This month, we're talking about eye contact.

We've all heard we should look at people as we speak, but what exactly does that mean? How long do we look at them? How do we move when there are multiple people to look at? If it feels awkward to the speaker, does it come across awkward to the listener? All great questions.

Here's what we unpack:

1. Why eye contact matters
2. What does your eye contact communicate
3. How to vary it based on the setting/situation
4. When and how to practice it

We're talking communication anxiety this month.

Nervousness is an age-old topic that we really can't discuss enough. This month, we'll cover:

1. Common causes of communication anxiety
2. What it can look and feel like to the speaker and audience
3. Ways to manage the feeling in the moment
4. Some long-term approaches to alleviating nerves

In today's episode, we're discussing persuasion at work.

It's an element of many people's jobs, so understanding its importance and how to create a safe and comfortable space for persuasion to live is important.

Here are a few things we'll discuss:

1. Persuading is not convincing; it's alignment
2. Know what your audience wants or needs (one we always talk about)
3. Create credibility by asking questions and listening just as much as you talk
4. Knowing when to take a step back and maintain your image/trust

If people leave agreeing but not acting, persuasion didn't happen.

It's January, so of course, everyone is focused on goal-setting for the year to come.

As you plan your goals out, consider a few things:

• Set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound)
• Be realistic - lofty goals are fine, but know how you're going to get there
• Communicate your goal(s) clearly to yourself and others
• Check in often and reflect on how the goal is going - make changes if necessary

Going in with a plan helps breed success. Understanding that failure is sometimes part of a goal creates consistency in showing up. Being clear and reflective with yourself allows room for adjustments or getting back on track.

Some people can captivate an audience when they speak. Others, the audience walks away while they're still speaking.

Many factors can influence this, but one key determinant of audience engagement is the speaker's ability to stay on message.

Being clear and concise is a skill. It's important to understand:

1. Why it can be so difficult to accomplish
2. Understanding what your audience wants or needs
3. Knowing what point you're trying to make
4. The ability to practice purposefully

In this episode, you'll hear how you can approach the coming holidays with clear, concise, and on-message conversations.

This month, we're exploring the 'empty boat' mindset parable and how it relates to effective communication and relationship building.

The parable basically states that if an empty boat runs into yours, you navigate around it. But if someone is in that boat, you tend to react negatively, even though the same situation occurred.

We discuss the importance of:

1. Separating intent from impact
2. Responding not reacting
3. Assuming positive (or neutral) intent
4. Focusing on understanding vs. placing blame
5. Creating safety so relationships can thrive

Approaching interactions as if they are "empty boats" allows you to have more control over your reactions and emotions.

Sometimes the hardest people to coach aren’t those who struggle with communication; it's the ones who think they’ve already mastered it. Not because they lack skill, but because their blind spots are often more ingrained.

In this episode, we'll take years of experience and explore:

• The Blind Spots of “Good Communicators” — from dominating conversations to resisting change.
• Coaching Without Clashing with Ego — using rapport, curiosity, and concrete evidence to open minds.
• Common Pitfalls — like over-talking, under-listening, or failing to adapt to different audiences.
• Shifting the Mindset — reframing communication as a lifelong practice, not something you 'complete'.

Whether you lead, manage, or mentor, you’ll learn practical ways to help even your best communicators keep getting better.

Some organizations have excellent communication cultures, while others struggle in this area.

The organizations that have it down tend to do 3 things:

1. They have access to communicate with anyone within the organization, no matter their title or role.
2. They focus on development opportunities.
3. They lead with a growth mindset, and their leaders "walk the talk".

Listen along for more details on each of these topics and what you can do, either as a leader or an individual, to identify opportunities within each space.

The sooner an organization or team can create a culture of good, open communication, the more successful they'll be.