History, Humor, and Humanity: Lessons from King Charles III’s Address

History, Humor, and Humanity: Lessons from King Charles III’s Address

I was never prouder of being British than when I watched King Charles III’s powerful address to Congress. Yes, I love the Royals and have always been a fan of Charles, long before he was King. He was a man ahead of his time, caring deeply about climate, organic...
Why Brilliant Technical Experts Need Help Before High-Stakes Presentations

Why Brilliant Technical Experts Need Help Before High-Stakes Presentations

It never ceases to amaze me how many highly intelligent, accomplished professionals underestimate one critical truth: expertise does not automatically translate into persuasive communication. You may be a brilliant engineer, analyst, or executive. You may have spent...
How I Turned One Executive Conversation into Six Clients

How I Turned One Executive Conversation into Six Clients

Several years ago, after a presentation to professional speechwriters, John, the head of corporate communications at a large technology company, walked over and said, “I am going to set up a conversation with my boss, an executive with a Fortune 500 company. He is a...
The Emotional Charge of the F Word: Why Smart Leaders Think Twice

The Emotional Charge of the F Word: Why Smart Leaders Think Twice

 When my brother, Robert Fripp and I were little, if our mother was upset or frustrated, she would swear by saying, “Sugar” or “Spit.”  All the emotion without teaching her two sweet, innocent children ‘naughty’ words. Recently,  I watched the Michael...
How to Use a Teleprompter Without Sounding Like You’re Reading

How to Use a Teleprompter Without Sounding Like You’re Reading

When I coach executives and high-level conference speakers, one of the most misunderstood tools on stage is the teleprompter. Many of my clients speak at major conferences, where their speech is fed to a teleprompter positioned high enough that the audience barely...