Just Saying - The BRIEF Lab

Call back episode #143 recorded May 04, 2020 We are all using the term “virtual” these days but it can be terribly misleading. What are we really trying to say? The post Call Back Episode – Defining what “virtual” really means now appeared first on Just Saying .

Call back episode #142 recorded April 27, 2020 18 years ago, I was a tech marketer that developed (oddly enough) a sub-specialty in video teleconferencing (VTC) and its role in the SARS pandemic. Today, I marvel at what’s possible for all of us. The post Call Back Episode – VTC’s and me: seeing is believing appeared first on Just Saying .

Charley tackles questions about how to learn BRIEF principles outside of a team setting…and how to make them stick. The post Episode 199 – FAQ: How do I build the discipline of brevity on my own? appeared first on Just Saying .

I developed a tool that will help you avoid a lot of the issues that make meetings bad in the first place— a lack of advanced planning and organization. The BRIEF Meeting Prep Cards are a visual mapping tool to prepare for and run effective meetings.   Links: https://thebrieflab.com/tools/ The post Episode 198– BRIEF Meeting Prep Cards appeared first on Just Saying .

Charley interviews Cameron Cruse— military wife, entrepreneur, and successful Shark Tank contestant. R. Riveter’s line of American-made bags and accessories are all constructed by military spouses stationed throughout the country, providing mobile, flexible income to these modern-day Rosie the Riveters. Cameron shares her business journey and core insights as to how she prepared to give a clear ex...

The power of threes has this magical ability to center people. In just three simple words, you can be impactful, memorable, and finished. Test it out. The post Episode 196 – Just three words appeared first on Just Saying .

No one wants to hear that they are being long-winded. In this episode, Charley answers questions about how to provide feedback and share the BRIEF method in business and personal relationships. The post Episode 195 – FAQ: Sharing the BRIEF method appeared first on Just Saying .

Sometimes it’s impossible to connect with someone because of an all-consuming distraction happening in their life. We need to recognize those moments where it’s time to cut our audience loose and call a break. The post Episode 194 – I’ve Gotta Pee appeared first on Just Saying .

What is work going to look like post-pandemic? Charley sits down with Hellene Garcia from Neat , a company dedicated to providing advanced Zoom collaboration. The duo discusses hybrid work, finding work-life balance, and rebalancing communication in a post-pandemic world. The post Episode 193 – Be my guest: Hellene Garcia (Neat) on post-pandemic communication appeared first on Just Saying .

“Primer” is my newly released podcast that provides brief summaries to get you primed on a variety of subjects that matter personally to me. In each episode, I give my own quick take on people, books, events, issues, arts & entertainment, etc. More information can be found at www.personalprimer.com . The post Episode 192 – A primer on “Primer” (my new podcast) appeared first on Just Saying .

Our mindset affects how we use our attention. In this episode, Charley answers questions about how to develop mindsets that help us positively frame situations and turn obstacles into opportunities. The post Episode 191 – FAQ: Managing your mindset appeared first on Just Saying .

To be a better communicator, you need to know when it’s time to speak up and when it’s time to shut up. In this episode, I provide some counsel on how to be much more aware when it’s time to throttle up or throttle down. The post Episode 190 – Speak up, or shut up appeared first on Just Saying .

Charley sits down with Malachy Walsh, author of Socratic Scribbling. Malachy spent some 25 years at J. Walter Thompson working directly with some of the world’s favorite brands. His new book reveals how he was able to leave his mark in advertising, namely through classical rhetoric and a deep appreciation of the Great Books. The post Episode 189 – Be My Guest – Malachy Walsh Interview appear...

In this episode, I dive deeper into knowing your audience by sharing a proprietary tool we have developed to help you define who they are and how you want to engage them in much more concrete, realistic terms.   Download the DRAFT Card here: https://thebrieflab.com/tools/ The post Episode 188 – DRAFT Cards appeared first on Just Saying .

What do you do when you have a mixed audience and everyone needs different info?  Charley fields this question and several others on one of the most foundational communications skills: knowing who you are talking to.   The post Episode 187 – FAQ: Understanding your audience appeared first on Just Saying .

Our audience isn’t always seeing the person that we are. They are frequently seeing the person that we are not. In this episode, I talk about the importance of cleaning up your communication to show the world who you really are. The post Episode 186 – A distorted view appeared first on Just Saying .

Charley sits down with Dr. Breiter from the Northwestern University School of Medicine to discuss addiction, technology and why our brains desperately need quiet time. The post Episode 185 – Be my guest: Dr. Hans Breiter, Professor of Psychiatry appeared first on Just Saying .

We can engage in lengthy, thoughtful and endless discussions to the point where we are incapable of ever making a decision. We need to be more deliberate and decisive so we hear the word no quicker and we can move on with our lives. The post Episode 184 – Getting to no faster appeared first on Just Saying .

In our new FAQ segment, I address a series of questions surrounding how to take the principles of the books BRIEF and NOISE and make them work at home and in social situations. The post Episode 183 – FAQ: Being brief on the spot, away from work appeared first on Just Saying .

What would work (or life) look like if we could frequently and intentionally step away from technology for a moment or two? In this episode, I explore how giving yourself a break can strengthen your focus and help you gain some self-mastery. The post Episode 182 – Stepping away for a minute (from digital devices) appeared first on Just Saying .

Every day, there is something really important we have to do. Sometimes it’s obvious, but most times it’s not. If we are unprepared for these big moments, we are most susceptible to the noise all around us. The post Episode 181 – The big moment appeared first on Just Saying .

Charley digs into why headlines are disproportionately important, how to avoid becoming clickbait and when you should take the time to prepare a good headline. The post Episode 180 – FAQ: Better headlines build a bridge appeared first on Just Saying .

One way to lower the noise is to start and end every day with a short and powerful headline. In this episode, I share some ways to set the tone from your very first thought and end the day more intentionally the same way. The post Episode 179 – Daily headlines: 1st and last thought of the day appeared first on Just Saying .

Charley interviews popular comedian Aaron Weber on the importance of preparation, how to grab the audience’s attention quickly, and the power of laughter in all communications. Be sure to follow Aaron everywhere @ realaaronweber and at http://aaronwebercomedy.com/ . He is also the co-host of the popular podcast @natelandpodcast. The post Episode 178 – Be my guest: Aaron Weber, Comedian appea...

There’s no shortage of technical advice on how to manage your time better. In this episode, I keep it super simple: lowering the noise frees up lots of time. HBR article: https://hbr.org/2020/01/time-management-is-about-more-than-life-hacks The post Episode 177 – The morass of time management appeared first on Just Saying .