Have you ever poured your heart into a speech or business presentation – only to realize later that your audience didn’t get it (or didn’t care)? That’s a lost and wasted opportunity. And it happens when you focus only on what YOU want to say instead of WHO you’re saying it to. Here’s how risk-taking […]

The key to nailing a difficult point – and creating meaning that lasts – often lies just beneath the surface, in a story a leader has never told. When a thought partner uncovers that story and helps a leader find the courage to say what’s unsaid, everything changes. The message sticks. It resonates. It lasts. […]

What if your next persuasive speech leaves your audience with gifts they never saw coming? Gifts they will remember and treasure – long after they leave the room? Read on to learn the expected and unexpected gifts of persuasion, and why the art of persuasion in public speaking is an act of service, not self-promotion. […]

A longtime client recently asked me to lead a “train the trainer” workshop for subject matter experts – in accounting, IT, credit, purchasing and other business services – so these folks could improve the content and delivery of their professional presentations. All 40 of these experts-turned-presenters shared the same goal: To persuade their audiences to […]

A great speech is far more than a fleeting moment on stage. Instead, a great speech has the power to set a ripple effect in motion, creating a profound impact not just today, but in the weeks, months and even years ahead. The ripple effect you create with your next great speech might be felt […]

Do you speak in public – at your company, for your industry or in your community? Are you eager to share a great idea that will create a new future for everyone in your audience – if only you can convince them to act? Here are top tips and advice for public speakers who need […]

Do you avoid public speaking because you sometimes experience stage fright? Is your fear of stage fright holding you back on the job? Do you want a simple fix to solve stage fright forever? If so, take advice from an executive public speaking coach who once suffered from stage fright – and then discovered the […]

Even the most polished executives on a panel or fireside chat can lose an audience if they slip into bad habits – like diving deep into complexities, giving long-winded answers and delivering responses that sound like lectures. Strategic communication for executives is essential if you want to shine on panels and fireside chats. In this […]

Human decision making is emotional – not logical. If you want your strategic messaging to change the way your audience thinks or behaves, logic alone will never cut it – no matter how many proof points you have. The way ahead is to create emotional connections with your audience so that people care, remember what […]

Last week, 20 executive communication professionals from across the U.S. earned a certificate in strategic executive communication from the Executive Communication Council. I was one of these 20 fortunate professionals in the inaugural class of March 2025. We became Leadership Communication Academy-certified after absorbing and internalizing 16+ hours of disciplined, structured, rigorous instruction delivered by […]