Episodes

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.

As the author of “NOISE”, I was convinced that adding a connected device to my wrist was a really bad idea. I was completely wrong. The post Episode 164– My Apple Watch surprise appeared first on Just Saying.

Most people do not look forward to getting up in front of crowds and talking. When the moment arises – and it inevitably will – how can you deal with the fear and emerge intact? The post Episode 163– Overcoming your fear of public speaking appeared first on Just Saying.

WIFM is a call to action, not a radio station. For effective communicators, this acronym is the key to ensuring that others tune in and stop tuning out. The post Episode 162– WIFM (what’s in it for me?) appeared first on Just Saying.

Sometimes you need to get inside your head to stop what’s getting inside your head. Inspired by fellow instructors, I share a few short lessons on the role of quiet time to tackle the “noise” that constantly competes for your attention. The post Episode 161– A significant emotional event appeared first on Just Saying.

You race around all day, leaving little to no time to prepare for your next important moment to communicate. In this episode, you will learn the value of a set time for quiet that lowers the volume and increases the clarity. The post Episode 160– A better way to prepare appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back episode #7 recorded March 2017 It’s no surprise that Elon Musk and Tesla have been on a roll. It started a decade ago with a clear and concise story declaring their purpose and plan. The post Call Back Episode – Tesla’s not-so-secret strategy appeared first on Just Saying.

You may be so busy working on the solution that you’ve all forgotten what problem you are actually trying to solve. Stop for a minute and consider how important explaining this short statement is for you and everyone else. The post Episode 159– Crafting a clear problem statement appeared first on Just Saying.

Call back episode #67 recorded December 2018 In a moment of serious difficulty, pain, challenge or set back, can you hear the rising voice of an inner critic? How can we change that negative influence? Links: INC magazine article: https://www.inc.com/chris-winfield/is-stomping-ants-the-key-to-living-a-happier-life.html The post Call Back Episode – Talking yourself through adversity appeared first on Just Saying.

If you had to choose between a simple explanation or a complicated one, you’d always choose simple. Yet people who need to provide the explanation struggle with making the choice to simplify and doing the hard work up front. The post Episode 158– Simple vs. complicated appeared first on Just Saying.

What stops us from making time for people? There are plenty of excuses that make us unavailable, but what can we do to value those around us more? The post Episode 157– Too busy for people? appeared first on Just Saying.

Changing a culture requires commitment on all levels. Setting an organizational standard to value the quality and quantity of communication may require even more effort than that. The post Episode 156– Creating a culture of brevity appeared first on Just Saying.

There’s a deepening concern in many circles of openly speaking your mind. How should we work to overcome a range of fears, from simple tension and disagreement to outright cancellation and painful reprisal? The post Episode 155 – Being afraid to communicate appeared first on Just Saying.