Episodes

Charley sits down with Dr. Breiter from the Northwestern University School of Medicine to discuss addiction, technology and why our brains desperately need quiet time. The post Episode 185 – Be my guest: Dr. Hans Breiter, Professor of Psychiatry appeared first on Just Saying.

We can engage in lengthy, thoughtful and endless discussions to the point where we are incapable of ever making a decision. We need to be more deliberate and decisive so we hear the word no quicker and we can move on with our lives. The post Episode 184 – Getting to no faster appeared first on Just Saying.

In our new FAQ segment, I address a series of questions surrounding how to take the principles of the books BRIEF and NOISE and make them work at home and in social situations. The post Episode 183 – FAQ: Being brief on the spot, away from work appeared first on Just Saying.

What would work (or life) look like if we could frequently and intentionally step away from technology for a moment or two? In this episode, I explore how giving yourself a break can strengthen your focus and help you gain some self-mastery. The post Episode 182 – Stepping away for a minute (from digital devices) appeared first on Just Saying.

Every day, there is something really important we have to do. Sometimes it’s obvious, but most times it’s not. If we are unprepared for these big moments, we are most susceptible to the noise all around us. The post Episode 181 – The big moment appeared first on Just Saying.

Charley digs into why headlines are disproportionately important, how to avoid becoming clickbait and when you should take the time to prepare a good headline. The post Episode 180 – FAQ: Better headlines build a bridge appeared first on Just Saying.

One way to lower the noise is to start and end every day with a short and powerful headline. In this episode, I share some ways to set the tone from your very first thought and end the day more intentionally the same way. The post Episode 179 – Daily headlines: 1st and last thought of the day appeared first on Just Saying.

Charley interviews popular comedian Aaron Weber on the importance of preparation, how to grab the audience’s attention quickly, and the power of laughter in all communications. Be sure to follow Aaron everywhere @realaaronweber and at http://aaronwebercomedy.com/. He is also the co-host of the popular podcast @natelandpodcast. The post Episode 178 – Be my guest: Aaron Weber, Comedian appeared first on Just Saying.

There’s no shortage of technical advice on how to manage your time better. In this episode, I keep it super simple: lowering the noise frees up lots of time. HBR article: https://hbr.org/2020/01/time-management-is-about-more-than-life-hacks The post Episode 177 – The morass of time management appeared first on Just Saying.

In our new FAQ segment, Charley addresses a series of questions surrounding how to lower the noise during quiet time and some of the inherent challenges this precious time presents. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION SEGMENT OF JUST SAYING. https://thebrieflab.com/faq/ The post Episode 176 – FAQ: Tackling the issue of quiet time appeared first on Just Saying.

Sometimes we fire off a text or send an email when we should have just picked up the phone. In this episode, I talk about the value of a phone conversation to make a better connection. The post Episode 175– Phone calls appeared first on Just Saying.

Charley Thornton interviews author and international business leader Simon Bureau about how different cultures view brevity. They dig into email, the importance of context and what elements of communication are universal. For more on Simon, visit his profile: linkedin.com/in/simonbureau/ The post Episode 174 – Be my guest: Simon Bureau on culture and communications appeared first on Just Saying.

As Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” So too, our daily life as communicators needs a quick scan. In this episode, I discuss how to review and plan as a daily practice and also look back on a wild year, while looking forward to an exciting year ahead. The post Episode 173– The Daily Scan (Looking back and ahead) appeared first on Just Saying.

In our first new FAQ segment, Charley Thornton dissects some of the problems with multitasking in meetings, the underlying reasons almost everyone does it, and some simple ways to stop the madness. SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION SEGMENT OF JUST SAYING. https://thebrieflab.com/faq/ The post Episode 172 – FAQ: How to discourage multitasking in meetings appeared first on Just Saying.

All great managers know how to field the best lineup against their opponent and not let to their game plan get too predictable. In the battle against constant noise, I suggest using a practical tool I have developed that ensures you compete every day to win. The post Episode 171– The Lineup appeared first on Just Saying.

Leading an effective meeting may look easy to outsiders, but insiders know that success requires a willingness to carry the burden of conflict, ambiguity, time constraints and personal differences. In this episode, I dive into the skills you need to get good at herding cats. The post Episode 170 – The uneasiness of great meeting facilitation appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back episode #71 recorded January 07, 2019 Gratitude is the engine that drives people forward when everyone else gets stuck spinning their wheels. The post Call Back Episode – It’s a good time to say thanks appeared first on Just Saying.

Charley Thornton speaks with John Borta, Sr. Director of Leadership Effectiveness at Grainger. They discuss the big mistakes people make when it comes to meeting facilitation and how to avoid them. The post Episode 169- Be my guest: John Borta, meeting facilitation expert appeared first on Just Saying.

While suffering the loss of my beloved SUV, I realized that it’s easy to lose trust quickly and permanently. In this episode, I share many of the real risks of poor communication and how trust ranks high on the list. The post Episode 168– Losing trust forever appeared first on Just Saying.

When writing chapter 14 of the book “Noise,” I was inspired to design a simple deck of cards to help manage scheduled times of silence so they wouldn’t become noisy appointments. So… pick a card, any card – you’re all set. Link: Thebrieflab.com/store The post Episode 167– Take 5 Quiet Cards appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back episode #82 recorded March 2019 A ski-school story inspired a closer look into the value of mastering going slow, so you could gain more control going fast. Links: Skiing moguls the slow way (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhw0z1d1ko The post Call Back Episode – Being deliberate appeared first on Just Saying.

It’s possible to deliver a clear message and get the tone all wrong. Maybe it should be empathetic, not urgent; upbeat and not matter of fact; or serious versus sarcastic. Take a few moments and carefully consider not only what your audience needs to hear but also how it should sound. The post Episode 166– The critical role of tone appeared first on Just Saying.

Even after running an effective meeting, people can easily lose focus just a few hours or days later of what needs to happen next. What’s the key to keep everyone headed in the right direction afterwards? The post Episode 165– Creating momentum after a meeting appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back episode #50 recorded July 2018 Any car ride can provide a quick way to gauge if your conversations are on track, or driving people crazy. Step in and see. The post Call Back Episode – The Uber talk test appeared first on Just Saying.