The Communication Guys Podcast: Communication Excellence | Professional and Personal Success: Recent Episodes
Tim Downs and Dr. Tom Barrett: Speakers, Authors, Communication Trainers, E
Your ultimate level of success depends on your ability to express yourself in a creative, confident, and compelling way. Whether you speak, teach, or write, the same underlying principles of communication will guarantee excellence in whatever you do. The Communication Guys podcast teaches those timeless, universal principles and applies them to all forms of communication: spoken and written, personal and public, platform and small group. Tim Downs is a professional speaker, communication trainer, novelist, and cartoonist whose work has appeared in newspapers from the New York Post to the Los Angeles Times. Dr. Tom Barrett is an internationally recognized expert in the psychology of success who specializes in teaching communication skills, emotional intelligence, and business development to entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Is it possible to connect with someone whose politics or social views are the virtual opposite of your own? Yes, it is possible—and it’s important that we learn to do it, because the world is becoming angrier and more polarized than ever before. How will we solve the problems of the future if we can’t even talk to one another? Episode 174 of the Communication Guys podcast is “How to Connect in an Angry World,” where the Guys describe 5 essentials for beginning to connect with someone whose views are nothing like your own. This episode is a replay of one of our most timely and significant episodes, originally released as Episode 148.
Do your New Year’s resolutions have a way of vanishing, despite your best intentions? This week’s Communication Guys podcast is “Turning Resolutions into Reality,” where the Guys describe the key attitudes and habits that can make this year different and help you finally accomplish those dreams and goals. This episode is a replay of Episode 16.
Are you getting tired of the same old boring conversations? Then you’ll like this week’s Communication Guys podcast, “How to Create Fun and Meaningful Conversations,” where the Guys give creative suggestions for going a little deeper with friends and family this holiday season. This episode is a replay of one of our most popular podcasts, Episode 15.
You would be amazed at how much you can improve as a communicator in a single day. All you have to do is apply 5 simple techniques that will leave people wondering at the remarkable transformation that’s come over you. Today the Guys reveal those 5 life-changing techniques. Does it sound like we’re over-promising? Try it for one day and see for yourself. This episode is a replay of Episode 126.
According to research, the character quality that everyone instinctively looks for first is “warmth.” Do people perceive you as a “warm” person? Today the Guys discuss intriguing research in the social sciences that reveals the importance of personal warmth and give practical tips for developing that quality. This episode is a replay of one of our most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 120.
Why do park rangers lob explosives onto a mountainside to purposely start an avalanche? Answer: Because the avalanche you start yourself is the easiest one to control. In this episode The Guys explain how to deal with disagreements while they’re still minor grievances and before they erupt into full-blown battles. This episode is a replay of one of our most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 104.
Do you suffer from a “brain bias?” We all do. A brain bias is a faulty way of thinking that’s hardwired into every human brain. They’re common to all of us, and they can lead us to make some very bad decisions about the way we communicate. In this episode clinical psychologist Dr. Tom Barrett explains how a brain bias works, and describes 5 common brain biases that lead us all to some bad decisions. This episode is a replay of one of our most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 114.
Your current skills allowed you to land the job you have now, but what are the skills that will allow you to hold on to that job in the future? What are the skills that future employers will value most—the skills that will allow some to advance, while others remain stuck where they are? Today The Guys describe 5 increasingly important business skills that no successful person can afford to ignore. This episode is a replay of one of our most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 102.
Do you know how to tell a great story? Some do, most do not. Everyone agrees that stories are able to connect powerfully with listeners, but only if you know how to tell your story well. Today the Guys share 6 commonly overlooked principles that will help you shape and polish your stories for maximum impact. This episode is a replay of one of our most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 123.
Have you ever had a discussion where the stakes were high, opinions varied, and emotions were running strong? Master trainer Justin Hale from VitalSmarts, the organization responsible for the best-selling book, “Crucial Conversations,” explains how you can have a productive discussion even when passions are high. This episode is a replay of one of our most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 76.
When a conflict begins, what role do you naturally play: Victim, Persecutor, or Rescuer? According to Dr. Nate Regier, a conflict is like a drama that follows a predictable script, and we each play one of three roles in that drama. By understanding those roles and refusing to play them we can reduce the unpleasant drama that comes with conflict. In “Avoiding Drama in the Workplace,” the Guys continue their interview with Dr. Nate Regier, CEO of Next Element and author of the book, “Conflict Without Casualties.”
