I was lying in the dentist’s chair a while back, waiting to get a tooth repaired after part of it chipped off. The dentist told me about the deadening shot and forthcoming repair work; I know the routine. While having two people and a bunch of equipment in my mouth is not my favorite, I’m composed. The work begins.   I’m watching the TV mounted parallel to my body for easy viewing. What a cushy life we lead these days if you have dental insurance. Then I heard my dentist asking me if I’m ok,...

When things at work are going well, people celebrate the wins. When things go wrong at work, people rarely say, “Wow, I probably didn’t communicate that very well.” Instead, they blame the team, the culture, or that one person  who “just doesn’t get it.” Cue the frustration and cue the call for communication training. Since my mission is to equip people with elite communication skills, I’m all about it. After years of working with teams, I’ve learned this: most workplace frustration isn’t...

Okay, people, you know who you are. At the very hint of speaking up, you feel uncomfortable, worried about what others might think, or apprehensive that speaking up might harm the relationships at work or at home. Maybe you censor or shut down your own ideas before others have the chance. Are you waiting on a feeling of confidence, comfort, a verbal invitation, or permission before you speak up? Well, your communication evangelist is here to proclaim that you don’t need permission or...