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…

What Happens When You Switch Gears?

People expect you to communicate in a certain way. You have … we all have … characteristic ways of expressing ourselves. There are words and phrases you use over and over. Some come from your profession or field of study. Your ethnic background or the place you grew up. You might use slang that’s current,…

Be The One They Choose

Whatever you do for a living, it’s a good bet a boatload of other people do exactly the same thing. Your customers, clients or potential employers have dozens … maybe even hundreds of choices. So why should they pick you? All of us, in every field of endeavor, ought to be able to answer that…

Self Discipline … and Where To Find It

Building a business or advancing a career takes discipline, doesn’t it? Discipline to finish what I start. Discipline to start some things in the first place—the things I don’t love to do that are part of the package, like it or not. And sometimes the discipline to hold back when I really want to hold…