Episodes

In this installment, I summarize two related Harvard Business Review articles that tackle the excesses of collaboration. In one, Microsoft leaders reveal research that brought them much closer to the root cause of employee fulfillment. In another, a university professor surveys professionals on how they believe they need to collaborate with each other and the impact it has on overload and burnout. Links: Why Microsoft Measures Employee Thriving, Not Engagement Where We Go Wrong with Collaborat...

Imagine if someone at work approached you and said, “you should proof-read your e-mails before sending them.” Or picture a family member or friend saying, “you shouldn’t eat out so much.” In general, people do not like being told what to do. However, there are many times we need to tell them. In this episode, we explore a better way to get them to be open and listen to our suggestions without tuning out completely. The post Ep. 246 – Should I or shouldn’t you? appeared first on Just Saying.

Imagine if your boss told your team in a very calm, matter-of-fact tone that your answers just weren’t good enough. In this episode, I share how this very incident happened to a corporate leader and his team and how to overcome the harsh realities of not meeting expectations and falling far short of a high goal. The post Ep. 245 – When your answers aren’t good enough appeared first on Just Saying.

Some people approach any writing assignment with trepidation and apprehension. Can I get my point across? Will I be able to say it the right way? What can I do if I’m not sure of my ability to convey my thoughts? On the other extreme, some people dive right into writing assignments are fearlessly, filled with inflated confidence and little concern. In this episode, I talk to both people and give some advice for them to keep in mind when writing. The post Ep. 244 – Afraid of writing appeared fir...

A random experience having lunch at Jimmy John’s got me thinking about a deep problem: why aren’t we ever satisfied? In this episode, I unpack a provocative quote hanging at a local fast-food sandwich shop and share a deeper insight that may help you close the gap between more and enough. The post Ep. 243 – When is more enough? appeared first on Just Saying.

How can you become more realistic and grounded when you communicate and interact with people? Are you setting your sights consistently way too high? Have you become an all-or-nothing person in your expectations? In this episode, I share a powerful way of defining what success looks like minimally to keep you satisfied and on track. The post Ep. 242 – The minimum definition of success appeared first on Just Saying.

You can’t lead effectively if you’re always getting interrupted. In this episode, I share a recent conversation with a rising leader and one from my days as a marketing executive to shed some light on how ineffective leaders believe that they need to always have an open-door policy and can never turn people away when they come calling. The post Ep. 241 – Feeling obligated to always be available appeared first on Just Saying.

Whether you’re the decision maker or someone recommending or influencing decisions, there’s a hidden reason why people make poor choices. In a fast-paced, noisy world, people invest little or no scheduled quiet time to carefully consider the decision in solitude. What’s more, they don’t find someone to share it with to shoot holes, and then impulsively just pull the trigger. The post Ep. 240 – Why people make bad decisions appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back EP Episode 126 – NOISE Filter: Our 1st and last thought of the day Preparing what we think at the start and end our day not only serves as a powerful bookends to manage the noise but also sets the tone for us to be more intentional. The post Call back Episode – NOISE Filter: Our 1st and last thought of the day appeared first on Just Saying.

What is the personal cost of a distraction and disruption? How do you value when and where you pay attention? If attention is your most valuable resource, how do you react when it is stolen and squandered throughout the day? In this episode, I challenge you to consider the return on attention (ROA) you are getting, how to minimize losses and maximize gains. The post Ep. 239 – Mental theft appeared first on Just Saying.

In this episode, I introduce a new initiative called The Quiet Workplace and related Quiet Works principles, practices, programs, and products. After nearly a year of planning and development, I have decided to introduce simple, practical, and powerful ways to make silence a secret ingredient in professional life. In fact, our intent is to change the conversation about the fundamental role of quiet in a rapidly evolving workplace. thequietworkplace.com The post Ep. 238 – Quiet Works: new mission...