Are you sick and tired of conflict in your workplace? Do miscommunication and strained relationships drain your creative energy and keep you from being more productive? According to Dr. Nate Regier, CEO of Next Element, the average employee spends two hours of every workweek dealing with conflict. The solution? According to Dr. Regier, it all comes down to compassion. In “The Compassion Mindset,” the Guys interview Dr. Nate Regier about compassion: what it is, how to develop it, and how to use it to reduce the amount of conflict where you work.
What are the habits that all great communicators have in common? Andrew Blotky should know. His career has taken him from the White House to Facebook, and he’s seen the best. In his new book, “Honestly Speaking,” he describes the techniques they all seem to practice. In “25 Things All Great Communicators Do,” the Guys continue their interview with Andrew and discuss his list of essential habits for every effective communicator.
What does it take to communicate clearly, honestly and effectively in a business setting? Ask Andrew Blotky. For five years he led global employee communications at Facebook, at a time when Facebook was expanding its workforce from 5,000 to 30,000 employees worldwide. Business communication doesn’t get more challenging than that. In “The Golden Rule of Communication,” the Guys talk with Andrew about his new book, “Honestly Speaking: How the Way We Communicate Transforms Leadership, Love, and Life.”
Modern audiences place a high value on the quality of authenticity. But how can you be open and authentic without revealing too much—or the wrong thing? What makes the difference between an authentic moment and an awkward moment? How do you strike the delicate balance between “authentic” and “too much information?” In this episode, the Guys discuss the risks and rewards of authenticity, and explain how to make sure your openness and honesty work for you, not against you.
With all the criticism and negativity that surround us today, it can be hard to maintain a positive attitude. But when we tune out all negative-sounding comments, we risk cutting ourselves off from even the constructive criticism we desperately need to grow and improve. When that happens, you’ve become “bulletproof.” In this episode, the Guys discuss the reasons we all need to remain open to criticism, and explain how to tell the difference between constructive criticism and useless negativity.
Why are some people able to turn their great ideas into successful realities, while others allow their similar ideas to fade into distant memory? What marks the difference between a mere dreamer and someone who makes their dreams come true? Episode 158 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Give Your Idea a Chance to Live,” where the Guys discuss the reasons that we often ignore or reject our best ideas, and why your ability to communicate might make the difference between a good concept and a great reality.
At Stanford University’s prestigious Graduate School of Business, the most popular elective in their MBA program focuses not on business, but on Emotional Intelligence. Stanford’s best and brightest are taught that mastering this topic is crucial to their success in both business and relationships. In “5 Qualities of an Emotionally Intelligent Person,” the Guys describe 5 essential principles of Emotional Intelligence and explain its importance in our everyday lives.
In business as well as relationships, we sometimes make the mistake of focusing on the larger issues and forgetting that there are small things that have the power to make a remarkable difference. In this Communication Guys podcast, the Guys describe 6 simple, easy, but commonly overlooked practices that can greatly increase our ability to connect with others. This episode is a replay of one of our 10 most-downloaded programs, and was originally released as Episode 100.
Do conversations feel like a boulder you’re trying to roll uphill? Do your interactions with others seem like a fire that’s always about to go out—and it’s up to you to somehow keep the fire going? Do you feel like you’re always the one who has to carry the conversation? In this episode, The Guys give 5 practical tips for keeping a conversational fire burning and turning an exhausting burden into an effortless delight. This episode is a replay of one of our 10 most-downloaded episodes, and was originally released as Episode 103.
There’s a new mantra among communicators today: “Connection before content.” It means: Before you attempt to impart that fascinating content of yours, make sure you’ve established a personal connection with your audience. Today’s listeners want to know who you are before they’re willing to consider what you have to say. In “Connection Before Content,” the Guys give 5 principles for establishing the kind of personal connection that will make any audience eager to listen.
Did you know that the average businessperson sends or receives 105 emails every day? Have you noticed how many of them you ignore—and have you ever wondered if your co-workers are ignoring yours the same way? Episode 153 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Email Fails,” where the Guys give 5 principles for composing an email that’s sure to get opened and read.
Have you ever wondered if you would make a good emcee? We tend to think of an emcee as a comedian, but the truth is, there’s a lot more to being a master emcee than just being able to tell a few jokes. When you’re called on to host an entire event, will you know what to do? In “How to Be a Master Emcee,” the Guys describe the 5 key responsibilities of a great master of ceremonies. You’ll rarely hear these principles taught anywhere else.
