Just Saying - The BRIEF Lab

A recent “ice cream” incident at a restaurant got me thinking about my immediate reaction when I first saw Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. Spoiler alert: my two words were, “that’s it?” In this episode, I talk about managing expectations as a deliberate communicator. The post Ep. 349 – Managing Expectations (Two Words When I Saw Plymouth Rock) appeared first on Just Saying .

Do you find it a struggle to engage in formal, one-on-one conversations at work? For many managers and subordinates, these scheduled exchanges can seem stale, fruitless and stiff. By approaching them as a pointed and personal conversation with specific questions in mind, we can make them memorable and impactful on both sides. The post Ep. 348 – Three questions to improve your next one-on-one appea...

Going deeper can be quite difficult, especially when there’s so much competing for our attention. Our value and impact are greatly diminished by impulsively skimming the surface and chasing the least important thing and most tempting text. In this episode, I share insights from three profound business books that might help you answer this question honestly – and quickly. The post Ep. 347 – Do you...

Are we spending enough time thinking about what’s critical for us today, this week, or this month? Are we talking about it in clear and concise terms? And are we actually getting our MPP done consistently. In this episode, I make the connection between deliberate preparation and predictable execution. The post Ep. 346 – Defining your most pressing priority (MPP) appeared first on Just Saying .

The term bottom-line-up-front (BLUF) is widely known in military and governments circles. Regardless of how many people are familiar with the acronym, most end up delivering the bottom line at the bottom (or BLAB). This isn’t what busy, attention-starved audiences really want yet are forced to accept. The post Ep. 345 – Why does BLUF frequently turn into BLAB? appeared first on Just Saying .

What would you likely do if given a few extra minutes while waiting for someone to arrive? Or standing in line? Or in-between meetings? In this episode, I discuss how our impulsive tendency to grab our smartphone or keep on consuming information is what makes us squander magic moments of quiet and settle for more noise. The post Ep. 344 – How you might abuse a few minutes of free time appeared fir...

Professionals often overemphasize the value of collaborative work. Time spent together is frequently less valuable because we buy into underlying falsehoods without question or deeper critical concern. In this episode, I highlight three lies we believe that hurt how we work together and alone.   The post Ep. 343 – Three Lies about Collaboration appeared first on Just Saying .

What if your words of “wisdom” turn out to lead others to damaging results.  Many people inadvertently and impulsively blurt out a “you should” or a “you shouldn’t” without really thinking through the recommendations, guidance and counsel they are dishing out. The post Ep. 342 – Giving Bad Advice appeared first on Just Saying .

A few words can pack a punch. As you look to add tools and techniques to become an elite communicator, you need three flavors of a short saying in your toolbox. In this episode, I share three versions of concise sayings that can be memorable, impactful and brief. The post Ep. 341 – Adages, Aphorisms and Epigrams appeared first on Just Saying .

What really happens when your credibility is lost? Finding inspiration from a memorable audition scene in the movie “Walk the Line,” I isolate three different moments when people’s trust in us seriously erodes. In none of these instances should we lay blame on our audience, but need to take a look in the mirror to understand what we did to provoke it.   The post Ep. 340 – I don’t believe you...

Time matters and when we lose track of it, we can devalue it and cause others to start to tune us out. Keeping track of time not only is what professionals do, but also what elite communicators know how to master. In this episode, I cite five distinct moments to zero in on the precious seconds and minutes that will set us apart. The post Ep. 339 – Managing the clock like a pro appeared first on Ju...

Poorly run meetings are often a bi-product of people repeating bad habits they have experienced over time. Creating meetings that drive collaboration and connection – either in-person or online – means following a few best practices. In this week’s podcast, I share five key considerations that will help you facilitate better discussions, no matter when or where they happen.   The post Ep. 338...

When you have something important to announce, do you take more time thinking about the messages you want to deliver than the people you’re empowering to deliver them? Critical information may never get through to the right audiences because leadership teams are too concerned about framing the right words and not spending enough time arming people to carry them.  In this episode, I provide three s...

