For years, it seemed communications staff struggled to justify our existence. Then COVID hit. Many organizations were forced to up their game on how they communicate with clients, stakeholders, staff and the public. And like many professions, this increase demand has resulted in a shortage of skilled communications and public relations professionals.  While I hope the lessons of the importance…

When you meet a friend for a walk or go out for dinner, I bet you do a lot of storytelling. There’s always that friend who tells hilarious stories that make you laugh. Or that friend who tends to be upset about something, ranting away. Storytelling is an integral part of how we communicate and is what makes us human. …

With all the time we’re spending in online meetings, it is easier than ever to tune out a bad presenter. It’s as simple as turning off your camera and scrolling through your phone while the boring presenter drones on and on. With it being so easy to tune out, how do you create engaging online presentations? While I’ve previously written…

I remember a time when online meetings were a rarity, used infrequently or by a few trendy organizations. My how times have changed. Yet, despite all the time we spend online, many people continue to struggle with how to host engaging online meetings.  This was the topic of a presentation I recently gave to a group of leaders looking for…

A friend recently called me to get advice on a project that had gone sideways. Although she felt she had done what was asked of her, the submitted project was not received well. The client lambasted her for missing the mark. In dissecting what went wrong, it came down to miscommunications.  I expect miscommunications is at the root of many…

As a writer, I know the power of words. I choose my words based on the emotions I want to convey or reactions I want to stir in my reader. While I recognize not everyone places as much value on words, it’s important to remember the words we use, or don’t use, say a lot about who we are and…