Did you see the story in USA Today? A woman named Alexa Bjornson put her 7 year-old son Landon on a plane to fly to Portland all by himself. But Landon is autistic, and Alexa was afraid her son might annoy whoever might be sitting beside him. So Alexa wrote a note, enclosed a ten dollar bill, and told her son to give it to his seatmate. What happened next? In “A Story to Inspire Us All,” the Guys reveal the rest of Landon’s story and draw 5 communication lessons we should all learn from it.
Why are we so stingy with our words? Words are like a miracle drug: They have the power to soothe, restore, and even heal the people around us, yet we dispense that medicine so sparingly. What makes us so cautious? What holds us back? Episode 150 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Throw Me a Bone,” where the Guys describe 5 crucial aspects of life where we all need to become more generous with our words.
Are you a golfer, golf viewer, or even a golf widow? Then this episode is for you. Golf immortal Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is the closest game to the game we call life.” If he was right, there must be lessons we can learn about communication from the game of golf. Episode 149 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Communication Lessons from the Golf Course,” where the Guys draw 5 lessons from the links that may not lower your handicap, but will definitely improve your ability to connect.
Is it possible to connect with someone whose politics or social views are the virtual opposite of your own? Yes, it is possible—and it’s important that we learn to do it, because the world is becoming more polarized than ever before. How will we solve the problems of the future if we can’t even talk to one another? In “How to Connect with Someone You Hate,” where the Guys describe 5 essentials for beginning to connect with someone whose views are nothing like your own.
Have you ever left a conversation wondering if you talked too much? Why do we sometimes share more about ourselves than we mean to? Why do we sometimes dominate a conversation, only to wonder later why we did so? What are the subconscious drives that lead us to say too much? In “But Enough About Me,” the Guys reveal the 5 subconscious motivations that tempt all of us to say more than we mean to.
Episode 145 described 6 common techniques we all resort to in order to win an argument. They never seem to work—yet strangely, we continue to use these methods, hoping each time for a different outcome. In this episode, we’ll look at 6 more of those sure-to-win techniques that practically guarantee defeat. Episode 146 of the Communication Guys podcast is “6 MORE Ways to Lose an Argument,” where the Guys reveal 6 more tried-and-false approaches to conflict that we all need to give up for good.
No one likes conflict, so we often look for a shortcut that might bring the disagreement to a speedy conclusion. The problem is, some of those “shortcuts” turn out to be detours that take the conflict on a tangent or even make it worse—yet for some reason we continue to try these methods again and again, hoping each time for a better result. In “6 Ways to Lose an Argument,” the Guys describe 6 no-win approaches to conflict that all of us have tried—but none of us have succeeded with.
In a busy, noisy, distracted world, how can you help your listeners pay attention to what you’re saying? It’s a big problem for communicators today, whether you’re a teacher, a presenter, or even a parent. If your listeners’ minds are wandering, they’re not paying attention, and if your listeners aren’t paying attention, then you’re not connecting. In “How to Help Your Listeners Pay Attention,” the Guys discuss new research that might hold the key to creating the kind of focus that real connection requires.
Are you a fan of TED talks? Did you know that some of these 18-minute gems have been viewed more than 50 million times? What techniques do expert communicators use to grab your attention and hold it until the end? Episode 143 of the Communication Guys podcast is “How the Experts Make You Listen,” where the Guys analyze the principles used by some of the most popular TED talks of all time and explain how you can apply them in your own communication.
Each week you hear the Communication Guys talk about communication principles that can make you a more confident, compelling, and creative communicator in whatever you do. But this week, they get the chance to hear from you. Episode 142 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Glad You Asked,” where the Guys respond to communication-related questions and quandaries submitted by our listeners.
Scientists tell us that our thoughts can affect our physical health. Too much stress can raise your blood pressure; too much worry can give you an ulcer. That’s what scientists call the “mind-body connection,” but did you know that there’s a “body-mind connection” too? It’s true. What we do with our bodies can powerfully influence the way we think and feel. In Episode 141 the Guys explain how simple changes to your posture and movement can make you a more confident communicator.
Do people come to you for extra help, work, or favors because they know you’ll say yes? Do you quickly agree to the requests of others, but find yourself regretting it later? Do you ever feel taken advantage of because of your helpfulness? Episode 140 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Say What You Mean and Get What You Want,” where the Guys give practical principles for setting healthy boundaries by learning to say “No” in a positive and constructive way.