I f something doesn’t make sense, how does that feel? As you endure a long and confusing explanation, what is likely to happen next? When you expect clarity yet dive deeper in the weeds, what chaos will likely ensue? In this episode, I create a laundry list of the real struggles that your audience is forced to endure when the point is buried or missing completely. The post Ep. 336 – What happens w...

Flagging is a simple, powerful and predictable technique to get people’s attention and keep it.  Earlier in my career, I learned it from a media trainer and was mesmerized by its immediate impact. In this episode, I not only explain what flagging is but also provide three ways to use it to capture and captivate an elusive audience. The post Ep. 335 – Flagging, Flagging, Flagging appeared first on...

Every executive or leader I’ve encountered all think that they are clear. Nobody thinks to themselves, “wow, was I so confusing in that last conversation!” What seems perfectly logical and reasonable in your head, often sounds confusing when it’s said aloud. This week, I share four distinct possibilities that might contribute to your tendency to baffle people with your brilliance. The post Ep. 334...

Imagine the odd feeling of standing in silence on a long elevator ride filled with a mix of friends and strangers.  Enduring silence can be a momentary reality in conversations, interviews, meetings and presentations. It can feel uncomfortable, strange and even embarrassing. Rather than look at it as cringeworthy, we need to manage and even embrace saying nothing, and not fill unwanted dead space...

You expect a leader to talk like one. However, in a variety of moments professionals talk like amateurs. They speak over and for their subordinates, dilute their own words, and pull punches with weak, apologetic language. In this episode, I share three simple practices that can make you sound like you really run the place. The post Ep. 332 – Three Ways to Communicate Like a Boss appeared first on...

Like a picture hanging on a wall, any message must periodically be adjusted, cleaned, and even rehung entirely.  Communication can easily get tired, out-of-date, and unattractive. Our opportunity is to first notice this is the case, then to step in and reframe the message that is deliberately organized, undeniably appealing and clearly explained. The post Ep. 331 – Reframing a Message to Regain Fo...

If something doesn’t matter, why do we keep talking about it? As you sit in enough meetings and conversations, you can easily conclude that people spend a lot of time mindlessly doing this. It not only wastes tons of time, but also induces professionals to feel helpless, unfocused, and fruitless at work. In this episode, I challenge you to define what really matters and start saying no to all the...

Recent research indicates that spending time online, especially on social media, fundamentally changes our perception of time. If asked how much time do you think you actually spend online each day, would your answer be accurate? In this episode, I challenge you to rethink the time you allocate online (versus what you get in return), while not arguing to turn it off completely.   https://www....

One of the most important aspects about effective communication is being able to get what you want. Whether it’s landing a sale, gaining a leader’s support, or securing a new promotion, we are trying to take aim on a targeted objective and often end up missing the mark entirely. In this week’s episode, I share a perspective on the differences between needs and wants, and ways to zero in on exactly...

What drains your time every day? For many professionals, it is long meetings, useless e-mails, and endless conversations. During these moments, we feel helpless and frustrated. In this episode, I share some practical advice that will help you confidently manage the noise, not carelessly succumb to it. The post Ep. 328 – Getting Out of Time Sucks appeared first on Just Saying .

Great leaders learn to earn people’s attention. Others fall far short by assuming they have it and treat people like a captive audience. I recall two different leaders and explain how one bombed –and didn’t know it the entire time – while another shined – and didn’t bask too long in the bright lights. The post Ep. 327 – Can you command attention? appeared first on Just Saying .

After seeing an interview with comedian John Mulaney, I became even more convinced of the close connection between clear communication and stand-up comedy. During the interview, he shares a painful experience that turned into a defining moment. In this episode, I break down his insightful answer and will help you embrace what he discovered to be the most valuable thing. The post Ep. 326 – Clarity...