The Blog / Archive

A lot of us learned this format in high school English class: your introduction lays out your theme and the three points you want to make to support the theme, then you explain each point, then you wrap it up with a summary. Perhaps because we learned this in Ms. Williamson’s class in 11th grade, it might feel like, as adults, we should be doing something more sophisticated. The old essay form is kinda, y’know, basic. But hear me out. One thing your talk needs is structure, and we know that audiences can’t really hold a lot of information in … Read more

In many exercise programs, you’re asked to assess your “rate of perceived exertion,” or RPE. On a scale of 1 to 10, how hard are you working? From 0-2 is low effort, you can talk; from 3-4, you can still have a conversation but it’s tougher; from 5-6, you’re getting uncomfortable; 7-8, things are getting pretty difficult, and 9-10 are maximum effort. This helps us figure out how hard we’re working relative to what we’re trying to achieve, and it’s pretty standard fare for monitoring physical exertion.  I want to think about how to apply this same idea to mental, intellectual, … Read more

This post isn’t about communication skills, intention, or some little thing I noticed recently that I thought I’d pass along. No, it’s just a chance for me to share something that’s making me happy lately. I have shared in this space that I’ve recently gotten really into bird watching. The birds in our backyard—goldfinches, Carolina chickadees, cardinals, bluejays, woodpeckers—make me smile every time I look out and see them. Though I have three feeders in my yard, and one I can see from my office window, this isn’t enough. Happily, the Cornell University Lab has a camera trained on its … Read more

We are all in such an interesting moment in history right now, in so many ways. One is that employees are collectively realizing that circumstances they used to take for granted aren’t necessarily the way it “has to be.” From Amazon workers unionizing to the Great Resignation, the people who are at the heart of any organization are standing up and being heard. What does this mean for those of us who are, have, or work with employees? My good friend Donna Cutting is a customer service specialist. She’s a genius in thinking about how companies can put their best … Read more

6 steps to create a speech you will know without memorizing: 1) Jot down the basic outline of your presentation on index cards, one per idea or topic. 2) Compose your speech out loud. Don’t write it down first. As you find elements that work for you, you can make a (brief) note on an index card. 3) Practice in small chunks. In the shower, in the car, while you’re waiting in line.  4) Whenever you’re worried or anxious about the presentation, stop what you’re doing and practice. Out loud. Even five minutes makes a difference. 5) Spend some focused … Read more

The playwright, essayist, Macarthur Fellow, and now memoirist Sarah Ruhl is a writer I really love. I got to direct her play In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) a few years ago, and her unique combination of insight into the juicy and difficult parts of human relationships, what it truly means to love and grow, and transcendent forgiveness is exactly the kind of play it’s a delight for me to dive into. My latest experience with her work is her 2021 memoir, Smile: The Story of a Face. In this book, she details her journey with Bell’s palsy, which afflicted … Read more

I have always been a big reader. Keeping a list of what I’ve read has always been a fun way to look back on the year. My reading tastes have shifted somewhat. Since 2020, I’ve found myself devouring mystery series, the more British the better, one after the next. But thanks to the two book clubs I’m in, I’ve managed to read a few books that defy that genre! Here are my favorites from what I read in 2021: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker  I have probably recommended this book more than anything else I read all year. … Read more