It’s no secret that first impressions often set the tone for future social interactions. That’s why they’re so important. This holds true for both personal meetings, like a first date, and professional meetings, like a job interview. In the professional world, the first impression we most value is usually the one we make with a […]
Archive | Relationships
Does it Matter if You’re Left or Right?
Humans have different personality types, and one way to differentiate them is what author Daniel Pink calls L-Directed Thinking and R-Directed Thinking. L-Directed Thinkers predominantly use the skills associated with the left side of the brain, and are thus very logical and analytical. R-Directed Thinkers predominately use the skills associated with the right side of […]
Why Communicating with Coworkers is Important
You have likely witnessed a few blunders in your professional life caused by poor communication. While these situations certainly range in severity, some seem like complete disasters. Have you ever wondered what would be the worst case scenario? Last summer, a murder suspect was mistakenly released from Ohio custody twice due to a lack of […]
The Science of Attraction
If you spent Valentine’s Day with a significant other, you should have a good idea of how he or she feels about you. But those who are not currently in relationships may not be as certain that their romantic feelings for another are being returned. For these individuals, it can be helpful to analyze the […]
Managing Your Social Media Presence as a Professional
Speaking That Connects’ primary mission is to promote speaking that creates a connection between the speaker and listener. As times change, the ways we connect with people become more numerous and diverse. With social media, for example, we need to consider a couple of questions: Are the connections being managed appropriately? And how are they […]
Non-Verbal Indicators of Discomfort
In many ways, the United States has been inching closer and closer to racial equality. But the progress hasn’t been perfect, and true equality may never be achieved (I hope this is not the case). Despite all of the regulations and legalities, there are deeper social dynamics that make it difficult to break down all […]
Asking for a Raise: An Audience of One
The dawn of a new year prompts many of us to evaluate our lives and make bold moves designed to improve them. In many cases, our careers are the focus of these changes. Maybe you noticed some in your network changing career paths recently. If you are not looking to leave your job, but don’t […]
Take the Challenge – Become an Author!
Taking a challenge made me an author! After 30 years as a communication consultant and public speaking coach, I am now available on Amazon and B&N! Here’s the story behind my success. I was having coffee with a colleague, a peak performance coach, who was working on his second book. When I said I was […]
The Science of Public Speaking
By speakingthatconnects in Blog, Leadership, Non-verbal Communication, Presentation Skills, Relationships
One of my business’s taglines is “the art and science” of presentation excellence. Recently someone challenged the “science” aspect. Thinking “performance”, “stage presence”, “microphones”, “PowerPoint”, they felt speaking was more the “art.” But speaking is a complex neuromuscular activity (I learned that in Speech 101 many years ago) . Our thoughts are transformed into energy […]