Dean Brenner

We were having a conversation with a good friend and client of The Latimer Group last week. During our discussion, we mentioned some ideas around the concept of “consensus” as it differs from the concept of “persuasion.” Our work has always been focused on helping our clients build the skills of persuasion, and our clients value that […]

One night last week, I was going through some old files in my basement, and stumbled across a box simply marked “Desert, Spring 2002.” I knew immediately what it was… in May 2002, right around the time I was launching The Latimer Group, I took some time to clear my head and enrolled in an […]

A short post today, with some simple, but very powerful lessons to help you become a more effective communicator. These are the concepts we’re thinking about most often in our coaching and client workshops. Click the links throughout to learn more. Think about the outcomes you are trying to achieve. Communicate with purpose.   Avoid […]

Have you ever noticed that when people are making a business presentation, very often, they make the story sound super complicated? Have you ever noticed that once they sit down, and it is over, and someone asks simple questions, they can give simple, coherent answers? Have you ever listened to something they say in Q&A and […]

Speaking well can be pretty hard. Speaking in a way that captures attention, and helps you achieve your business goals can be intimidating for lots of people. It is hard, in many ways. But the keys to success can also be pretty simple, if you think about it the correct way. So let me make this easy […]

We all want to be leaders. Our corporate culture wants us to want to be leaders. We seek out training, we dress the part, we jockey to take the helm of a project or a team. No one wants to admit to being a follower, and few people ever talk about the essential qualities that make […]

This is the third in a series of posts where I will share my business lessons learned (thus far) from the global health crisis. How long a series will this be? Not sure… the lessons are still percolating, and the crisis is far from over. This could be a long series… In my first post […]

This is the second in a series of posts where I will share my business lessons learned (thus far) from the global health crisis. How long a series will this be? No idea… I am still figuring out the things I have learned. And no one knows how long this whole thing will last. So […]

The last five months has been the longest decade of my life. At least it has felt that way. And I say that while acknowledging that many people have had a much harder experience than I and my colleagues have had. But from a business perspective, this has been the worst experience of my lifetime. […]

Olympic sports have been a big part of my past professional life. I served as the Chairman of the US Olympic Sailing Program for 8 years, which means I led the organization responsible for all aspects of Olympic sailing in the United States. It was a big job, and one I enjoyed greatly. I recall a […]