When you look back on your life one day, what will you regret most? In her book, “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,” Bronnie Ware describes the five most common regrets expressed to her by people she once cared for. She urges us all to address those issues while we still have the time, and to live the lives we’re truly here to live. In today's podcast the Guys explain those 5 Life Regrets, and give practical tips for beginning to lead a fulfilling and regret-free life.
We all have battles to fight, whether at work or at home. The trick is know which battles to fight, which to postpone, and which to run from. No one knew more about fighting battles than the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu, who wrote the classic book on military strategy, “The Art of War.” What can a Chinese warrior teach us about choosing our own battles? Today the Guys draw principles from “The Art of War” to give time-tested advice for achieving victory in your own battles.
How “connected” is your workplace? Businesses used to believe that social connections between employees were unnecessary and potentially distracting. Now they understand that creating ways for employees to connect is the key to unlocking their employees’ full potential and getting the most from their talents. In “How to Connect in the Workplace,” the Guys explain the importance of social connection at work and give practical tips for connecting with your coworkers.
Do you ever feel discouraged or disappointed after a big presentation? Do you feel as if you’ve failed in some way, and become overly critical of your performance? The “post-presentation letdown” is a common experience among communicators, and if you’re not careful it can lead you to make bad decisions and draw the wrong conclusions. In “Dealing with Post-Presentation Discouragement,” the Guys explain the causes behind the letdown, and give tips for dealing with it in a constructive way.
Are you an introvert? Have you ever noticed that it’s the outgoing, enthusiastic, dominant personalities that seem to get all the attention—and the promotions? Have you wondered if someone like you has what it takes to become an outstanding communicator? Episode 135 of the Communication Guys podcast is “Why Introverts Can Be Great Communicators,” where the Guys describe the overlooked talents that introverts naturally possess, and explain how to capitalize on those talents.
Could you use a good laugh? Then today’s episode is for you. Are you looking for profound insight into communication theory and practice? Come back next week. Today is April Fools’ Day, when the Communication Guys like to relax, kick back, and have a few laughs at someone else’s expense. Life doesn’t get much better than that! Episode 134 of the Communication Guys podcast is “The Annual April Fools’ Episode,” where the Guys pay tribute to the stupid things all of us have probably said. Enjoy!
Do you have trouble remembering names? You know the names of the people who are important to you, but what about all the co-workers, neighbors, and casual acquaintances in your life? One of the simplest and most powerful ways to “connect with your world” is by understanding the power of a person’s name. Episode 133 of the Communication Guys podcast is “The Incredible Power of a Name,” where the Guys explain why names are so important and give practical tips for remembering them.
Did you know the United Nations wants you to be happy? It’s true. In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that recognized happiness as a “fundamental human goal,” and established March 20 as the annual “International Day of Happiness.” In honor of this week's “International Day of Happiness,” this Communication Guys podcast is “Quick Tips for a Great Day,” where the Guys suggest 5 simple tips for increasing your happiness today.
There’s a wise old saying: “Aim at nothing, and you’ll hit it every time.” Sometimes we rush into an important conversation without taking the time to consider what we’re really aiming at. What is the purpose of this conversation? What do I want from it, and how will I know if the conversation was successful or not? Episode 131 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Tips for the Toughest Conversations,” where the Guys give 5 tips for making sure your next important conversation starts on target and stays on track.
Do you ever lie to yourself? Self-talk is one of the most powerful forms of communication, because those are the messages you tell yourself. After all, if you’re the one saying it, it must be true—right? Not necessarily. Episode 130 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Don't You Believe It,” where the Guys describe 5 common lies we tell ourselves that affect the way we feel and influence the decisions we make.
The bad news is that words have the power to wound, discourage, and destroy. Your words could be ruining your career or hurting someone you love. The good news is that words also have the power to heal. Used wisely, they can encourage, inspire, and even bring someone back from the brink of despair. Episode 129 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Heal with Words,” where the Guys describe the remarkable restorative power that words can have—in the hands of a skilled communicator.
Words have the power to motivate, encourage, and inspire, but they also have the power to wound, discourage, and even destroy. Your words could be ruining your career or hurting someone you love without you even knowing it. Episode 128 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Kill with Words,” where the Guys explore the dark side of words and the unforeseen ways we might be using them to harm ourselves and others.
