Archives

Tip #1: Enhance Your Professionalism Through Thoughtful Greetings and Endings Want to project more confidence in professional settings? Start by mastering your greetings. Instead of casual “Hey” or “What’s up,” opt for formal greetings like “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.” These greetings convey respect and instantly elevate the tone. For instance, swap “Hey, how’s it going?” with “Good morning, how are you today?” This subtle shift can make a big difference, highlighting your professionalism and attentiveness.      Remember, a formal closure is equally important. Instead of a casual “All right, see ya!” try “Thank you for your time today, [name]. I appreciate it.” While it may seem like a minor detail, incorporating these simple yet powerful greetings can significantly boost your professional image and communication skills. Try it in your next professional interaction.

Tip #2: Don’t tip the scales with data-heavy presentations In my work with high-performing C-level leaders in financial services, I’ve noticed a common pitfall in presentations: an overload of data. While data is crucial for establishing credibility, incorporating personal elements like stories, examples, and appropriate humor is key. Connecting on a human level alongside expertise is vital for engagement and impact.      Research from Scientific American highlights how people’s brain waves can synchronize during interaction. This synchronization reflects a deeper connection beyond words, shaping how we interpret and respond to shared experiences. Read the full study here.Remember: embracing imperfection, adding spontaneity, and revealing vulnerabilities can make presentations more relatable and memorable. Building trust through authenticity is fundamental for fostering strong relationships.

Tip #3: Think about the required level of preparation.I particularly enjoy supporting high-performing companies during their annual global meetings. Our clients often wonder, “How much preparation should you do?” The short answer: your preparation should match the importance of the event. For a quick 2-minute update or an informal meeting with trusted colleagues, a few minutes of prep might suffice. For a high-stakes meeting where you want to demonstrate trusted-advisor leadership, begin preparing at least two weeks in advance.    Remember: there are no strict rules, but adequate preparation is crucial to appear confident, speak confidently, and build trust. Your effort will pay off in making a lasting impression.

Tip #4: Don’t play Hot Potato when answering questions In a recent one-on-one coaching session with a senior executive, we discussed a common tendency when getting a question lobbed at you. Many of us, including this Executive, tend to answer extremely fast and then lob it back. We laughed when we realized how similar it is to the children’s game ‘Hot Potato.’

Does anyone remember that game? When I was a kid, we played with a balled-up sock, so it was as low-tech as you could get! The goal was to throw back the “potato” as soon as it was tossed your way to stay safe when the rhyme finished. (“…If you have the hot potato, YOU-ARE-IT!”)    If you answer a question immediately and barely even take a moment to pause, you are missing an opportunity to show thoughtfulness and share an insightful response. The goal is NOT to answer fast and get the spotlight off you! By not rushing to throw the ‘potato,’ you value the conversation and the person asking the question. Remember, your role as a listener is just as important as a speaker in fostering a meaningful discussion. Instead, when you are asked a question: Listen, pause, think, THEN respond.       The pause can be short; 1-3 seconds helps you gain composure. No hot potato toss is needed. Take your time.

Tip #5: Add Reflection Points to your company meetingsAs an executive coach, I love exploring topics people haven’t considered until they take a moment to slow down and reflect. It’s like meeting with a trainer at the gym and taking time to consider your short- and long-term goals Recently, I spoke with a successful IT executive who shared his strategy to make meetings more productive. He does a regular “tech overhaul” and thinks about why the meeting is important and whether it could be executed in a way other than as a meeting. He calls these “Reflection Points.”

Adding brief reflection points to your agenda can make meetings more intentional, efficient, and impactful.

As a communication coach, I help people speak clearly and connect with their listeners. When we’re explaining something technical, an idiom can make the message easier to grasp. And when we’re trying to make a point without sounding too direct, an idiom can paint a vivid picture.

But here’s the catch: idioms can backfire. If they’re unfamiliar or confusing, the speaker ends up working harder to get the message across, and risk losing trust or credibility in the process.

Idioms and stories both simplify complex ideas, and create mental pictures for the listener. An idiom is like compressed wisdom, a quick phrase that assumes shared understanding. A story, on the other hand, builds that understanding by showing the lesson in action. While idioms are fast and familiar, they can confuse if the listener doesn’t know the reference. Stories take a little more time, but they invite connection and leave a deeper impact. If an idiom is a spark, a story is the fire that keeps people listening.

An idiom is a phrase or expression with a meaning different from the literal words. For example, “spill the beans” means to reveal a secret, but if someone hasn’t heard that phrase before, it can leave them puzzled.

A recent Wall Street Journal article, “The Ford Executive Who Kept Score of Colleagues’ Verbal Flubs,” highlights how even experienced professionals can misuse idiomatic language, leading to confusion or unintentional humor. Mike O’Brien, a sales executive at Ford, kept track of over 2,000 verbal flubs from colleagues, phrases like “Let’s not reinvent the ocean,” or “I don’t want to sound like a broken drum here.” These moments show how tricky idioms can be when they miss the mark.

While idioms can add color and personality to our speech, they may also leave some listeners behind, especially if they’re from a different part of the world, or even just a different cultural background.

Misunderstood phrases can subtly erode our credibility and make it harder to build trust.

