Just because you don’t know the reason doesn’t mean there’s not one.

One of my favorite bloggers recently wrote a post questioning why cab drivers ask you what time your flight is when they’re driving you to the airport. His point was: Why ask the question when the answer won’t affect how fast you can get me there? It’s only adding unproductive tension. I usually think this ... Continue Reading

One super easy Zoom fix

Put your camera at eye level. Get a cheap shelf that’s made to hold up your laptop, or stack up some books. Check the height by turning on your camera and checking your gorgeous self out. Can you see a bunch of the ceiling behind you? Is the fan coming out of your head? Can ... Continue Reading

The magnifying power of intention

Let’s say you discover you’ve dropped the ball on something at work, and four of your team members are affected. It’s immediately clear to you that it’s your fault, and you feel bad. This is a prime opportunity for default intention to rear its head. You might want to defend yourself, to shift the blame, ... Continue Reading

Cut to the chase.

In movies, this means “get to the part where the action happens.” Literally, “cut to the chase scene.” In your talks, stories, and presentations, the same principle applies. Get to the good stuff. Limit the exposition and explanation. Think: if the audience only hears one thing, what should it be? You have only seconds to ... Continue Reading

Working from home–what are the boundaries?

“…remote working alone is not as problematic as the prospect of doing it for an indefinite time. We don’t know what it means for our general life plans and lifestyle, and we’re unable to make key logistical decisions, including where to live, what to expect for our long-term career prospects and employability, and how to ... Continue Reading

“I’m bad at that.”

Last week, I was coaching a client, let’s call him Rob, who was preparing for a course he would be leading. The topic was time management, and as Rob began, he said, “I’m bad at time management! Some of the areas I struggle with are…” and he listed two or three specific challenges he faced. ... Continue Reading

PSA: Cool new Zoom update!

My colleague Anne texted me late one night this week with some very exciting Zoom news!  Drumroll, please… You can rearrange the gallery view of participants to suit your needs!!  This is really helpful for facilitators, teachers, and instructors. Imagine, you want to be able to have people speak in a specific order, or to ... Continue Reading

Create a new “container” for your virtual meeting space

Ignite CSP founder and senior coach Angie Flynn-McIver shares a few thoughts about what it means to create deliberate space for your virtual interactions:

Coco Chanel and your presentation

“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Coco Chanel was talking about accessories, but the same idea can be applied to your presentation. Some of us have a tendency to want to cover everything we know about a topic when we’re asked to present. We feel like we’re ... Continue Reading

Move from “practiced” to “present”

We have all seen people speak or perform when it’s apparent that they’ve done this same piece the same way dozens of times. The voice finds a certain cadence and they anticipate specific audience reactions. There is a filter between themselves and the audience. They are watching  themselves perform. These folks are practiced.  They get ... Continue Reading