An Unexpected Call for Help
Posted On December 20, 2021 BY Dean Brenner
(Author’s Note: The following story happened on December 6, 2021 during a quiet afternoon at our office. I happened to be sitting at our conference table with my wife Emily. We were having lunch, doing Christmas cards, and just making small talk about all the things we had to get done between then and the […]
Simple Concepts For Successful Communication: Be Clear And Direct
Posted On October 13, 2021 BY Dean Brenner
Originally published with the Forbes Coaches Council. Not everyone is naturally a great communicator. In fact, almost all successful communication — persuasive, engaging, inspiring — is made, not born. It requires preparation, skill and practice. Of course, it takes time, and we all know how little we have of that. What helps is to keep some key […]
How Language Can Draw Us In or Leave Us Out
Posted On October 6, 2021 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. I have three kids and they all speak a different language than I do. When they start speaking MINECRAFT, I feel lost, and to a certain extent, excluded. It is not something they are doing intentionally or malevolently or even consciously. […]
The Flag on my Front Porch, and the Currency of Vulnerability
Posted On September 6, 2021 BY Dean Brenner
(Author’s Note: I wrote this piece nearly one year ago, on September 11th, 2020. And based on the number of emails and comments I received at the time, it resonated loudly with many. So, with the twentieth anniversary of September 11th, 2001 approaching, we share it again today. Be safe, everyone. — DMB) I love […]
Communication as a Power Skill
Posted On September 3, 2021 BY Lauren St. Germain
This post was written by Lauren St. Germain, Facilitator and Coach for The Latimer Group. Here at The Latimer Group, we live by the idea that communication skills should no longer be considered a “soft skill.” We believe that communication is a “power skill”, and earlier this year, McKinsey & Company helped prove this to be true […]
How Quickly Should You Get to the Point? It Depends!
Posted On July 19, 2021 BY Dean Brenner
My colleagues and I always talk about the importance of getting to the point quickly. So don’t worry… I am not about to contradict twenty years of Latimer teaching. But my colleagues and I also believe in the importance of audience and situational awareness, and that we should always try to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. […]
Speaking Tips: 5 Ways to Calm Your Nerves
Posted On July 7, 2021 BY Dean Brenner
Asking people if they “get nervous” when they have to stand up and speak is almost not worth asking. For most of us, the answer is a resounding “yes.” As we begin to return to an in-person post-pandemic work environment, many of you will have important meetings, conference calls, or presentations on your calendar. Some […]
A Simple Equation for Success
Posted On May 21, 2021 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. If by chance you, like many of us, have found yourself in a state of overwhelm at some point in the last 12 months, this may help. When we need to re-center ourselves, or bolster our confidence, or focus on a […]
The Courtesy of a Bit of Context
Posted On May 17, 2021 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. It’s easy to live inside our own heads. We know what we know. As a result, we sometimes start talking, telling a story, asking a question, making a statement, and then realize that the person we’re talking to has no idea […]
Are You Using PowerPoint Incorrectly?
Posted On May 10, 2021 BY Dean Brenner
Let me know if this sounds familiar… you have a presentation to give. You immediately begin thinking about your slide deck. You pull out the last presentation you gave on the topic, you dust it off and realize that some of the same slides will work. So you are on your way. Then you look […]