To communicate more clearly and inclusively:

1. Be mindful of your listeners: Consider whether your audience will understand the idioms you use. When in doubt, leave it out.
2. Use idioms wisely: They can be great tools, but only if they support your message and are easy to follow.
3. Encourage feedback: Invite questions and clarification. That openness builds connection and shows respect.

Being intentional with your language helps you connect rather than confuse. The goal is always to be understood and to make your listeners feel included.

For many professionals attending a conference, the role isn’t as a panelist or keynote speaker. Instead, your time is likely spent in a series of 30-minute meetings, introducing yourself and your company while exploring potential connections. Often, you may not even have the chance to attend the main conference presentations.

This dynamic creates both a unique opportunity and a challenge: how do you maximize the impact of those brief, high-stakes conversations, while effectively representing your firm?

Conferences offer much more than networking-they’re a powerful opportunity to sharpen your communication skills, build credibility, and position yourself for growth within your firm and the industry. As a communication coach, I outline key strategies for success that go beyond the surface.

While many dread these meetings or see them as boring and repetitive, I encourage you to look at them differently: think of them as a communication laboratory-a place to practice, refine, and build the muscle memory that strengthens your confidence for other high-stakes meetings.

Here are a few top-level tips to help you prepare, make the most of your time, and build lasting experience.

1.     Prepare Strategically for 30-Minute Meetings

Success at a conference starts before you even walk through the door. Preparation ensures that your time in those short meetings is productive and leaves a lasting impression.

• Research Attendees and Objectives – Know who you’re meeting, what their firm does, and how they might align with your firm’s goals. Preparation, not perspiration, gives you confidence and allows for more meaningful conversations.
• Nail Your Company Pitch – In two minutes or less, deliver your company’s story. What makes you unique in the market? What kinds of deals make you stand out? Highlight key areas of focus. Be bold! Record yourself and listen back to ensure you’re including the most compelling points and delivering them with confidence.
• Come Ready to Listen – Prepare thoughtful questions that show genuine interest in the other person. Great communication is as much about listening as it is about speaking.

2.     Make the Most of Brief Interactions

With only 30 minutes or less, it’s critical to be intentional and focused.

• Stay Present and Engaged – Avoid overloading the conversation with too much detail. Be concise, relevant, and actively listen to the other person’s responses.
• Use Nonverbal Communication – A firm handshake, an opening smile, confident eye contact, and open body language reinforce your professionalism and make a strong first impression. Aligning your nonverbal and verbal delivery is crucial, as we often listen with our eyes.
• Project Verbal Confidence – Your voice is a powerful tool. Use vocal inflection to emphasize key points, maintain a strong and steady volume and slow down your pace to convey clarity and authority. These small adjustments build trust and ensure your message is heard.

3.     Build Credibility, Even Without a Stage

Conferences are a proving ground, even if you’re not presenting. Use every interaction to build your professional brand and strengthen your firm’s reputation.

• Represent Your Company’s Ethos – The way you communicate reflects not just your personal professionalism but also the firm’s values. Align your messaging with the culture and strengths of your organization.
• Be a Connector – If the opportunity arises, offer to connect others or share helpful insights. Being a connector positions you as a team player and someone who adds value beyond the immediate conversation.

This mindset positions you as a thoughtful communicator and proactive leader, qualities essential for success within your firm and the broader industry.

Treat conferences as opportunities to refine your skills and build connections-you’re investing in your career and your firm’s future.

Speak with confidence!

If you are a manager or supervisor of people, communication is the foundation of what you do. Unfortunately, many managers underestimate the value of the communication coming from the people below them in their organization—theirdirect reports.

Yet those at the bottom level of organizations—front-line workers—have a front-row seat to issues that arise on the most basic level for organizations. So why do managers so often fail to listen to their direct reports when it comes to proposing new ways of doing things that solve organizational problems?

Put briefly, thinking from the Industrial Age suggests that workers are just cogs in the machine, not thinkers with ideas that can be useful. Therefore, these front-line workers should do their jobs and keep their mouths shut. This thinking limits the possibilities for organizations to surface and solve problems that managers and those higher up in the organizations may not realize exist. Instead, managers should engage in a healthy dose of “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) and tap into this hidden resource.

All it takes to do so is a simple communication skill: listening. Inviting your direct reports to share ideas and solutions with you and then truly listening can go a long way toward improving the whole company.

Here are the steps to excellent listening:

• First, get ready to listen. You must prepare yourself to put aside other concerns in your mind and open it to hearing what this person is trying to share with you.
• Second, pay attention! Remove yourself from any distractions–screens or anything else–and fully place your focus on your direct report.
• Third, control your biases. Forget that this person is “below you” on the food chain and imagine they are a highly-paid consultant who has closely analyzed your business.
• Fourth, separate fact from feeling. Recognize what can be observed (seen, touched, counted) as fact and what is a feeling or an evaluation by yourself or another person.
• Fifth, use paralanguage. Encourage the speaker with your non-verbal cues and your tone of voice as you respond to them.
• Finally, paraphrase back to the speaker. To make sure you have understood their meaning, from their point of view, rephrase back to them what you believe they have said. And then give them an opportunity to correct you if you have misunderstood.

Changing the way you view your direct reports can yield unexpected benefits and solutions to problems you didn’t even know were there. All it takes is careful attention to listening when an opportunity arises. Now,go forth and listen!