Have you observed how so many people these days spew out their thoughts and opinions seemingly without thinking about or considering the impact that their words will have? My friend and colleague, Dr Shirley Garrett (www.SpeakLikeAPro.com), never fails to remind her communication coaching clients and the executives in her training classes that words do indeed matter. One’s choice of words, the tone in which they’re delivered, and the intention behind them carry more power than many people realize. We fail to think before letting the words rush out of our mouths. I read something recently that’s attributed to Bernard Meltzer. (Who? I know. I never heard of him either.) A quick Google search revealed that Bernard Meltzer was the host of a… [Read More]

How quick we are to criticize. How quick we are to seek out a weakness in someone in order to shine a light on it or become defensive when our own weaknesses are pointed out. How quick we are to find fault rather than look for what is good and right and positive in others. How quick we are to judge without knowing all the facts. Maybe we think that by tearing down others, we elevate ourselves. Maybe our own feelings of self-doubt create such insecurities that we try to make ourselves look good by making others look bad. Maybe it’s human nature, or maybe we’ve been influenced by those in the public eye who take the faultfinding, disparaging approach… [Read More]

“How much?!!?! You gotta be kidding!” That was my response when I learned the cost of one minute of advertising for Sunday’s Super Bowl. Yep, $11,200,000 a minute! (For those like me who are unaccustomed to such large numbers, that’s $11 million, 200 thousand!) That’s a lot of money, and it’s the price that advertisers paid to get your attention and deliver their message. Advertisers know that messages are powerful. They know that presenting the right message at the right time in the right way to the right demographic can cause viewers like you and me to fork over our hard-earned money – be it $1.85 for a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos or $185,000 for a Porsche Taycan Turbo… [Read More]

I’ve recently encountered a number of people who suffer from glossophobia. People of all ages, education levels, and positions are susceptible. For some, it starts at an early age; for others it’s the result of what, for them, was a traumatic event, and for still others, it can strike unexpectedly. You may be saying, “Yikes! What is glossophobia?” “Is it contagious?” “How do I know if I have it?” And, most importantly, “Is there a cure?” Believe me, you know if you have it. And fortunately, there is a cure. Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. It comes from the Greek term glossa, meaning tongue, and phobos, fear or dread. According to some studies, speaking in front of a… [Read More]

You’ve heard it, haven’t you? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Really? How many of you have been stung by words hurled at you like stones or had your spirit crushed and beaten down with comments that feel like flogging sticks? It’s happened to all of us. Harsh words are painful and remembered, burned into our psyches like hot branding irons that leave ugly, long-lasting scars. On the other hand, do you also carry in your heart and mind words of encouragement, caring, appreciation, praise, assurance, love? Words spoken by others that have healed, built strength, imbued confidence? I hope so. And what about the words you say to yourself? The messages you… [Read More]