Blog - Catherine Johns

Can We Ever Like Powerful Women?

What do we have against women who run for president? Unsettling news for Democrats emerged from a poll in six battleground states where electoral college votes put the president over the top in 2016. Although national polling gives several Democrats a solid edge over Trump, those six key states present a different view. Especially for…

Less Really IS More

Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director at Steppenwolf Theatre here in Chicago. She’s directed big hits on Broadway as well, she’s a Tony-award winner, and she’s a professor at Northwestern University. She is a very big deal in theatrical circles. No, I’m not about to audition for a role in a play. I’m telling…

Practice Makes Perfect. IF You Do It.

What makes it so hard to rehearse for your business presentations? Every expert on speaking recommends rehearsal. Yes, that includes me. At the same time, just about every would-be speaker says, “Awww, I really don’t wanna rehearse.” Or something to that effect. Yes. That also includes me. I have a speaking engagement coming up, with…

The Signals You Send

When you’re leading a meeting, conducting a conference call, or having a sales conversation, your state is absolutely critical. No, not your geographical location. I’m talking about the way you’re being. That means the emotion you’re feeling and the thoughts you’re thinking. How you hold your body and how you move. Your energy level. All…

Your Body Is Your Key To Communication

You can’t do a presentation if you’re not present. In fact, when it comes to communicating, you can’t do much of anything if you’re not present. And yet, people try all the time to run a conference call, or a department heads’ meeting, or a big speech on a stage without being fully present in…

How Creative Are You?

Does the very question send you into a song-and-dance about how you don’t have a creative bone in your body and you never have? Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who owns every bit of your creative spirit. You make your living doing graphic design or photography or playing piano. You may even refer…

You’re The Kind of Person … Or Are You?

You’re all set for an important meeting with a client or colleague. You’ve done your homework, you’re completely prepared for this conversation, and you arrived early so the two of you can get right down to business. Because that’s the kind of person you are. Responsible, respectful, caring about relationships. You wait. And wait. And…

Conversations Connect us. Or Not.

You know how it feels when a conversation is so much fun you wish it could go on forever? Frank and I had one of those when we went to dinner with a business friend of mine. She and I had never been out socially; we’d certainly never met each other’s husbands. Still, it seemed…

Have You Heard The One About … Workplace Humor?

Why do we even try to be funny at work? There are definite benefits to laughing on the job. And, if you’re in charge of anything … or anyone … humor can be a minefield in a meeting, conference call, or presentation. Maybe you want to boost morale. Bring the team together. Generate some positive…

Gender Judo: Not Just For Women

You know professionals come to me to develop Executive Presence; they want to be more potent and persuasive at work. It’s rare that my mission is: Make this person more likable. The NY Times Gender Editor is scoffing at a request to recommend a “likability coach” for a woman who comes off as a little…

Are You Ready For Extreme Interactivity?

There’s a time to deliver a well-crafted, well-rehearsed speech. Most business presentations are not that time. Not that we skip the crafting and rehearsing. We’re generally better off, though, in a conference room, board room or online meeting, to skip the speechifying and have a conversation with our audience. Business presentations almost always benefit when…