Category: News

Could You Locate it on a Map?

Geography was never my strongest subject, but it wasn’t my weakest either. At least, I didn’t think so, until ...

And the Award for Best Actor in a Debate Goes to…?

I’ve never been a follower of the Oscars, Grammys, Tonys or other major awards shows, but if there were Emmy's ...

What Do You Do if Your Backup Plan Fails?

My heart was in my throat. After seven years of blood, sweat and tears (okay, maybe not actual blood, ...

How Do You Announce Change?

Everyone has needs; some of them are just more intuitive than others. Ever ask yourself, “Why do I always ...

How High is the Mountain You Need to Climb?

In the summer of 2000 I was living in Japan, and decided to accept a friend’s mountain of a challenge. ...

When is the Right Time to Take the Leap of Faith?

We all have to make key decisions from time to time that we know will change the course of our ...

That’s When I Sat Up and Took Notice

Sometimes the person who is the least qualified on paper makes the most profound and lasting impression. A few ...

Want to Know What Charisma Looks Like? Watch This.

One of my all-time favorite books on leadership presence is Olivia Fox Cabane’s The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master ...

What Do You Value The Most? (Are you sure?)

When I was a kid, I remember my grandmother saying, “Laura, the older you get, the faster time goes.” ...

What Instrument Were You Born to Play?

Old habits die hard. Maybe it’s something in the water, or the phase of the moon, but I’m amazed at ...

How to Make Someone’s Day

One challenge I have consistently heard people struggle with is how to initiate or break into a conversation at a ...

Are you being humble, or Just Timid?

There’s one question I hear more than any other when helping clients prepare for career interviews: “How can I ...

Does This Habit Hold You Captive?

Senior year in high school, my history class took a field trip to Washington DC. There were a lot of ...

Is it More Important to Be Comfortable or Truthful?

I was in a business development seminar a while ago, when the facilitator said three words that smacked me in ...

What if You’re Not the Obvious Choice?

“Did you always know that this was what you wanted to do for a living?” “Sweetheart, I didn’t even ...

Which Pitch Will Change Your Life?

As the story goes, Colonel Harland Sanders was rejected 1009 times before someone believed in him and the secret recipe ...

The Truth about what Happens to Your Brain on Zoom Meetings

Some traditions are powerful, even in their simplicity. This weekend we celebrated Memorial Day, an annual favorite holiday of ...

Which is More Intentional: How You Speak or How You Live?

I’ve always been a huge musical theater fan. Show-stopping tunes like “One Day More” from Les Miserables, “The Gods Love ...

Why and How to Take the (Verbal) Road Less Traveled

Do any of the following sound familiar? You thought you hit reply… but actually hit reply-all You agreed to ...

Why Does a Dog Wag Its Tail?

Q: “Why does a dog wag its tail?” A: “Because the dog is smarter than the tail. If the tail ...

How to Be a Fly on the Wall

Did you ever wish you could be a fly on a wall, undetected but freely able to listen to people’s ...

Why Their Story is Better than Yours

One of the most popularly referenced passages from the Bible – which most people don’t realize is from the Bible ...

Are You Talking to the Right Person?

One of my favorite American “philosophers” was former New York Yankee catcher and later manager and coach, Yogi Berra. ...

Here’s How to Make Your Own Luck

One thing was certain: I was NOT dressed for a job interview. It was early December, 1994, and I was ...

How to Bring Your Passion to Work to Influence Others

Do you ever feel like the whole world thinks they know how to do your job (and that it’s easy)? ...

What do Passion and Suffering have in Common?

I love when I get to “geek out” on you for a second, so here’s one for your “wow, I ...

Was That Supposed to be Funny?

The emcee of the dinner social event warned me ahead of time: “It’s 300 partners from the law firm, and ...

How to Combat the Fear of Uncertainty at Work

It almost sounds like the opening of a cliché movie: An asteroid is on its way hurtling toward earth, and ...

Do Your Words Create a Legacy?

We all want to make an impact in life, but I realized recently that setting our goals permanently at “make ...

Are You Penny-Wise but Pound-Foolish When You Talk?

If I looked up the idiom “Bull in a china shop,” it would not have surprised me if I saw ...

Do You Just Want Me to Rubber-Stamp This?

Q: What is a camel? A: A horse designed by committee. (Okay, there’s your first groaner of the new ...

What NOT to Do with Smart People

I don’t know about you, but I often find that the best advice is not only crystal clear and simple… ...

