Sarah M. KippSarah M. Kipp

Business

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Why I Speak

A gentleman sitting in the second row raises his hand. I nod and extend my hand toward him, inviting him to speak. “I have two questions,” he says. “I’m listening to you describe all that you do as an introvert to transition from calmly moving around your kitchen, as you say, to being energized and ‘on’ to present to us today. Do you enjoy the process of that transition? Also, if you are an introvert and you are ordinarily pretty subdued in your everyday life, why do you choose a career presenting to groups and working as a public speaker?”

By the time this man asks his questions, the audience of job seekers and I have been together for almost an hour. I am giving a presentation called “The Introvert Steps Out” to a room in which 98% of the people [Read more…] about Why I Speak

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Working Retreats

This November, I will be facilitating a Strategic Planning Retreat with a dynamic team of colleagues. We are working with an educational organization to which we each have a strong connection and personal investment. The process has been exhilarating, inspiring, and transformative. I described to a friend who also works in education what the faculty and board participants will be doing with us during the retreat. She exclaimed, “That doesn’t sound like a retreat! That sounds like WORK!”

I considered her perspective. There are times when we retreat for the purposes of relaxation and enjoyment. Often, though, we retreat when we are ready [Read more…] about Working Retreats

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Express Yourself, Write!

My client has just landed an opportunity to present at a large conference in her field. She is ecstatic that she was chosen, but confides to me that presenting at this level is new for her. She wants to do everything she can to make a great impression.

We spend some of our session clarifying what she believes the characteristics of a successful speaker are and what concerns she has about her own abilities.

“How clear are you about who you want to be when you are in front of the room?” I ask my client. [Read more…] about Express Yourself, Write!

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Know Your Audience

Twice a year, I am invited to deliver an hour-long workshop to a jobseekers networking group. I arrive early to set up, sit as an observer during the first part of their weekly meeting, and then present my content. During the first part of the meeting, a few members of the group share who they are, what they do, and what kind of leads or support they would appreciate receiving.

When it comes to the ‘what they do’ part, people often share [Read more…] about Know Your Audience

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Nothing Stays the Same

A couple of years ago, I called a dear friend of mine late at night. My grandmother had recently died, and while I knew I was grieving the recent loss, I had not anticipated all the other doors of grief and loss that would fling open in my face that night. I was feeling too much, and not finding a peaceful way to navigate the experience on my own.

My friend listened and said little. When she did speak, she acknowledged and validated the whole tribe of emotions that were stomping all over my heart. Then she offered a bit of perspective.

“Mark your calendar, Sarah, for one year from this day. You will be [Read more…] about Nothing Stays the Same