In his quintessential keynote at the University of Maryland 2025 commencement, Kermit the Frog shared three points that he described as close to his heart. And I embraced them as well! I can’t even recall who spoke at my own college commencement ceremonies all those years ago. However, I’m incredibly proud of earning both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at…
Rephrase for better communication results. Making a few small adjustments in how we phrase things can increase our chances of getting cooperation and connection. Years ago, I arrived on-site to deliver a keynote for a corporate event. Surprisingly, it was my second year in a row speaking to this group. Typically, organizations bring in a different speaker each year, so…
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” This timeless quote from Mother Teresa perfectly captures the positive impact that simple acknowledgments can have. Yet, as a supervisor balancing deadlines and deliverables, it’s sometimes a struggle to find time to recognize top team members—especially when your energy may be drained due to difficult…
Why bother to banish bad behavior? It’s tempting to ignore it, hoping it will go away on its own—but the reality is that it rarely does. More often, unchecked negativity festers and spreads, impacting your entire team’s morale and performance. As a supervisor or leader, one of the most challenging yet essential tasks is addressing bad behavior within your team.…
“Speak in anger and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” This popular quote is a cautionary tale of what could happen if we let our emotions get the best of us. Yet, it’s understandable to have an emotional reaction when you receive criticism. You may feel defensive. You may want to explain yourself and defend your actions. So…
It’s easy to work together better when things are going well, but inevitably there will be conflicts, confusion and miscommunication that need to be addressed. The words we choose can make or break the way we work—especially when things are not going as planned. What does that look like in real life? Communicate with Candor—And Kindness We work together better…
Life has a way of presenting us with unexpected challenges. It sometimes makes us feel like we’re being pushed off a cliff rather than taking a deliberate leap. As the saying goes, we must learn to grow wings on the way down. In a recent interview, I shared my story of deciding to take the leap into my own speaking…
“People do business with those they know, like and trust,” according to the popular expression. As such, it benefits us to know how to use communication skills to make more meaningful conversations. I recently quoted those wise words when I was interviewed by Reader’s Digest Magazine for a communication article: How to Talk to Pretty Much Anyone. I also shared…
Sadly, it seems that the ability to disagree without destroying the relationship is a lost art. People seem to have forgotten how to constructively express their differences of opinion without digressing into a name-calling free-for-all. Interactions on social media are an exasperating example of our society’s loss of civility—especially during these unprecedented times. Certainly, there are times when the other…
In the words of Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist “How people treat others is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves.” As such, finding ways to feel good about ourselves helps us to be better able to interact more positively with others. What do you do that gives you that all-is-well-in-the-universe feeling and makes you feel good…