Is it Just the Illusion of Being Heard?

One experience that always makes me question my own sanity is when I come out of a meeting or conversation ...

Why Would You Partner with Him?

I love stories of unlikely allegiances that lead not only to triumph, but to a “win” for the greater good. ...

Are You Willing to Bet On Yourself ?

I am what some might call an “accidental entrepreneur.” Nearly 15 years ago when I was finishing grad school, ...

This is How I Show my Gratitude

This week is full of diverse experiences that remind me of my many privileges for which I am grateful. On ...

The Most Important Question You Must Answer

Last week I received a great surprise invitation that made me put my money where my mouth is. Kelsey ...

What’s the Easiest Way to Expand Your Influence?

There are two ways to make yourself indispensable: 1. You can provide the grease that helps the wheels of the ...

What do Goat Yoga and Business Development Have in Common?

Q: What do “goat yoga” and business development have in common? A: They both require you to do a LOT ...

Did You Know That Went into Your Coffee?

“Would you like anything to drink?” the waitress asked. ...

How to Take the Awkward out of the Silence

Just for fun, here’s a two-question music history pop quiz for you: Q1. On December 4, 1965, what song ...

That’s Great, But What’s the Catch?

How many times has someone made you an offer, given a gift, or done something nice for you out of ...

That Sounded SO Much Better in My Head…

I don’t get starstruck easily. But apparently, I’m not immune. Most of you know I’m a foodie. I love to ...

How to Listen Past Your Ego

Just about everyone likes movies of one sort or other. Sometimes I need a straight-up “feel good” movie to put ...

When to Admit You Don’t Know the Answer

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” ...

How to Locate Your Blindspot

We all have a blind spot. You know I’m right, because like everyone else, you’ve probably had more than one ...

What Do You Need to Let Go?

One of the funniest series of ads on television a few years ago was for the website letgo.com. Imagine the ...

Do You Live in a Google-Search World?

A little while ago I got a rather funny message accompanying an invitation from someone to connect on LinkedIn: ...

How to Ask for What You Want

I knew “Angela” had been on a job interview, so I was eager to hear how it went during our ...

How to Create More Impact in People’s Lives

Here in the US, on Monday we celebrated Independence Day. There are many inspiring quotations about related themes of freedom, ...

How to Activate Your Limitless Potential

Ask yourself this: How often do you catch yourself putting something off over and over, making excuses for why you ...

Are You Asking the Right Question?

I have to say, the fireworks in Disney World were truly impressive, but they weren’t half as impressive as what ...

How Can You Measure Your Qualitative ROI?

It’s official, summer vacation is here, the kids are out of school, and this week I’m revisiting a place I ...

Have You Ever Felt Like You Just Can’t Be Yourself?

“Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.” This piece of ageless wisdom has been attributed to many ...

What if Your Job was to Help Others Have More Fun?

I recently finished running a half-day “Speaking to Influence” training for a client’s leadership team and received an unusual question ...

We Couldn’t Have Done It Without You

I can’t wait to click “Send” this week! We have multiple major milestones (how’s that for alliteration?) to celebrate, ...

Is It Important to Be Liked?

News flash: I was NOT part of the popular crowd in high school. Why? As Shakespeare said, “Let me count ...

Who is in Your Corner?

Sunday was Mother’s Day, which for me is always a time of gratitude and reflection… and marveling, if I’m being ...

How to Prevent Zoom Fatigue

Last week, after running a half-day virtual training for a major client, I received a unique “complaint”. At the ...

Why You Must Connect with Your Audience

My heart sank as I saw the red flashing lights in my rearview mirror. “Do you know why I ...

Can You Believe We’ve Reached This Milestone?

Honestly, I’m not sure I originally believed we’d get this far. In the beginning of 2020 I decided I ...

Do You Feel Guilty Investing in Yourself?

My heart was in my throat as I read aloud the digits on my credit card, one by one. ...

Do You Ever Feel Like the Dumbest Kid in Class?

I will never forget how stupid I felt in class that day. I was fortunate to spend my junior ...

What to Do When You Don’t Speak Their Language

I am a lot of things (and I’ve been called a lot of things): executive coach linguist mother teacher “Jersey Italian” ...

The Key to Leadership is… FUN?

Have you ever felt like your job was all about trying to make a square peg fit into a round ...

How to Create an Experience for Your Audience

My wedding day was one of the best days of my life, because I got to do two things I ...

