saying sorry, but what if I actually am?" That's what a client shared in one of our first sessions. She was empathetic, collaborative and trusted. But she was exhausted from trying to be the good one. She found herself: Saying yes when she meant no Holding back on her ideas Apologizing often...and out of habit The advice she'd heard: Be stronger Speak up Stop saying sorry But telling someone to be different creates even more imposter syndrome. It can act l

With budget season upon us, it’s an ideal time to reflect on how you can meaningfully invest in your team’s development. Research shows...

As the NHL and NBA kick off their seasons, athletes are focusing on training both their minds and skills to compete at their peak. In the...