Awareness It isn't enough to simply be aware of how you feel in any given situation. If you are a leader (or a parent/teacher/mentor) then you ought to also be aware of how that feeling looks and feels to others.Does anger always look angry?Will happiness always look happy?Must fear … [Read more...] about Scared and Scary
Bring Your Whole Self.
What is my whole self? Actors often talk about bringing their whole selves to the stage, which means how we experience them while they are on the stage.Are they physically, emotionally, and intellectually present?Eugenio Barba developed a unique program in Denmark for Odin Teatret that was … [Read more...] about Bring Your Whole Self.
Claiming Your Executive Voice: Communicate like a leader
An "Executive Voice" is the ability to communicate high level ideas while conveying confidence and credibility in the details. People who have to communicate complicated messages to a wide range of audiences (board members, C-Suite, clients, partners, employees and peers) may find that it is … [Read more...] about Claiming Your Executive Voice: Communicate like a leader
Better Communication = Executive Presence
Why is it often so hard to just answer a question?Why do people choose to obfuscate rather than clarify?What is the connection between our clarity of message and our presence?The more we try to code our language with buzzwords and jargon, the harder it is to be understood. That code may … [Read more...] about Better Communication = Executive Presence
Authenticity Takes Hard Work
While there is so much talk in business and culture about authenticity (like here, here and here), there is very little talk about what it takes to get it.It's a little like the advice you'd get as a kid before going to a big interview or asking someone out on a date: "Just be yourself."Yes! So … [Read more...] about Authenticity Takes Hard Work
Nobody Really Understands You
Perhaps you worry about whether people can hear your thoughts or know how you are feeling inside (especially when you are nervous), and that you are an open book to the world. The truth, however, is that people rarely see beyond their own thoughts and feelings. In truth our perception of how people … [Read more...] about Nobody Really Understands You
Asking Permission for Authority
Have you ever had to take direction from someone who looks like he/she is not entirely sure who is in charge?Frustrating, isn't it?We had a teacher in high school who taught speech class, and he was notorious for being unable to handle a classroom of teenagers. Every time he turned his back … [Read more...] about Asking Permission for Authority