What to Do When There’s No Undo Button

My husband and I are big fans of musical theater, and on Saturday, as a belated Valentine’s Day celebration, we ...

What I Want for My Birthday

Yes, it’s official: Today is my birthday! I’m not usually one to make a fuss or need a party, ...

Do You Speak from Your Right Brain or Left Brain?

I heard it again the other day. In speaking with a colleague, she described her partner as being “such ...

Do You Wish People Could Read Your Mind

When I was first out of college (many, many moons ago,) I taught third grade in south-central Los Angeles. One ...

How to Explain Your Business in One Sentence

Q: How is solving problems like wearing a miner’s headlamp? A: Because it let’s you see everyone else’s clearly, but ...

What To Do When You Can’t See the Staircase

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” -The ...

When to Use Honey and When to Use Vinegar

“Which is right? Being clear and direct, or sugar-coating everything?” If I had a dollar for every time a ...

How to Become Captivating in 2022

( Comic by José María Nieto @humorjmnieto) Happy New Year! Why happy? Because I’m choosing to make ...

Why We Self-Sabotage and How to Break the Cycle

I did it again. This weekend I started my annual Christmas cookie baking frenzy, which is always fun and ...

What to Do When You’ve Lost Your Audience

A little while ago I was running a day-long training for the national sales leadership team – about 100 people ...

What a 4-Year-Old and an Alzheimer’s Patient can Teach Us about Leadership

A few years ago, about midway through my dad's progressive battle with Alzheimer's, I remember getting an exasperated phone call ...

Take the Quiz: Which Thanksgiving Food are You?

It's two days before Thanksgiving, and knowing that in 48 hours I'll be hosting two dozen people for the first ...

How to Take the Road Less Stupid

If I'm going to be honest with myself, I have to admit that many of my greatest strengths and my ...

4 People Who Inspire Me

(Read to the bottom for four gifts you can give to yourself and others!) Some days we need a ...

How Did You Get That From What I Said?

It has happened to all of us at one point or another. We're having a conversation with someone, and ...

When Should You Judge a Book By Its Cover?

When I was first setting out on my own as a consultant and entrepreneur after grad school, I had a ...

How to Know When You’re Hypnotized

Last weekend I saw an amazing stage act. A hypnotist brought a dozen people on stage and before we knew ...

What NOT to Do in Your Investor Pitch

I love an encore. An encore means the audience loved every minute of the experience and wants even more. I ...

When I Had to Eat My Words

I don't know about you, but I'm really glad words don't have calories… because I eat WAY too many of ...

What My Kids Taught Me About Leadership

Today is National Sons Day and what better way to celebrate this than to honor the boys (and all children) in our ...

Here’s Why You Should Still Look the Part

A couple of weeks ago I had an experience that felt oddly foreign to me. I had the pleasure ...

Forget Lemons- What To Do When Life Gives You Manure

Many of you know that I live in a suburb of Philadelphia, not far from the beautiful Longwood Gardens. (You ...

How Your Mindset Pulls You Away from Your Dreams

Yesterday was Labor Day, a day to reflect with gratitude on the work we have, and all those who labor ...

When You Should Not Mind Your Own Business

(Read all the way to the bottom to learn about an exciting new Discovery Network show!) My third grade ...

What It Takes to be an Influencer

Don't you wish that when you explain things to people, they'd just listen, get it, and follow your advice? ...

Are You Afraid to Raise Your Hand?

On Friday my 5-year-old son came home from the library with a storybook I'd never heard of before: Raise Your Hand, by ...

How to Raise Awareness of Your Brand

If there's one thing I have learned in 13 years of entrepreneurship and starting four different companies to varying degrees ...

Want to Be a Podcast Guest?

Recently I was beginning a zoom call with a client when I heard a lot of rustling and realized she ...

How to Build Rapport Over Zoom

When you're meeting someone important for the first time on video conference, do you ever wish you could delete your ...

Do You Suffer from Toxic Positivity?

What do you do when a world-altering event like a pandemic turns your industry, your company, and your livelihood upside-down? ...

The Missing Piece to Being A Great Leader

Do you feel that nudge inside you that says, “I know there’s got to be more to being a great ...

Have Imposter Syndrome but Don’t Know It?

They're all looking at me and thinking, “You don't belong here. You're not one of us. You're not ready…” ...

Salary Negotiation: How to Ask For and Get What You Want

Some people are born negotiators. When it comes to buying a car, for example, I get my game face on ...