A simple compliment can help someone recognize their talent or potential, or it can motivate them to keep going or take a chance on something new. The right compliment has the power to redirect an entire life. Episode 127 of The Communication Guys podcast is “The Amazing Power of a Compliment,” where the Guys discuss the overlooked power of compliments, and why they’re so difficult to both give and receive.
You would be amazed at how much you can improve as a communicator in a single day. All you have to do is apply 5 simple but radical techniques that will leave people wondering at the remarkable transformation that’s come over you. Episode 126 of The Communication Guys podcast is “The 1 Day Communication Challenge,” where the Guys reveal those 5 life-changing techniques. Does it sound like we’re over-promising? Try it for one day and see for yourself.
When you approach an important conversation, do your best-laid plans seem to vanish from your mind as you find yourself winging it and making regrettable mistakes? What are the most important things for you to remember? What do you need to review before a significant conversation begins? Episode 125 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Prepare for Successful Conversations,” where the Guys list the 5 most important things to keep in mind before any important conversation.
Meet an NYU professor with a Ph.D. in Computer Science who decided to find out how most people finish those sentences. Last year he collected 600 million posts from Twitter to see if he could determine what people “wish, want, and love” most. Episode 124 of The Communication Guys podcast is “What the World Wants Most,” where the Guys reveal the 5 top wishes, wants, and loves of people everywhere. The findings might surprise you, and reveal some valuable tips for lasting happiness.
Do you know how to tell a great story? Some do, but the truth is that most do not. Everyone agrees that stories are able to connect powerfully with listeners, but only if you know how to tell your story well. Episode 123 of The Communication Guys podcast is “The 6 Rules of Storytelling,” where the Guys share 6 commonly overlooked principles that will help you shape and polish your stories for maximum impact.
Does your job involve presenting data or statistics? Have you ever noticed that your listeners begin to glaze over when you do? We live in the age of Big Data, but numbers have the unfortunate habit of putting people into a Big Sleep. In this week's episode the Guys describe 5 practical ways to make your numbers clear, compelling, and memorable.
It’s the start of a brand new year, and everyone is advising you to set greater goals and higher expectations for the year ahead. But what about the goals you set last year? Did you fulfill all of them? Before you turn your eyes to the future, are there important lessons to be learned from your past? In this week's episode the Guys encourage everyone to identify the lessons of last year’s disappointments before setting goals and expectations for the new year ahead.
When you meet someone for the first time, they form an impression of you in a matter of seconds—and that first impression is very hard to change. According to research, the character quality that everyone instinctively looks for first is “warmth.” Do people perceive you as a “warm” person? In this episode the Guys discuss intriguing research in the social sciences that reveals the importance of personal warmth and give practical tips for developing that quality.
Do you know what you sound like to others? Do your listeners perceive you as weak? Blunt? Rude? Overpowering? Sometimes our perception of ourselves doesn’t match the way we actually come across, and that’s when communication can break down. This week's episode is “Do You Know What You Sound Like to Others?” where the Guys discuss how to avoid career-endangering blind spots by learning to hear yourself the way others hear you.
According to today’s guest, much of what you’ve heard about millennials isn’t true. She should know: She’s a millennial herself, and she built a nationally-known company by hiring only millennials. Today the Guys continue their interview with Kristen Hadeed, founder of the company Student Maid and author of the bestselling business book, “Permission to Screw Up: How I Learned to Lead by Doing (Almost) Everything Wrong.”
Did you ever make a major mistake in your business? Meet a woman who launched a cleaning business while she was still a college student, signed a contract to clean 800 apartments, then had 75% of her employees quit on their first day of work. Today the Guys interview Kristen Hadeed, founder of the company Student Maid and author of the bestselling business book, “Permission to Screw Up: How I Learned to Lead by Doing (Almost) Everything Wrong.”
Do you ever feel lonely? Did you know that in a recent survey of 3,000 corporate CEOs, more than 50% described themselves as feeling isolated and lonely? The fact is, we’re now living in what many experts are calling an “epidemic of loneliness.” Episode 116 of The Communication Guys podcast is “The Epidemic of Loneliness,” where the Guys offer 5 insights into where this epidemic came from, why it’s become so prevalent, and what each of us can do to overcome it.
Are you a grateful person? Do you make a habit of expressing gratitude to others? We all love to receive gratitude, but did you know that there are tangible benefits for the person who gives it? Episode 115 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Why Gratitude is Good for Your Health,” where the Guys describe 5 personal benefits of a lifestyle of gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving to all our listeners here in the U.S.!
