Leadership is Rarely Smooth and Easy
Posted On December 19, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
All of us are leaders in one way or another. We all lead, either formally or informally, constantly or occasionally, officially or unofficially. But we all lead. This is a skill that everyone needs to know at least a little something about. In addition, it is important to remember that no two leadership situations are […]
Executive Presence: The Art Of Projecting Leadership
Posted On December 12, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Think about the best leader you’ve ever witnessed, listened to, or seen in action. What made her/him compelling? I am sure there is a wide range of answers that you might give to explain what made them compelling. But among the many different answers, there would absolutely be some answers centered around said leader’s presence. […]
The Absence of Conflict
Posted On December 6, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
I love thinking about teams. I love considering the best ways to get a group of people on the same page, and working together towards a common goal. I love thinking about how to create an environment that will make great people want to be on the team. And here is one of my favorite […]
Leadership Agility and The Evolving Organization
Posted On December 5, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Every organization is a dynamic organism, in a constant state of evolution… sometimes expanding, sometimes contracting, sometimes getting stronger, sometimes weaker. What an organization needs at any given moment is likely to be different from what it needed one year ago, or will need one year from now. And it is important for leaders to […]
Good Internal Communication Is The Foundation for Good External Communication
Posted On November 30, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Good morning, friends! My colleagues and I coach people on their communication skills for a living… all day, every day, for the last 21+ years. Over that time period we have learned and re-learned a lot of things about communication, and the realities inside the typical corporate entity. In many ways, my teammates and I […]
The Job Search is a Test of Communication Skills
Posted On November 27, 2023 BY Dean Brenner and Jacob Ward
If you or someone you know is set to embark on a job search, or has completed one recently, you will likely agree that the art of finding a job is a skill unto itself. Why do those with the best backgrounds or the best skills not always land in the final chair? Because prospective […]
Pay it Forward; Invest in the Next Generation
Posted On November 22, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
I have two young children, ages 14 and 8. And like every other parent, I have a long list of things I think and worry about when it comes to my kids: keeping them safe, getting them educated, helping them develop the social and emotional skills and self-confidence they will need. It’s a long list, […]
5 Keys to Building Support for Your Next Idea
Posted On November 22, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
We spend a lot of time here coaching people on how to communicate in order to get the outcomes they want. And in some cases, the outcome is a sale of a product or a service. But in many cases, the outcome is the “sale” of an idea or a plan. The vast majority of persuasion […]
The Risk Of Your PowerPoint Slides
Posted On November 20, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
We had a fascinating conversation with a workshop participant recently. He shared a real story, about a presentation he gave soon after he joined his current company. He worked hard at it, he prepared, and he was nervous, but ready. He made the presentation, it seemed to go OK, and then afterwards he asked for […]
(Mis)Interpreting the Silence: “Why Haven’t They Gotten Back to Me?”
Posted On November 16, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Have you ever written or sent something to a colleague, client or partner, perhaps something important, that you worked hard on, and really looked forward to the ensuing discussion? You really wanted to hear their thoughts or you needed an answer? And then been surprised when no prompt response came? And nothing… still nothing… no […]