I was recently at a networking event and came away frustrated and upset. As I reflected on the evening, I thought about how many people are lacking core listening skills. Despite talking to many people, I left not ever feeling heard. In the majority of conversations, people are waiting for the opportunity to talk versus actually listening to what the…

Did you know 27 million Americans fear public speaking? What’s more surprising is the impact this fear can have on your career. Despite the fact that fear of public speaking has a 10% impact on wages and 15% impact on getting promoting (who knew?), only 8% of people with this fear will ever get professional help. Wait. What?? As someone…

Those of us who have worked in public relations for a long time assume (and often pull out our hair) that people know the difference between public relations and marketing. These two terms are often intermingled and used incorrectly. So what is the difference between public relations and marketing? Well it’s simple (and complicated). Public relations is often focused on…

Have you ever gone to a business networking event, ate cheese and crackers, handed out business cards and come home exhausted? Aghh. I know I have. So how do you grow your business network in an authentic way that resonates with you and your business? You need to harness the power of referrals. This process starts with you referring clients,…

When you were in school, you were likely told to focus on your weakest subjects. For me it was math. No matter how many times the teacher explained the concept, I still didn’t get it. And no amount of tutoring ever got me out of the C range. In Grade 12 a teacher said something to me that changed my…

Communications is a skill that is rarely taught, but is one that many professionals are expected to master. It is assumed you will know how to be a good public speaker, writer, presenter and interviewee all based on the fact you are good at your chosen profession. Because of these assumptions, few people take the extra step to improve their…

On any given day there are many stories in the media about wrongdoings or allegations against a person or company that threatens not only their reputation but also their future. Accountant accused of fraud, contaminated product, inappropriate comments made by staff, are just a few events that can unwillingly push an organization into the spotlight. But guess what? Rarely do…

A couple of weeks ago I posted a Facebook live video. I was talking about the various elections (in Canada and US) and how we can learn the importance of key messaging from the candidates. Who is clear on their message (you know exactly what they stand for)? And who throws out the usual comments like cutting taxes, getting spending…

Yesterday I presented to a provincial government finance committee that was seeking input on the 2019 budget. I spoke as a mother and patient advocate about the urgent need for more speech language therapy funding for preschool and elementary school students. I used storytelling to make a personal connection on a complex issue. I had five minutes to state my…

Having THREE key messages, and scripting all your communications around these messages, will help you stay focused and make sure you get to the point! Having clarity of message, is key to increasing sales, cutting through the noise, and being seen as a knowledgeable professional. Yet way to few people take the time to figure out who they are speaking…