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Some people just don’t know much and others really don’t know what they don’t know. Regardless if they are smart, uniformed, or a dim bulb with no experience, we may need to talk with them and get them up to speed. In this episode, I encourage you not to get annoyed, talk over them or […] The post Ep. 271 – Communicating to someone who is clueless appeared first on Just Saying.

At the end of a long day or week, imagine how you might feel about listening to someone give you a detailed update, share a complaint or start a planning discussion. It happens too frequently without us knowing or acknowledging it. In this episode, we provide some insights and guidance to help you connect to […] The post Ep. 270 – Communicating to someone who is tired appeared first on Just Saying.

Imagine if you had to present to someone who was brilliant. How would you talk, what would they say and how would you manage the conversation with them? Moments spent communicating to highly intelligent people are filled with risks, no doubt. In this episode, I give you some of my advice on what’s worked when […] The post Ep. 269 – Communicating to someone who is really smart appeared first on Just Saying.

Busy people are always complaining about how little time they have. In reality, they have plenty of time yet run from it and spend bits and pieces of their day creating and consuming noise. In this week’s episode, I share a different perspective on time management that will challenge you to get off the hamster […] The post Ep. 268 – Running from time (not out of it) appeared first on Just Saying.

Looking back and ahead, what concrete steps are we taking to become better communicators? In this episode, I reflect on the past 12 months and set our sights on a new year to become an elite communicator who consistently thinks and says what really matters. The post Ep. 267 – A year in review and one ahead appeared first on Just Saying.

Why are you waiting for someone to make a decision that’s yours to make? Why are you standing in line for approvals, sitting in meetings for a decision and writing another e-mail for the go-ahead, when you could be moving forward to make things happen? In this episode, I challenge you to have a conversation […] The post Ep. 266 – Why am I waiting for an empowered conversation? appeared first on Just Saying.

Wanting to be clear and concise, doesn’t mean that you are. As you listen to advice on how to become an intentional communicator, you may wonder how to assess your skills. In this week’s episode, I unveil a free BRIEF Communication Assessment to gauge your strengths and weaknesses in four important categories. To take the […] The post Ep. 265 – How do you know if you’re clear and concise? appeared first on Just Saying.

Quiet is defined as the absence of noise. It not only deserves a set time and daily appointment but also a designated place where you can go to be comfortable and concentrate, with limited or no distractions. In reality, people struggle to find that place in a sea of noise. In this episode, I share […] The post Ep. 264 – Finding my quiet space appeared first on Just Saying.

Many of the meetings we attend or lead simply need to be completely blown up and rebuilt entirely. Maybe the original intent has been altered, or we have fallen into a rhythm and routine and lowered the bar too low. Sometimes, we just might need to have a meeting to design all the ones that […] The post Ep. 263 – Meetings redesigned and redefined appeared first on Just Saying.

Every day, we drop acronyms all around us, saving many people time while unwittingly confusing others. In this episode, I share a brief perspective on the risks and rewards of using acronyms. If you heed my advice, you’re GTG; if not, you might be PNG or SOL. The post Ep. 262 – The ABC’s of Acronyms appeared first on Just Saying.

Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. This time of year (all the time, for that matter) is a great time to quietly contemplate – and take note of – all the things in our lives that we are grateful for, from the simple to the profound. The post Call back Episode – Episode 214 Thanksgiving: notes of gratitude appeared first on Just Saying.

We may be the root cause of our co-workers’ struggle to concentrate. Throughout the day, professionals disrupt each other thoughtlessly. In this episode, I provide a list of considerations we need to remember so that we avoid the urge to interrupt each other constantly. By taking ownership of these powerful impulses to distract, we can […] The post Ep. 261 – Pardon the interruption appeared first on Just Saying.

Ari Sandel, an Academy Award-winning film director, sends an unexpected thank-you note to my team upon learning we share his speech in our BRIEF courses. In this episode, I break down the mechanics of his delivery and how it is a stellar example of clarity and brevity on a big, stressful stage. Links:   The post Ep. 260 – An unforgettable Oscar speech comes full circle appeared first on Just Saying.

Sometimes, it’s easier to say nothing. However, if enough people go silent, the negative impact may spread unnoticed. Whether it’s getting quiet quitters to voice their concerns or people to share something that doesn’t work for them, there’s a reward that’s worth the risk. In this episode, I share five simple considerations to have more […] The post Ep. 259 – Speaking up (vs. saying nothing) appeared first on Just Saying.

The catchy term of “quiet quitters” seems to have quickly spread and taken hold. Though it is widely discussed, it’s not clear if the banter centers more on a long list of symptoms. In this episode, I go deeper into a potential root cause of this phenomenon and the fundamental role disquiet might play.   […] The post Ep. 258 – The disquiet of quiet quitters appeared first on Just Saying.

The word “good” can sometimes be too good to be true. Imagine if you ask someone how they were doing or how a project was going, and that was their immediate answer. Then, you discover later that their answer was wildly different. In this episode, I discuss why your main point needs to be on […] The post Ep. 257 – When your bland point needs sharpening appeared first on Just Saying.

In this episode, I share the simplicity and power of using a BRIEF Map as a communication tool. In a variety of moments from pitches and presentations, to meetings and updates, this proprietary visual outlining method ensures that information is consistently clear, concise and compelling. The post Ep. 256 – BRIEF Map Basics appeared first on Just Saying.

Texting is an evolving medium that everyone considers themselves a self-proclaimed master. In reality, texting is writing. In this episode, I share a few professional considerations when sending and replying that may make you reconsider your current approach. The post Ep. 255 – To text or not to text? appeared first on Just Saying.

One of the most important roles of any successful professional is to lead a program (or project) to completion. Throughout the entire process, from start to finish, many different stakeholders need to hear a clean overview that conveys the right level of detail and connects with their motivations and interests. Getting the executive summary wrong […] The post Ep. 254 – How to frame a solid program overview appeared first on Just Saying.

Crafting a good elevator pitch can be perplexing, with risks that range from sounding too scripted and super cheesy to boring and bland. In this episode, I provide some straightforward guidelines to help you explain your role in terms that allow you to answer a seemingly tough question comfortably, confidently, and concisely. The post Ep. 253 – So what do you do? appeared first on Just Saying.