The school my daughters attend has a beautiful graduation tradition. Teachers stand at the lectern, one at a time, and read a poem to each graduate. The poem begins and ends with the graduate’s name, and contains snippets and memories that encapsulate the experience the faculty have had of that student through his or her years attending the school. This artistic acknowledgement is a vehicle for [Read more…] about Father’s Day Poem
Careless Errors in Workplace Writing? Think Again.
I recently worked with a company that matched the profile of my ideal client. The company had a valued employee who excelled at his job but whose written communication skills were problematic. Emails contained numerous errors. Written reports required massive revision and editing from his supervisor. The company spoke about this employee with great respect, and assured me that he was one of the most hard-working employees I would ever meet.
Their description of the situation was the first indicator I had about the complexity of the issue. Although the emails were full of what appeared to be careless errors, this employee was not careless in any other aspects of his job. In fact, he was one of the most attentive, [Read more…] about Careless Errors in Workplace Writing? Think Again.
Y Smile
Direct communication is at the heart of building relationships and creating team. Yet, for many, finding the words to say and having the courage to speak them out loud is no minor feat. Talking to your sister or your best friend is one thing, but how willing are you to share your most authentic self with someone you don’t know or who you think may not like what you have to say?
I swim regularly at my local YMCA. At the time that I swim, more than half the pool is reserved for H20 walkers–people who are walking and exercising in the water. Two lanes are available for swimmers. Last week, I hopped into the only empty lane at the same time one of the H2O walkers swam under the lane divider into the lane. I waited until she swam to my end of the pool, and I asked if she was okay sharing the lane. [Read more…] about Y Smile
Being Radically Responsible
“I’m not connecting well with this person,” I said to a friend. “I need to get a handle on it because I can tell it is affecting how I show up and interact during meetings and in casual interactions. I am opting for less and less contact and, while I am not being rude, I am also not being particularly friendly.”
My friend listened for a while, allowing me the space to sort out what was at the root of the issue, and then spoke. “You have to talk with this person. You know that, right?”
Not the answer I wanted to hear. Yes, of course, I knew that. I train other people in situations like this. I am also human and sometimes [Read more…] about Being Radically Responsible
Looking for the Beauty
Last week, I participated at the District level of the Toastmasters International Speech Contest. For people affiliated with Toastmasters, the International Speech Contest is the Olympics of public speaking. In March, over 30,000 people deliver seven-minute speeches in their home clubs around the world. The winners of those home club contests advance to the Area level, and if they place first again, to the Division level. Those who make it through the Division round go on to the District level. In my District, seven of us had the opportunity to deliver our speech at the District Conference. One of us was chosen to deliver a speech at the semi-finals held at the Toastmasters International Convention this summer in Cincinnati, OH.
As the 2005 World Champions of Speaking pointed out last weekend, a seven-minute speech is a very different experience than giving a keynote address for twenty, thirty, or ninety minutes. Speaking for seven minutes is like shooting an arrow at a target. [Read more…] about Looking for the Beauty