Most of us don’t frequently give presentations. In the rare times that we do, we may seem rusty, nervous, and out of sync. In this podcast, I will provide a few simple considerations for you to approach these moments professionally and deliver information comfortably and confidently. The post Ep. 237 – Simple presentation practices appeared first on Just Saying.

The words we use can be incredibly helpful, or hurtful. Whether we like to admit it, we choose to say what we say. Many people, however, are not self-aware in their conversations and their comments can be deeply damaging. In this episode, I highlight six different comments to shun. The post Ep. 236 – Six comments to avoid appeared first on Just Saying.

To influence is to exert a powerful force to shape people’s thoughts, feelings, opinions, and actions. In what way can we influence others by saying less? Is the absence of words strong enough (or not enough) to change the outcome? What is the right balance to achieve? The post Ep. 235 – Is brevity a better way to influence? appeared first on Just Saying.

During a typical day, can you count how many different screens compete for your attention? Technology isn’t only pervasive but also a source of constant distraction. In this episode, I challenge the fallacy that to work means to be with technology. We need to find simple ways to avoid them when they aren’t needed right now. The post Ep. 234 – Noise management: No screens needed appeared first on Just Saying.

Imagine if you’re at an event, party or hanging out after a meeting and the person you’re talking to won’t stop talking. What can you do? Do you find a way to make a quick escape or stick it out patiently and painfully? This may happen frequently to us, and we feel like we’re being held hostage with little to no recourse. There are some things to do, and the choice is entirely yours. The post Ep. 233 – Stuck in a bad conversation appeared first on Just Saying.

Recently, I got two different messages that referenced the same topic: what happens when my boss is or isn’t clear and concise. In one, the sender laments the pain and confusion caused when her boss is all over the place. In another, he praises how his boss made brevity an issue for the entire team to tackle. In this episode, I provide some advice on what to do when brevity is becoming a serious leadership challenge. The post Ep. 232 – What if your boss isn’t brief? appeared first on Just Sayin...

For any team or organization, it’s critical to find the right time and place to getaway. Offsite meetings can be incredibly rewarding or disappointing depending on how they’re prepared. To get the maximum value, you need to take some time to carefully consider the right location, attendees, agenda design, and the overall experience you intend to achieve. The post Ep. 231 – Making the most with offsite meetings appeared first on Just Saying.

With the hurried pace of day-to-day life filled with so many competing priorities, everything can quickly become a blur. It’s up to you to choose to stop to take a break, yet we don’t. Whether it’s just for a minute or half a day, we need to periodically pause. In this episode, I lay out a series of moments where we need to allow ourselves a time out. The post Ep. 230 – Permission to pause appeared first on Just Saying.

When the meeting isn’t yours, you may feel like you have no voice. The reality is that there are a number of things you can do to turn bad meetings into ones that are more effective and efficient. It’s time to start speaking up and stop feeling helpless and stuck. The post Ep. 229 – Meeting attendee bill of rights appeared first on Just Saying.

Do you work for your smartphone, or does it work for you? There may be a powerful temptation to always have your digital device on and nearby, checking it constantly and feeling helpless when it comes calling. In this episode, I ask you to consider what your personal relationship is with your smartphone and why it’s so hard for you to say no to it The post Ep. 228 – Resisting the temptation to check your smartphone appeared first on Just Saying.

In this episode, I provide some simple and straightforward advice to help you gain (and regain) focus when your world might be seeming to be turning upside down. Though it’s incredibly easy to lose focus and feel scattered, flustered, conflicted and confused, there are things to do to rise above. The post Ep. 227 – Clarity at work (in times of crisis, chaos and change) appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back Episode 106 Season 3 Most leaders communicate confidently yet aren’t clear or concise. How can you step up and help them when they don’t think they need it? The post Call back Episode – Providing senior leaders communication counsel appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back episode Episode 103 Season 3. Those periodic updates can be a burden no matter what side of the desk you’re on. The post Call Back EP – Why 1-on-1’s are mutually painful appeared first on Just Saying.