Interact Guidebook
Your Resource for Authentic CommunicationWhat is Authentic Speaking and Why is it Important?
Introduction Authentic speaking refers to communicating transparently and honestly expressing one’s thoughts and emotions without fearing being judged or rejected. Authentic speaking brings about the congruence between our words, body language and tone of voice; and builds meaningful relationships, establishes trust, and fosters innovation. Let’s...
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The Only Thing That Matters to Your Audience
Rob is a productivity consultant. He teaches leaders to manage their workflow, work smarter, and accomplish more. Since saving time is something people care about, he has been successful. Earlier this year, I watched from the back of the room as Rob began his presentation...
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7 Practices that Separate Great Communicators From the Rest
“I don’t talk about myself in presentations,” Katherine said. “I’d rather stick to the numbers.” I had just asked Katherine to consider sharing a bit of her story in her presentation so her teammates could get to know her and trust her. Katherine felt her...
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Why Great Leaders Love Self-Development
Why do so many leaders stop working on themselves? Most likely, it’s because, at some point in life, we think we know a little more than we do. A few years back, I worked with a talented manager named Richard, who could tell you what...
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Who’s in Your Crowd?
At any age, we are shaped by our inner circles. Consider this the next time you find yourself spending time with people who are unhappy, negative, dramatic, and not inclined to encourage you—much less dare you to be better. By “better,” I’m not just referring...
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How Do I Speak Up in Meetings?
Every day I talk with executives in leadership positions about their challenges. Over the years, many things have changed, but speaking up in meetings is still an obstacle for many people. Again and again, I’ve heard these kinds of comments: I’m constantly interrupted. People talk...
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Writing Effective Web Content As Part of an Authentic Communication Strategy
Knowing the fundamentals of how to craft an effective conversation via web content is a powerful skill set that can change the way that others see you. More importantly, it can determine whether others see you at all, which is why it is so highly...
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THRIVE: Leading Change, Building Resilience
More than 60 years ago, Douglas McGregor published his groundbreaking book, The Human Side of the Enterprise. McGregor believed in the human approach to business. He is credited with the birth of the “human relations movement.” McGregor’s book was met with criticism in his day,...
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How Do I Thrive Today? Looking at Well-Being with Charlie Elberson
Vaccine distribution is progressing and people are beginning to say it: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel!” At the same time, mental health experts are saying “Easy does it.” They are focused on the emotional exhaustion we’re experiencing from traveling through the...
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How Do I Thrive Today? Avoiding Burnout with Molly Grantham
It’s the American way. We are constantly online, messaging, multitasking and over-doing. We’ve been dancing with burnout for years. But in 2020 burnout itself went viral. A third of U.S. employees started living at work with their laptops and inboxes beside them 24/7. Not realizing...
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How Do I Thrive Today? With Alli Celebron-Brown & William “Coach Mac” McNeely
As many of us are hitting the one-year anniversary of nearly all-remote work, we have stopped saying, “when things go back to normal.” We know there’s no going back, but we’re just not sure how things will look going forward. This is not a personal...
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How Do I Thrive Today? With Erica Butler & Pedro Perez
How Do We Thrive in Times of Change and Burnout? Vanessa is a good friend who works at a consulting firm. She is normally an upbeat, fun character. Recently she told us, “I was on seven Zoom calls yesterday, and I’m working for less money....
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If You Can’t Speak, Watch (And Learn)
While we are staying at home, there may not be many chances to speak, but there are plenty of chances to learn from the work of great speakers. This series features speeches that “check the boxes” of great speeches – each focusing on a key...
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7 Ways to Make Virtual Work More Human
In response to the uncertainties presented by COVID-19, many teams are working remotely for the first time. If you find yourself leading a virtual team, remember the core goal in business: To create, build and protect relationships....
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Our Defining Moments
Our defining moments are sometimes stories of struggles, sometimes stories of triumph, but they are always times when we meet a challenge head-on....
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Developing Your Backstory – Who You Are Now Is Where You Were When
The premise was that you were shaped dramatically by what was happening in the world when you were young....
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5 Tips to Help You Extend Your Eye Contact
Eye contact is a form of communication that has no rival. Brush up....
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7 Steps to Win a Big Project
If you’re facing a high-stakes presentation, here are 7 Steps that will help you land the project....
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6 Steps to Leverage Your Most Basic Powers to Influence
Show up in the moment and be intentional about making connections....
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Seven Timeless Steps to Engage Your Audience
You can engage with your audience easier by remembering these seven principles....
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Why Leaders Struggle to Give Employees Helpful Feedback
The fear of hurting people’s feelings and facing drama and retribution....
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How to Facilitate Like an Expert: A Case Study
Change your thinking – the actions and results will follow suit....
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