A few years ago, the theater that my husband Charlie and I founded, NC Stage Company, needed a facelift. Our lobby wasn’t really working for us, audiences entered the theatre down a long narrow hallway, and things were just looking a little dingy. The staff made a plan. Paint chips! New furniture! We can have … Read more
Just thinking
I don’t know about you, but everybody I talk to lately is a little burned out, a little stressed, a little out of sorts. Maybe it’s the lingering effects of Covid and the uncertainty and stress that brings with it. Maybe it’s a tough time of year. Maybe we’re all going through some subterranean slow … Read more
We all know the ritual: two people see each other for the first time that day, or that week, or that month, and one says to the other: “How are you?” The other responds: “Fine, how are you?” The first person says, “I’m fine,” and everyone moves on. Recently I had this expectation upended. I … Read more
At any given moment, we can read about/sign up for a course/commit to working at whatever we think is going to make us “better.” Want to get fitter? Read more? Write that novel? Start your own side hustle? Meditate daily? The world is ready to point out how you can improve. I’m curious about what … Read more
Real dialogue is where two or more people become willing to suspend their certainty in each other’s presence. (David Bohm) What does this quote make you think or feel? When I think about “suspending certainty,” I feel a little uneasy. Certainty feels great! I can look around and find other people who share my certainty—that’s … Read more
To have presence, be present. Be truly present with the experience, with the people, with however you’re feeling about it. Instead of trying to remember what you practiced, connect with the people in the audience.Instead of loading your slides with information, invite questions.Instead of rushing to prove your point, demonstrate curiosity. Presence is demanding. It’s … Read more
“Executive presence” is one of those things, that, like the Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said about obscenity, “I know it when I see it.” In other words, it’s extremely subjective. Different pairs of eyes see different behaviors as demonstrating “executive presence.” Part of the important work we can do is to address our innate … Read more
Every person I have ever coached has a least one communication superpower. Even if they think they’re the worst speaker ever, they have something they do really well. One person has an incredible grasp of the details. Another person has an evocative and specific vocabulary. Yet another has a natural style that pulls people toward … Read more
Today’s post was originally sent out in May of 2019. In recognition of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I wanted to re-post it today. If you’d like to see Come From Away yourself, it starts airing today on Apple TV. Last week I got to see the musical “Come From Away” while … Read more
Recently I was part of a discussion that centered around a quote that read, in part: “Did I reach out as far as I could? Did I serve as many people as I could?” One point of view that came up was that these questions can put a lot of pressure on the listener. The … Read more