Do you suffer from a “brain bias?” We all do. A brain bias is a faulty way of thinking that’s hardwired into every human brain. They’re common to all of us, and they can lead us to make some very bad decisions about the way we communicate. Episode 114 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Why We Make Bad Communication Choices,” where clinical psychologist Dr. Tom Barrett explains how a brain bias works, and describes 5 common brain biases that lead us all to some bad decisions.
Did you know that one of America’s founding fathers made a lifelong study of conversational skills? He formed a club for his friends and colleagues whose sole purpose was to allow them to become better communicators. What did he learn from his years of study, and what can we learn from him today? Episode 113 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Conversation Tips from a Founding Father,” where The Guys recount 5 “conversational sins” identified by one of America’s first citizens. His insights are almost 300 years old, but just as relevant today.
Of all the critical issues related to communication, what’s the most important topic of all? Not this one—this episode is just for fun, and we had a lot of laughs recording it. Episode 112 of The Communication Guys podcast is “5 Reasons to Enjoy Halloween,” where The Guys reminisce about their own memories of Halloween, and offer perceptive insights like “Candy is good” and “We all need to lighten up.” Will you be a better communicator after this episode? No—but you’ll be in a better mood.
How do you deal with a person who always blames their problems on someone or something else? How do you relate to someone who constantly complains but never accepts advice, because they’ve cast themselves in the role of helpless victim? Episode 111 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Deal with a Victim Mentality,” where The Guys describe the characteristics of a victim mentality, and offer advice on the best way to manage a worker or loved one who has that mindset.
Are you an entrepreneur? What exactly is an entrepreneur? Does the label rightly apply to anyone who starts a business, is self-employed, or has a clever idea? Or does that word imply something more? Episode 110 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Are You Really an Entrepreneur?” where The Guys describe 5 characteristics of a true entrepreneur, and what we can all learn from the great ones.
What are the critical elements in crafting a powerful story? As important as stories are in business communication, why do so many executives hesitate to tell them? When are the right and wrong times to include a story, and what are the biggest mistakes we make in telling them? Episode 109 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Tell Me a Story or Tell Me Goodbye, Part 2,” where The Guys continue their interview with Jerome Deroy, CEO of Narativ, on the increasingly important skill of “business storytelling.”
Have you ever noticed that great leaders are almost always great storytellers? Why is that? What do they understand about the power of storytelling, and what can we learn from them? Episode 108 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Tell Me a Story or Tell Me Goodbye, Part 1,” where The Guys interview Jerome Deroy, CEO of Narativ, a company that teaches salespeople, Chief People Officers, executives, and teams the art of “business storytelling.”
Have you reached a plateau in your career? Do you sometimes feel as if you’re standing still, while you’re forced to watch co-workers with no more education or experience than you get promoted to positions that you think you deserve? In Episode 107 of The Communication Guys podcast, The Guys explain the reasons why we hit career plateaus, and give 5 tips for preparing a response strategy that can help you move beyond them.
Are you trying to pitch a product or service, but for some reason your customer just doesn’t seem interested? Are you proposing a partnership—either with a business colleague or with a romantic interest—but your proposal is being greeted with a yawn? You might be making a classic marketing mistake. In this episode of The Communication Guys podcast, The Guys describe the subtle differences between features, benefits, and results, and the role that each plays in making a successful pitch.
Have you lost the ability to find pleasure in things you normally enjoy? Do you struggle with a sense of fatigue that you just can’t shake? Do you feel as though you’ve lost passion, creativity, patience, and tolerance with others? You may be suffering from burnout. In this episode, The Guys describe how to recognize the early symptoms of burnout and how to deal with it before it takes control of your life.
Why do park rangers lob explosives onto a mountainside to purposely start an avalanche? Answer: Because the avalanche you start yourself is the easiest one to control. Episode 104 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Dealing with Conflicts Before they Become Conflicts,” where The Guys explain how to deal with disagreements while they’re still minor grievances and before they erupt into full-blown battles.
Do conversations feel like a boulder you’re trying to roll uphill? Do your interactions with others seem like a fire that’s always about to go out—and it’s up to you to somehow keep the fire going? Do you feel like you’re always the one who has to carry the conversation? In this episode, The Guys give 5 practical tips for keeping a conversational fire burning and turning an exhausting burden into an effortless delight.
