Just Saying - The BRIEF Lab

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...

You can’t lead effectively if you’re always getting interrupted. In this episode, I share a recent conversation with a rising leader and one from my days as a marketing executive to shed some light on how ineffective leaders believe that they need to always have an open-door policy and can never turn people away when they come calling. The post Ep. 241 – Feeling obligated to always be available ap...

Whether you’re the decision maker or someone recommending or influencing decisions, there’s a hidden reason why people make poor choices. In a fast-paced, noisy world, people invest little or no scheduled quiet time to carefully consider the decision in solitude. What’s more, they don’t find someone to share it with to shoot holes, and then impulsively just pull the trigger. The post Ep. 240 – Why...

Call back EP Episode 126 – NOISE Filter: Our 1st and last thought of the day Preparing what we think at the start and end our day not only serves as a powerful bookends to manage the noise but also sets the tone for us to be more intentional. The post Call back Episode – NOISE Filter: Our 1st and last thought of the day appeared first on Just Saying .

What is the personal cost of a distraction and disruption? How do you value when and where you pay attention? If attention is your most valuable resource, how do you react when it is stolen and squandered throughout the day? In this episode, I challenge you to consider the return on attention (ROA) you are getting, how to minimize losses and maximize gains. The post Ep. 239 – Mental theft appeared...

In this episode, I introduce a new initiative called The Quiet Workplace and related Quiet Works principles, practices, programs, and products. After nearly a year of planning and development, I have decided to introduce simple, practical, and powerful ways to make silence a secret ingredient in professional life. In fact, our intent is to change the conversation about the fundamental role of quie...

Most of us don’t frequently give presentations. In the rare times that we do, we may seem rusty, nervous, and out of sync. In this podcast, I will provide a few simple considerations for you to approach these moments professionally and deliver information comfortably and confidently. The post Ep. 237 – Simple presentation practices appeared first on Just Saying .

The words we use can be incredibly helpful, or hurtful. Whether we like to admit it, we choose to say what we say. Many people, however, are not self-aware in their conversations and their comments can be deeply damaging. In this episode, I highlight six different comments to shun. The post Ep. 236 – Six comments to avoid appeared first on Just Saying .

To influence is to exert a powerful force to shape people’s thoughts, feelings, opinions, and actions. In what way can we influence others by saying less? Is the absence of words strong enough (or not enough) to change the outcome?  What is the right balance to achieve? The post Ep. 235 – Is brevity a better way to influence? appeared first on Just Saying .