Leaders face a lot of problems, but poor communication is one they often create for themselves. In fact, nine in ten employees say it sabotages the success of executives, according to one study. The same study found the second biggest problem area for leaders was a lack of clear directions. I think this probably applies […]
Communication
3 Ways You’re Giving up Power with Your Words
Our words can be powerful tools to accomplish our goals. But sometimes the things we say can sabotage our success. I have led, counseled, and mentored people for decades now. One thing I’ve noticed time and again is how much power our words possess. Whether we’re speaking, blogging, selling, or debating, we rely on our […]
What the Success of Slack Can Teach Us about Creating Winning Products
I love watching people succeed, especially if I can learn something I can apply in my own life and share with you. That’s why I’m excited about what I learned from watching Slack’s success this year. Slack is a communications tool that enables natural and effective team collaboration. The company, started by Stewart Butterfield, the […]
How to Become the Most Valuable Player on Your Team
All the major sports leagues celebrate their best players. But what if there were a Most Valuable Player award for your team? Would you take home the prize? When I was CEO of Thomas Nelson we established different awards for individuals, service groups, and profit centers. The winners received public recognition, banners, trophies, and prizes. […]
How to Make a Big Change Without Blowing Up Your Business
Whenever an organization rolls out a major change, clarity and alignment are essential. Without those two things all the best intentions amount to little more than heartburn and headaches. As a leader responsible for a large company, I have experienced the difficulty of getting clarity and creating alignment with my team. In one instance, we […]
How to Get Over Your Fear of Public Speaking
According to psychologists, most people have a greater fear of public speaking than of death. As someone who trains speakers professionally, I can attest this is true. It certainly was for me. Even after I had been speaking publicly for years, I still struggled with fear. Even when I was well-prepared. This happened nearly every […]
How to Create a Life-Changing Presentation
Life-changing presentations share a set of common attributes. In this guest post, John Richardson elaborates on his SPARK method.
What Are You Doing to Become a Better Speaker?
Becoming a better public speaker is important for almost every career. Whether you are in middle management, a corporate executive, a pastor, or an author, DCW can make you a better, more polished communicator.
How to Take Your Speaking to the Next Level
You can take your speaking t the next level. One of the best ways to do this is by attending the Dynamic Communicators Workshop on May 2–5. I’ll be there. Will you?
How to Avoid a Public Backlash When Introducing a Major Organizational Change
The TSA is suffering a backlash in the court of public opinion. This entire mess was largely avoidable. How? Through a better executed communications strategy.
The Importance of a Leader’s Heart
The most important thing you can do as a leader is to keep your heart open.
…Maintaining an open heart—pumping possibility through your organization—is the most important thing you can do as a leader.
Email Etiquette 101
The use of e-mail in corporate culture is pervasive. I rarely get letters any more. Even phone calls are uncommon. But I get scores of e-mail messages every day. Yet, I am continually surprised at how people often misuse this medium. Therefore, I would like to humbly offer up 18 suggestions for better e-mail communication and etiquette: