Just Saying - The BRIEF Lab

Wanting to be clear and concise, doesn’t mean that you are. As you listen to advice on how to become an intentional communicator, you may wonder how to assess your skills. In this week’s episode, I unveil a free BRIEF Communication Assessment to gauge your strengths and weaknesses in four important categories. To take the short survey, please go to  https://thebrieflab.com The post Ep. 265 – How d...

Quiet is defined as the absence of noise. It not only deserves a set time and daily appointment but also a designated place where you can go to be comfortable and concentrate, with limited or no distractions. In reality, people struggle to find that place in a sea of noise. In this episode, I share my story and how I found a space at work, home and on the road. The post Ep. 264 – Finding my quiet...

Many of the meetings we attend or lead simply need to be completely blown up and rebuilt entirely. Maybe the original intent has been altered, or we have fallen into a rhythm and routine and lowered the bar too low. Sometimes, we just might need to have a meeting to design all the ones that don’t work. The post Ep. 263 – Meetings redesigned and redefined appeared first on Just Saying .

Every day, we drop acronyms all around us, saving many people time while unwittingly confusing others. In this episode, I share a brief perspective on the risks and rewards of using acronyms. If you heed my advice, you’re GTG; if not, you might be PNG or SOL. The post Ep. 262 – The ABC’s of Acronyms appeared first on Just Saying .

Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. This time of year (all the time, for that matter) is a great time to quietly contemplate – and take note of – all the things in our lives that we are grateful for, from the simple to the profound. The post Call back Episode – Episode 214 Thanksgiving: notes of gratitude appeared first on Just Saying .

We may be the root cause of our co-workers’ struggle to concentrate. Throughout the day, professionals disrupt each other thoughtlessly. In this episode, I provide a list of considerations we need to remember so that we avoid the urge to interrupt each other constantly. By taking ownership of these powerful impulses to distract, we can become a force of focus to others. The post Ep. 261 – Pardon t...

Ari Sandel, an Academy Award-winning film director, sends an unexpected thank-you note to my team upon learning we share his speech in our BRIEF courses. In this episode, I break down the mechanics of his delivery and how it is a stellar example of clarity and brevity on a big, stressful stage. Links:   The post Ep. 260 – An unforgettable Oscar speech comes full circle appeared first on Just...

Sometimes, it’s easier to say nothing. However, if enough people go silent, the negative impact may spread unnoticed. Whether it’s getting quiet quitters to voice their concerns or people to share something that doesn’t work for them, there’s a reward that’s worth the risk. In this episode, I share five simple considerations to have more impactful conversations that could lead to change. The post...

The catchy term of “quiet quitters” seems to have quickly spread and taken hold. Though it is widely discussed, it’s not clear if the banter centers more on a long list of symptoms. In this episode, I go deeper into a potential root cause of this phenomenon and the fundamental role disquiet might play.   Links: If Your Co-Workers Are ‘Quiet Quitting,’ Here’s What That Means   The post Ep...

The word “good” can sometimes be too good to be true. Imagine if you ask someone how they were doing or how a project was going, and that was their immediate answer. Then, you discover later that their answer was wildly different. In this episode, I discuss why your main point needs to be on point and not vague or misleading. The post Ep. 257 – When your bland point needs sharpening appeared first...

In this episode, I share the simplicity and power of using a BRIEF Map as a communication tool. In a variety of moments from pitches and presentations, to meetings and updates, this proprietary visual outlining method ensures that information is consistently clear, concise and compelling. The post Ep. 256 – BRIEF Map Basics appeared first on Just Saying .

Texting is an evolving medium that everyone considers themselves a self-proclaimed master. In reality, texting is writing. In this episode, I share a few professional considerations when sending and replying that may make you reconsider your current approach. The post Ep. 255 – To text or not to text? appeared first on Just Saying .