That’s Entertainment!

Summer is officially here, which means vacations, picnics, beach trips, barbecues, and outdoor concerts and events — all of which ...

How to Command Respect

This past Sunday was Father’s Day, a uniquely bittersweet day for me, joyful in celebrating my husband and how great ...

3 Leadership Skills That Help People Listen To YOU

When we can’t get people to listen, we can’t make an impact. That’s why developing the skills that ...

How to Break Through and Be Heard

One of the universal challenges we all face is trying to figure out how to cut through the noise and ...

Do You React, Respond or Reflect?

Modern technology has changed the way we communicate both positively and negatively. For better or worse, it has provided us ...

Year 2: What I’m Looking Forward To

Yesterday was Memorial Day, when we take the time to remember our fellow Americans who have given their lives for ...

What Does Your Name Say About You?

It happened again. I was talking to someone I had just met when he stopped himself mid-conversation and ...

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way

When there's so much stress in the world, whether due to the pandemic, financial strain or social division and injustice, ...

Is Your Virtual Presence Half-Baked? Here’s How to Tell

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, so, to all mothers out there, a belated “Happy Mother’s Day!” Most ...

How to Nail Your 30-Second Elevator Pitch

The world is opening back up bit by bit, including sporting events, family gatherings and even in-person networking events, and ...

Do You Use Your Superpower for Good or Evil?

I'll bet you didn't know that tomorrow is National Superhero Day! Now, under normal circumstances this would not have caught ...

Do You Know Who You Remind Me of?

Has anyone ever said that to you? “Do you know who you remind me of?” I used to get asked ...

How Will You Emancipate Your Voice This Week?

Have you wondered at how people can grow their companies from a couple of employees to over a hundred in ...

How to be a Chameleon at Work

Do you ever feel like you need to be all things to all people? I think it's something we all ...

Guess What: Even Tony Robbins Has Tech Glitches

What's more grueling than a 15-hour day? Try FIVE 15-hour days in a row! Yes, you're doing the math correctly: ...

24 Hour Challenge: Be a Child’s Guardian Angel

I’m inviting you to join me in changing a child’s life in the next 60 seconds. Many of you know ...

I’m taking a leap of faith…

If you're like me, one of the hardest decisions you have to make is the decision to invest in yourself. ...

The Most Expensive Mistake People Make on Zoom Calls

Change is everywhere! For starters, we've now entered Daylight Savings Time — waking up in darkness isn't great ...

I need your input (really)

This week we celebrated International Women's Day, so who better to interview than Lauren Swartz, president and CEO of the ...

How to Engage Your Audience

One of the most common questions I hear from clients is, “How can I engage my audience better?” ...

How to Answer the Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”

Sometimes the “easy questions” are actually the hardest to answer. I have coached so many execs who are ...

3 Ways to Be Someone’s Hero

Yesterday was my birthday (29 again??), and there were two things I wanted to have for my celebration: time to ...

The Deep-Down Secret to Confident Public Speaking

I'm one of those “crazy” people who genuinely loves public speaking. But I know I'm in the minority. That's why ...

How I’m Going to Help Set a Guinness World Record

On the East Coast, we have had a Nor'Easter that didn't disappoint. And the Amazon gods smiled upon me because ...

How to Survive Three Quantum Shifts in 18 Months

Change can be scary, especially when your company changes ownership. Now imagine that happening THREE times in under TWO years! ...

How to Overcome Your Fears and Lead

Fear is a natural part of life; I'd go so far as to say if you're not afraid of anything, ...

Join me Wednesday 1/20 LIVE!

In the spirit of maintaining new year's resolutions and helping others fulfill their personal goals, I'm excited to share a ...

“Mom, Your Job is Really COOL.”

At the start of the new year, the topic of “vision” is always top of mind. This year, personally, aside ...

My 2021 Mindset Shift

I hope that your new year's celebration kicked off 2021 to a great start! I'm not sure how I saw ...

Just One Step to More Influence AND Happiness? Yep – Here’s How

Have you ever seen a feeding frenzy in the shark tank at the aquarium? That's kind of what Christmas morning ...

Why You Should Throw Out Your 10-Year Life Plan

Boy, do I have lots of news to share with you! Did you have a chance to catch ...

Where can you find inspiration and hope? Try… Prison?

Three years ago I received an incredible request: to help someone prepare – IN TWO DAYS – to give a ...

What Does the END of 2020 Sound Like?