Your current skills allowed you to land the job you have now, but what are the skills that will allow you to hold on to that job in the future? What are the skills that future employers will value most—the skills that will allow some to advance, while others remain stuck where they are? In this episode, The Guys describe 5 increasingly important but commonly neglected business skills that no successful person can afford to ignore.
How many times are you interrupted in the average day? Does it make you feel angry or disrespected? The truth is, sometimes you have to interrupt, so how do you do it in a way that doesn’t make you seem rude, annoying, or thoughtless? In Episode 101 of The Communication Guys podcast, the Guys describe the delicate art of cutting in without creating anger and resentment in your listener.
In business as well as relationships, we sometimes make the mistake of focusing on the larger issues and forgetting that there are small things that have the power to make a remarkable difference. In this Communication Guys podcast, the Guys describe 6 simple, easy, but commonly overlooked practices that can greatly increase our ability to connect with others.
Do you ever get tired of conversations where everyone is competing for the spotlight and bragging about their accomplishments? Is boasting, resume padding, and inflated claims of past achievement the only path to success in your career? In today’s episode, the Guys discuss an undervalued and overlooked quality that’s finally beginning to receive the attention it deserves. If you really want to learn to stand out from the crowd, this episode is for you.
How important are communication skills to overall business success? What communication abilities do all great leaders share? What communication blunders do we commonly commit that might limit our career potential? Episode 98 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How the Best Get to the Top,” where The Guys interview Valerie Norton, Chief People Officer of Habitat for Humanity International, about the critical role of communication skills in career advancement.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by words? What did Francois Fenelon mean when he warned us, “The more you say, the less people remember?” Does endless chatter sometimes seem like a form of mental pollution—and are you contributing to it? In this episode, The Guys discuss the incredible power of brevity and explain why, when it comes to modern communication, sometimes less is more.
Do you know what to do to connect with an audience in a powerful and compelling way? Do you know the five things that a communicator should NEVER do? In today’s Communication Guys podcast the Guys describe 5 common and seemingly innocent mistakes communicators make that can sabotage your ability to connect with a listener.
A powerful quotation has the power to lift your spirits, give you new insight, and even change your whole outlook on life. It’s like a “thought bomb” that goes off inside your head and sends shock waves throughout your mind and heart. In Episode 95 of The Communication Guys podcast The Guys present some of their favorite quotations to set off some mental fireworks and get you thinking about what it really means to “connect with your world.”
What does Manhattan divorce attorney James Sexton mean when he advises clients to “Make the holes you dig shallow?” What does he mean when he says, “You can be right, or you can be happy?” And why does he tell people, “If I were designing an infidelity-generating machine, it would be Facebook?” Episode 94 of The Communication Guys podcast is “A Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Staying Together,” the second- of a fascinating two-part interview with bestselling author James Sexton about his new book, “If You’re In My Office, It’s Already Too Late.”
James Sexton is a high-powered Manhattan divorce attorney who has facilitated the demise of more than a thousand marriages. Over the years he has cataloged the problems that most commonly drive couples apart—and he can tell you how to keep them from happening to you. Episode 93 of The Communication Guys podcast is “A Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Staying Together,” where the Guys interview bestselling author James Sexton about his new book, “If You’re In My Office, It’s Already Too Late.”
Do you ever get the feeling that people are ignoring you? Does it seem like people often “talk over” you in conversations? Do you find yourself wondering if your listeners are really paying attention? They may not be ignoring you; they might not be able to hear you. Episode 92 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Why Can't People Hear Me?,” where The Guys respond to a listener’s question by describing six common voice problems that can hinder your ability to connect with your world.
A busy executive doesn’t have the time or patience to endure reports that are vague, disorganized, or irrelevant to her needs. If you report to an executive, your job may depend on your ability to deliver the information she wants exactly the way she wants it. Episode 91 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Brief an Executive,” where the Guys describe what busy executives need most and explain how to make sure your next report is exactly what the boss desires.
How do you bring up a problem at work or a concern at home without sounding like you’re just complaining? And when the problem has to be brought up more than once, how can you avoid being labeled as a “whiner?” Episode 90 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Complain Without Whining,” where the Guys give five practical tips for voicing those concerns in a positive and constructive way.
Did you hear about the woman who visited a marina intending to buy a pontoon boat, but left with a yacht instead? We heard the story from Steve Hedrick—the man who sold it to her. Episode 89 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Discover What your Customer Really Wants,” where master salesman Steve Hedrick explains how to find out what your customer really desires without sounding pushy, prying, or manipulative.
