Just Saying - The BRIEF Lab

Imagine the simplicity and power of someone promising to distill all the information you need and putting it on just one page. These executive summaries, whether they be a single PowerPoint slide or a cleanly formatted document with a series of bullet points, do everyone an enormous favor. In this episode, I share some thoughts when making them, so they become a go-to gift you’ll always give. The...

Taking a course at The BRIEF Lab leads many professionals to breakthroughs with co-workers, clients, and bosses. Yet, our busy lives squeeze out any chance to slow down and take the needed time to develop and deliver tighter emails, updates, and recommendations. In this week’s episode, I share why we have created a program for teams that have taken our BRIEF coursework to leverage pockets of quiet...

We are all glued to our smartphones and constantly connected to tools that drive collaborative teamwork. But when you add it all up, is it too much? Is it reasonable, or even desirable, to want to detox from devices and cleanse from collaboration tools like Slack and MS Teams. An article in Harvard Business Review got me thinking of a way through it, around it and away from it. The post Ep. 302 –...

During a recent trip while waiting to board my flight, I accidentally overheard a businessman’s frustrating phone call with colleagues. In this episode, I unpack why I decided to eavesdrop and not to offer my help, although he desperately needed it. The whole incident inspired me to think back to a guessing game that is fun at home, but pretty frustrating at work. The post Ep. 301 – Let’s stop pla...

Our 300 th episode is not only a milestone but also an opportunity to look forward. Over the past few seasons, I have commented on substantial changes in how we communicate, the volume of information (most of it is noise), and the need for protected professional boundaries. This week, we take a brief pause to celebrate and a moment to highlight how and where we work is undergoing a sea change. htt...

There’s so much news that’s not fit to print. What seems initially newsworthy ends up being only noise . Although we all want to be well informed (who doesn’t ?), we need to be prepared with concrete criteria to decipher what’s worth our time and attention vs. what is useless information.   The post Ep. 299 – That’s not news it’s noise! appeared first on Just Saying .

Can you remember going to an offsite meeting that was filled with high expectations of lively discussions and important breakthroughs, only to discover the agenda was a mess ? T he schedule was entirely filled with tons of talking and there were no moments set aside for thinking , preparation, or resolutions ? In this week’s episode, I suggest semi-silent offsite meetings as a distinct ive way to...

Many professionals communicate daily without thinking very much about what they are going to say or write before they do it. Though there are many reasons why this seems acceptable, it isn’t . People proudly wear a badge of busyness, frequently communicate off – the – cuff, and create havoc along the way . In this episode, I provide three scenarios where professionals might think this...

In this episode, I dive deep into the song “Trouble” by Coldplay to explore the connection between thinking, talking, and doing. I discuss how the song inspired me to help you avoid a web of confusion when these three elements are out of order. I share my motto and mantra of “think first, then talk, then do.” I underscore the critical relationship between clear thinking, co...

Talkative teachers turn learning into a painful chore. In this episode, I discuss the problem of instructors talking far too much and offer a few insights on how to create a more effective and engaging learning experience through trimming. The key is to see instruction more like facilitation delivered through personal conversations and practical experiences, not long lectures. I share a “SEE...

Everyone acts like they’re waiting on standby for the next emergency call. In this episode, I discuss the importance of being able to disconnect and have uninterrupted quiet time. By challenging our belief that everything is urgent and important, and nothing can wait, I revisit the Eisenhower Principle and Stephen Covey’s quadrant to help us prioritize and define what is actually urgent and import...

Welcome to this week’s podcast, where we explore the value of silence and intentional communication. As your host, I share seven sayings on the power of silence and how it can enhance our professional lives. Join me as we discuss historical and noteworthy perspectives on the challenges, benefits, and practical strategies to incorporate quiet moments into our daily routines. Don’t miss...

Join me in this episode as we explore the “fog of work” and its effects on our productivity. Leveraging some military insights from Carl von Clausewitz’s classic book “On War,” I will have some practical tips to cut through the clutter and communicate effectively in a busy workplace. Learn the power of silence and deliberate thinking and how it can help us prioritize tasks and make cle...

In this episode, join me as I discuss why people are so reluctant to embrace quiet, especially during the day.   Drawing on my expertise as a professional, entrepreneur, and author, I explore ten reasons behind this resistance and shed some light on the importance of embracing silence. Discover how incorporating moments of quiet can enhance your impact, clarity, and focus in the workplace. The pos...

In this week’s episode, I discuss how people often confuse hoping for understanding with actually knowing if their message was received. I provide three key steps to ensure effective communication: making a clear and simple point, asking for feedback or playback from the audience, and connecting the message to what matters to them. The post Call EP – Hoping vs. knowing your point got a...

In this week’s episode, I discuss the importance of making time for people in our busy lives and emphasize the significance of intentional communication.  I discuss the value of being a good listener and the impact of regular conversations with coworkers, friends, and family. Join me as I share my personal experiences and provide practical tips on how we can prioritize people in our lives without...

In this episode of Just Saying, I talk about the disagreeable nature of gray communication and how it can be detrimental to effective communication. I explain how generative AI like Chat GPT can be used to write generic corporate messages and how it can lead to bland, beige, or grayish communication. I also give some tips on how to avoid being bland and how to speak with conviction to avoid fallin...

In this week’s podcast episode, I discuss the importance of knowing when to stop and field questions or comments during a presentation or briefing. Many presenters make the mistake of asking for questions at the wrong time, resulting in silence or irrelevant questions. I share strategies for designing time for questions and emphasize the value of making presentations interactive. The post Ep. 288...

In this week’s episode of “Just Saying,” I dive into the perplexing question of when to call a meeting or when to cancel one. I stress the importance of having a clear agenda and promoting active engagement during meetings and provide five compelling reasons to call or cancel a meeting. Remember, meetings are meant for discussion and decision-making, not just sharing information....

In this podcast, I discuss the importance of providing effective updates. Whether you’re updating a colleague in a higher role or someone who works for you, it’s crucial to get it right. Frustration arises when expectations are unfulfilled.   Timing and quality of updates play a significant role. Getting updates right can eliminate unnecessary tension and improve communication. The pos...

In this week’s podcast, I stress the importance of asking good questions and emphasize the need to take time when formulating questions beforehand .   I recommend using a [ brief ] map to organize one’s thoughts during a conversation. Additionally, I highlight the value of open-ended questions and the power of asking “why”. I also encourage listeners to practice asking good...

In this podcast episode, I talk about my take on AI and its impact on communication. I’ll discuss how AI can be used as a tool to jumpstart the creative process for writers, conduct research, and develop clear and concise headlines. I will also share my experience with using AI to explore several topics and provide examples of the types of questions you can ask AI when generating written content....

In this podcast episode, I discuss the growing impact of artificial intelligence on communication. I specifically focus on generative AI, which can create new data and content that imitates human-created content. I explore the potential benefits for writers who can now have a partner and researcher sitting beside them to help with research and starting points for writing. However, I also emphasize...

I discuss the power and potential harm of disclaimers in communication. I emphasize the importance of being aware of how disclaimers can trigger listeners’ brains and change their listening, and encourage careful consideration before using them. I offer examples of both helpful and harmful disclaimers, and urge listeners to observe how they are affected by disclaimers in conversations with o...

It’s easy to understand why you tune out a subject matter expert (SME) that doesn’t interest you and talks too much. But what happens when you meet some who’s proficient in an area that deeply interests and intrigues you and they drone on? You may initially feel like you won the lottery only to discover that you want to give back your ticket. Listen in to find out what happens. The post Ep. 281 –...