One of the most important roles of any successful professional is to lead a program (or project) to completion. Throughout the entire process, from start to finish, many different stakeholders need to hear a clean overview that conveys the right level of detail and connects with their motivations and interests. Getting the executive summary wrong at any time might mean losing support, funding, cla...

Crafting a good elevator pitch can be perplexing, with risks that range from sounding too scripted and super cheesy to boring and bland. In this episode, I provide some straightforward guidelines to help you explain your role in terms that allow you to answer a seemingly tough question comfortably, confidently, and concisely. The post Ep. 253 – So what do you do? appeared first on Just Saying .

As passing the milestone of my 250 th episode, I decide to reveal some broader and deeper personal background about what motivates me. In this episode, I go back and retrace what I have done over my career to stitch together a narrative that explains why I do what I do professionally. The post Ep. 252 – Why I do what I do appeared first on Just Saying .

All writers need encouragement. Recently, I discovered Elmore Leonard’s 10 rules of writing. Upon further investigation, I found and decided to share some fun and insightful writing tips from a variety of writers like George Orwell, E.B. White and even a social activist nun.   https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/tips-masters/elmore-leonard-10-rules-for-good-writing   The post Ep. 251...

If you’re trying to focus to get some important work done and cannot be interrupted, how do the people around you know not to bother you? In this episode, I share a few simple tips to ensure that there are clear signs to protect your attention, so that everyone leaves you alone for some needed much needed quiet concentration.   Videos Apple: https://youtu.be/bIROaMUeOPE Android: https://youtu...

Challenge yourself and others to stop running from task to task, meeting to meeting and e-mail to e-mail. Take 60 seconds just to think. Whether it’s before you start, or after you finish, there is a prime opportunity to make a quick minute work for yourself throughout the day. The post Ep. 249 – One minute of quiet, please! appeared first on Just Saying .

Imagine an undisciplined, overambitious person who tries to juggle way too many thoughts, words, and actions. In this episode, I challenge you to focus on one thing at a time to avoid being scattered and confusing yourself and others along the way. The post Ep. 248 – One vs many (things to think, say and do) appeared first on Just Saying .

In this installment, I summarize two related Harvard Business Review articles that tackle the excesses of collaboration. In one, Microsoft leaders reveal research that brought them much closer to the root cause of employee fulfillment. In another, a university professor surveys professionals on how they believe they need to collaborate with each other and the impact it has on overload and burnout....

Imagine if someone at work approached you and said, “you should proof-read your e-mails before sending them.” Or picture a family member or friend saying, “you shouldn’t eat out so much.” In general, people do not like being told what to do. However, there are many times we need to tell them. In this episode, we explore a better way to get them to be open and listen to our suggestions without tuni...

Imagine if your boss told your team in a very calm, matter-of-fact tone that your answers just weren’t good enough. In this episode, I share how this very incident happened to a corporate leader and his team and how to overcome the harsh realities of not meeting expectations and falling far short of a high goal. The post Ep. 245 – When your answers aren’t good enough appeared first on Just Saying...

Some people approach any writing assignment with trepidation and apprehension. Can I get my point across? Will I be able to say it the right way? What can I do if I’m not sure of my ability to convey my thoughts? On the other extreme, some people dive right into writing assignments are fearlessly, filled with inflated confidence and little concern. In this episode, I talk to both people and give s...

A random experience having lunch at Jimmy John’s got me thinking about a deep problem: why aren’t we ever satisfied? In this episode, I unpack a provocative quote hanging at a local fast-food sandwich shop and share a deeper insight that may help you close the gap between more and enough. The post Ep. 243 – When is more enough? appeared first on Just Saying .

How can you become more realistic and grounded when you communicate and interact with people? Are you setting your sights consistently way too high? Have you become an all-or-nothing person in your expectations? In this episode, I share a powerful way of defining what success looks like minimally to keep you satisfied and on track. The post Ep. 242 – The minimum definition of success appeared firs...