Managing questions-and-answers is the real test of your knowledge, credibility and confidence. Yet most individuals get too comfortable during Q&A, thinking the most difficult part of their conversation – presentation, sales pitch or high-stakes meeting – is over....
Most people recognize that feedback is essential to development, yet we tend not to welcome it. Perhaps we’d rather avoid what we may hear. Receiving feedback tends to make us feel vulnerable. We are afraid that our faults – and we all have them – will be exposed. The...
If you want to avoid jeopardizing your influence, you need to eliminate these phrases, which I hear every week during client calls, meetings and presentations. I’ll try. What you’re really saying is, “I’m not going to get this done.” A “yes” or “no” response...
Over the past 12 years I’ve been blessed to mentor powerful leaders across a variety of industries. I’m not sure if they realize how much I have learned from them. One of the many pearls of wisdom they have shared is in answering, “What skills are critical to your...
Lack of Follow-Through.Commit to the 24-hour rule. Respond to emails and phone messages within 24 hours. Even if you don’t have the answer or information requested, let the sender know you’re working on the action request. Follow through on your word. Don’t make...