We live in a time where celebrities and public figures seem to offer public apologies on a weekly basis—and sometimes those apologies sound less-than-convincing. What makes a good apology? It’s a crucial question for both businesses and relationships alike. Episode 88 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Apologize,” where the Guys describe the five crucial elements of every thorough, genuine, and satisfying apology.
Are meetings the bane of your business? Do poorly-planned conference room gatherings steal your time and challenge the limits of your endurance? What can you do to get more from a meeting when you’re not the one who’s running it? Episode 87 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Keep Meetings from Wasting your Time,” where the Guys describe specific things you can do before, during, and after a meeting to make it more productive.
Do you ever find yourself in the middle of an argument and wonder how it could have been avoided? Do your casual conversations have a habit of escalating into heated debates? Episode 86 of The Communication Guys podcast is “10 Ways to Not Start an Argument,” where the Guys give ten practical tips to help you bite your tongue, avoid the fray, and make sure that friendly conversation remains on friendly terms.
Why is the world so polarized today? Why does it seem harder to connect with your world than ever before? How did we get that way, and what can we do about it? Today’s Communication Guys podcast is “Try to See it My Way,” where the Guys interview communication scholar Dr. Tim Muehlhoff about a critical first-step in connecting with others: trying to see the world through their eyes.
How do you offer badly-needed criticism to a co-worker who might not take it well? It’s for his own good, it’s for the company, it’s for the team—but how are you supposed to make your suggestion without setting off a nuclear counterattack? Episode 84 of The Communication Guys podcast is “This is For Your Own Good,” where the Guys suggest five techniques for offering criticism in a way that gets your point across but also keeps the peace.
Think your product or company could use a little more sizzle? Meet Hollywood editor Marc Elmer, who helped turn the topic of alligator trappers in the Louisiana bayou into the internationally successful TV show “Swamp People.” Episode 83 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Make a Boring Topic Fascinating,” where Marc explains to the Guys the techniques that Hollywood professionals use to develop a rabid fan base for even the most unexpected topics.
Learning to connect with your world is a serious business—but there’s a lighter side to it too. Episode 82 of The Communication Guys podcast is “The April Fools Episode,” where the Guys lean back, share some laughs, and recall stories from their 35 years of professional speaking experience when things didn’t go quite the way they planned.
When most people think of Sales, they focus on the sales presentation itself. But the success of your presentation just might depend on what you do before and after the sale. Episode 81 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Before and After the Sale,” where master salesman Doug Traxler explains to the Guys the often overlooked parts of the sales process that every salesperson needs to remember.
This week marks the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere, a time to clean out those dust bunnies and cobwebs that have accumulated over the winter. It’s a good time to clean out some bad communication habits too. Episode 80 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Spring Cleaning for Communicators,” where the Guys describe five ways to eliminate those old bad habits and identify your most promising areas for growth and improvement.
Sometimes our desire to tell a great story tempts us to embellish it a little—or as the Irish would say, to allow a “wee bit o’ blarney” to creep in. But if those embellishments turn out to be untrue, your credibility suffers. Episode 79 of The Communication Guys podcast is “How to Keep Blarney Out of Your Communication,” where the Guys describe five ways to remain ethical and compelling at the same time.
Every chef knows that it helps to have all the ingredients at hand before you start a creative new recipe, and preparing a great presentation is no different. Episode 78 is “Recipe for a Great Presentation,” where the Guys describe eight essential ingredients to make sure you gather before you write that next presentation.
What can you do when a conversation starts to turn angry or offensive? Today’s Communication Guys podcast is Part 2 of “Crucial Conversations,” where the Guys continue their interview with master trainer Justin Hale from VitalSmarts. In this episode, Justin gives 4 questions to ask yourself that can turn the tide whenever a conversation begins to go bad.
Have you ever had a discussion where the stakes were high, opinions varied, and emotions were running strong? In today’s Communication Guys podcast the Guys interview master trainer Justin Hale from VitalSmarts, the organization responsible for the best-selling book, “Crucial Conversations.” In this two-part interview, Justin explains how you can have a productive discussion even when passions are high.
Who is the most fascinating person you ever met? The world is filled with interesting people with fascinating stories to tell, if we would only take the time to ask and listen. Episode 75 of The Communication Guys podcast is “Everybody Has a Story,” where the Guys give 5 tips for expanding your world by becoming a master story listener.