We're officially halfway through December and cresting to the end of 2020 – a thought that brings cheers of relief ...

My New Favorite (not-very-Christmasy) Cookies

First and foremost, those of you who are celebrating, I hope you're all having a very healthy and happy Hanukkah! ...

Get Inspired on Giving Tuesday!

In a year where there have been so many challenges, Giving Tuesday gives us all the opportunity to show gratitude ...

Don’t judge a podcast by its… cover?

Has anyone ever told you, “Don't judge a book by its cover”? Well, I confess, I almost did, but I'm ...

Are You the Person You Want to Be?

In a year full of challenges, we're coming into the season to reflect and give thanks. I want to invite ...

Why the Best Leaders Back Off

In a year full of challenges, we're coming into the season to reflect and give thanks. I want to invite ...

A Special Thanks for Veterans Day

This week is a special week as I have two exciting things to share. First, in honor of Veterans' Day ...

3 Ways to Beat Election Burnout

If you're burned out from all the election insanity, here are three ways to refuel your heart, mind and spirit: ...

Did You Catch the Subliminal Camera Message?

A new milestone! Last week Speaking to Influence hit #37 on iTunes management podcasts. Thanks to all who are turning ...

How to Walk In Your Own Power

I learned a great phrase recently: “Walking in your own power.” And I've been learning how to take that advice, ...

Why Yelling Louder Doesn’t Work

Organizational culture speaks volumes, and Donavan West is an expert in exactly that. As the founder of the Black Business ...

The Secrets to Great Storytelling

Whether you are interviewing for a job, giving a presentation, or participating in a debate prior to a national election, ...

Join me LIVE on Fox tomorrow morning!

Three out of four American voters will watch the first Presidential Debate this evening. Yesterday I gave my tips on ...

How to Pick the Best Mic and More

I have two exciting bits of news to share with you this week. Tomorrow (9/29) at 5am the 25th ...

Catch Laura on Fox and Friends First!

Once again I enjoyed returning to Fox and Friends First this morning (at 4:50am — Yikes!) to discuss what to ...

NEW PODCAST LAUNCH! SPEAKING TO INFLUENCE

June 1, 2020 - I launched my new podcast, "Speaking to Influence: Communication Secrets of the C-Suite"!

How to Make Video Conferences Fun

Video conferences don't need to be a total drag. Here are seven fun "ice breakers" to start the meeting off with a smile.

5 Tips for a Successful Video Conference

In the wake of the coronavirus and sudden need for teams to work remotely, the occasional disembodied conference call isn't ...

Lessons in Leadership Branding from Debate 11

In the end, both candidates’ performances also answered one crucial question in everyone’s mind: “What matters most to you in a candidate?”

Messaging Pitfalls to Avoid: Lessons From the Dropouts

Einstein purportedly said, “The only rational way to educate is to be an example — a warning example, if not ...

Three Crucial Leadership Communication Lessons from Debate #10

Ten rounds of debate into the Democratic primary and my overall reaction to last night’s debate was: disappointment. Nobody ...

Verbal-Vocal-Visual Alignment and the Bloomberg Effect

Democratic Debate -Round 9 All politics aside (as with all of my posts), we have to thank former NY Mayor ...

(Still) Frustrated that People Mispronounce Your Name?

Ironically, of all the topics I teach in the world of leadership communication and influence, the single most common thing ...

Head of the Class or Back of the Pack: What to look for in Thursday’s debate

Thursday evening is Round 3 of the Democratic primary debates, but the question is whether the third time’s the charm ...

It’s Official: The Missing Link for a Democrat Victory

The theme for the last two days should be “Make America Debate Again.” The Democrats need a do-over if they’re ...

3 Key Messaging Lessons Dems Haven’t Learned from 2016

Last night was the kickoff to the 2020 Presidential Election

Is Your Body Language Sabotaging Your Success?

In trying to have more influence, sometimes it is what we DON'T say that speaks even louder than what we ...

Don’t Give Away Your Power! (New Year Nugget)

Happy new year, We all feel compelled to make some sort of resolution at the start of a new year, ...

September Events

Great upcoming events, I invite you to join me.

Is positive feedback harder to give than negative feedback?

I’m sure you’re familiar with that unpleasant feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize you have to ...

What Does Your Personal Brand SOUND Like?

I just read a great article from Entrepreneur, as shared here, called “7 Signs Your Personal Brand Needs Work.” All ...