“Scenarios” can give you a better understanding of the way someone thinks.
When is a question not a question?
Good question.
And it’s one with a simple answer. A question is not a question…when it’s a scenario.
We spend a lot of time asking questions as a way to...
How to build a brilliant career by asking three types of questions.
Want to instantly build a career that sets you apart from the crowd?
Be the person who asks the best questions.
One of the biggest challenges we have when it comes to communications is the fact that we tend to go on autopilot. If...
Before you read, you scan – and knowing that can revolutionize the way you create any kind of content.
Article at a glance.
- Audiences don’t read, they scan
- Build a UI for your content
- Use visual writing tools like gist summaries and white space
This isn’t...
Why your storytelling might not actually be storytelling.
It happens almost every time I coach someone.
We’re chatting through ways to make their presentation more engaging, and storytelling invariably comes up.
“Oh – I have a great story I can use here.” To which I respond,...
When you start your presentation, change one key word in the first thing you generally think about presentations.
“Here’s what I want to say.”
Most times that I meet with an outstanding leader such as yourself to discuss the next presentation/pitch/panel they’re going to...
Want to fix your talk in fewer than 30 minutes? Do just these five things.
You present far more often than you think.
Every time you pitch an idea on where to go for dinner, you’re making a presentation.
Every time you hold a quick huddle with your boss to share numbers/analytics/research,...
And it’s not “what is your objective.”
Journalism schools like to give first-year students an intriguing piece of advice.
“If you have 30 minutes to write an article, you’re going to spend 25 minutes coming up with your lede.”
Your lede — often misspelled as...
Readers engage more when they know what to expect – these are the tools that create those expectations.
People don’t “read.” They scan.
Make their lives easier and they’ll engage with you and your proposal. That means finding ways to visually introduce and...
Here’s the #1 reason your presentation, pitch or blog isn’t getting through to your audience.
I really am great.
I’m fascinating. And smart. And creative. Oh…and energetic.
I’m also lucky if you’ve read this far…because I’ve just made the cardinal...
Let’s put an end to the communications Autopilot apocalypse.
Here’s a mind-warping little game.
Imagine that your boss just walked into your office and told you that you were presenting at your company’s National Meeting. What’s the first thing you do?
f you’re like...
If you’re copying and pasting words from your last proposal into your next proposal - you may not be doing what it takes to win. Think about these issues the next time you try to sell an idea.
The case for triggering, navigation and visual language in everything from websites and blogs to presentations and Podcasts.
You’re on word four of this post and you’re already so bored that you’ve tuned out entirely.
I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either.
...
Instead of using these well-worn corporate terms, try these less common, more interesting terms.
Do words actually matter? You bet your sweet bippy they do!
Word choice can jostle, nudge, action-ize an audience. Here’s a handy dandy infographic to get past overly common words.
#marketing ...
