There is a lot of confusion about being assertive vs being aggressive. Here is some guidance, or at least food for thought that might add some clarity. Assertive behaviors Aggressive behaviors are the converse A word of caution The caution about trying to avoid aggressiveness and replacing it with assertiveness is that some people will take it too far the other way… […]
Your ability to get others to respond, buy-in, support, authorize, advocate, and generally do what you ask them, depends entirely on your ability to positively influence. Here are three elements to consider working on to improve your influencing superpowers: 1. Be Consistent For people to be influenced to want to follow you, they must feel safe. Consistency […]
ChatGPT was launched in November 2022 with the capability to rapidly generate text on any topic. Suddenly, articles could be written at the push of a button. Within months, science fiction magazines found themselves flooded with AI-generated content, forcing them to block submissions. Social media platforms are not discouraging AI-generated content. LinkedIn has built AI […]
The job you have always wanted is within your grasp. Qualifications, experience, and knowledge have taken you into the 2% of candidates applying for jobs who are selected for interview. The pressure is on, but remember, at its core, an interview is a conversation. It’s a speaking exercise. A chat. It’s something you do every day. To help you […]
Each time I get on a stage or walk to the front of the classroom, I’m still nervous, but I also have nervous energy flowing through me as well. I have learned over the years some important ways to work with my nervous energy and get to the important piece of knowledge-sharing. No matter your reason for getting […]
February 26, 2026
Categorized in: Speaking
Do you want to communicate with confidence, keep audiences engaged, and finish with people wanting more? Strong public speaking is a career accelerator for Assistants and an essential skill when supporting executives.Here are 12 practical tips to elevate your impact. 1. Know Your Audience Understand who you are speaking to and what they expect. Research attendees in advance. […]
January 28, 2026
Categorized in: Speaking
You will sometimes hear people say that networking does not work. That has not been my experience. Networking supported my career when I worked in a large organization, and it has been essential in building my business since then. That said, networking only works when it is done well. Certain habits can quickly undermine your […]
January 28, 2026
Categorized in: Speaking
Introversion is often misunderstood in the workplace. It’s not about shyness or a lack of confidence — it’s about how we gain and expend energy. While extroverts tend to feel energized by being around people, introverts may also enjoy collaboration but require quiet time afterward to recharge. When it comes to meetings and presentations, introversion […]
December 31, 2025
Categorized in: Speaking
Research shows that audiences remember only 25–50% of a speech a few days after hearing it—and after a few weeks, that number can drop to as little as 10%. While that statistic may sound discouraging, it’s actually an invitation: a challenge to design your message so it truly sticks. Whether you’re presenting in a meeting, […]
My last 10 years in the workplace have allowed me to witness increasingly common issues with communication skills, perhaps accelerated by mobile device use and combined with the evolutionary progress of generations. Society may debate the state of socialization and upbringing of youth, yet this is not my experience. I observe these challenges across all […]