Just Saying - The BRIEF Lab

Think about being in a meeting and seeing someone who has no vital role and nothing to say. They just fill a chair and add no immediate value. Like a potted plant, they may be there to fill a space. In this week's episode, I challenge conventions about not inviting people that don't need to […] The post Ep. 371 – Meeting participants (and potted plants) appeared first on Just Saying.

Whether it's an important conversation or a very difficult one, we need to be ready. In this week's episode, I will walk you through six different considerations to put you in a frame of mind that improves your chances that the exchange will go better than planned. The post Ep. 370 – Making key conversations count (the 6 T's) appeared first on Just Saying.

Watching someone communicate with no purpose and no plan is brutal. It's like seeing a poor farmer scatter seed blindly into the wind. If this is how you show up, it's going to take a toll. Many people communicate like this, with little or no plan with what they want to say. This is where […] The post Ep. 369 – You're all over the place appeared first on Just Saying.

Great leaders are authentic and willing to share when they've struggled, been tested and have failed. Success is often the result of severe challenges, stupid mistakes and painful losses. By being able to open up and share these personal stories, leaders can connect with people more deeply than by barking orders and giving speeches. The post Ep. 368 – Sharing crucible stories appeared first on Just Saying.

Many professionals aspire to be thought leaders, yet few have what it takes. If this is what you (or someone you might know) feel compelled to pursue, be warned that with this role comes responsibilities. Not only do you need to be experienced, knowledgeable and respected, but you also must be a clear communicator who […] The post Ep. 367 – Becoming a thought leader (not a thoughtless one) appeared first on Just Saying.

If you can't sit still for a moment, it will be hard to extract the real value AI. As these mind-bending developments increasingly take root, we may be too busy to even take notice. The irony – harsh reality, actually – is that we absolutely must embrace quiet time to slow down, learn and embrace […] The post Ep. 366 – Working with AI slowly and quietly appeared first on Just Saying.

Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z all think they're somehow superior. When it comes to communication, there are definitely differences but people share more in common than they'd like to admit. In this episode, I provide an limited overview that gets you thinking more about what we all value. The post Ep. 365 – An imperfect guide to generational communication differences appeared first on Just Saying.

Professionals may worry too much about their presentation skills and fail to improve their daily conversations. Whether it's calling someone, providing an update or having a side-bar discussion, these moments happen far more than standing at a podium and wowing an audience. The post Ep. 364 – Botching your day-to-day conversations appeared first on Just Saying.

A subject matter expert (SME) can be both a source of knowledge and suffering. Without realizing it, they can dive into the weeds and pull you in deep with them. In this episode, I share some practical considerations to help curb your tendency to become a say-it-all. The post Ep. 363 – Know-it-alls appeared first on Just Saying.

Imagine taking one day a month and setting it aside as a “Quiet Workday” that's dedicated to deep work. In this challenge, I provide recommendations for you to schedule a day where more than half is spent in silence, there's a specific focal point and an agenda designed deliberately for you to go much deeper […] The post Ep. 362 – Challenge: A Quiet Workday (once a month) appeared first on Just Saying.

Running around can be depleting and choosing to stop can energize and empower us. After taking a pause myself for several weeks, I have chosen to continue the podcast into our 9th season In this episode, I share five different moments where we can pause three to five seconds and gain great power when doing […] The post Ep. 361 – The Power of the Pause appeared first on Just Saying.

Do you think that this podcast should continue for another season? I have mixed feelings and would like to hear directly from you. I can go either way. In what might be the last episode, I share some possible adjustments to the format that might make the content more relevant. It's time for my listeners […] The post Ep. 360 – Giving my audience a voice (is this our last season?) appeared first on Just Saying.

We can all degree that most salespeople talk too much and aren't great listeners. Learning from an accomplished sales trainer, I recently was inspired to create a new training program called “Quiet Selling” to teach professionals to listen more and talk less. In this episode, I share five moments that can help you slow down […] The post Ep. 359 – My discovery of Quiet Selling appeared first on Just Saying.

Thanksgiving in the U.S. is one of my favorite holidays of the year. To keep up with the tradition, I'd like to share how gratitude is a powerful way to ground me and lower the noise in my personal and professional life. In this episode, I also share a short list (in no specific order) […] The post Ep. 358 – Why gratitude is so grounding appeared first on Just Saying.

You may want to start a podcast, go to be a guest on one, or are just curious about how people prepare for them. After eight seasons doing this podcast and numerous guest appearances on other shows, I thought it might be helpful to provide some behind-the-scenes insights on how I do this podcast to […] The post Ep. 357 – How I prepare for a podcast appeared first on Just Saying.

Almost everybody does it and nobody likes it. The adage is when you're early, you're on time; and when you're on time, you're late. In this episode, I share some simple, yet practical advice on how to be early, be quiet, and be ready – and avoid the domino-effect of being late. The post Ep. 356 – Showing up late and unprepared appeared first on Just Saying.

Can you imagine being on a flight and nobody gave any notice that you were going to land? After hitting the runway unprepared, many passengers would feel it. In meetings, getting ready to wrap it up is as important as getting started and setting the tone up front. In this episode, I provide a short […] The post Ep. 355 – How to end a meeting like you meant it appeared first on Just Saying.

To me, clarity is what matters, not selling books, doing a podcast, or making appearances. After a decade publishing books on brevity and clarity, I want to remind listeners that communication is mostly about preparation (not delivery), that your audience has a voice (and we need to hear it more), and noise is the real […] The post Ep. 354 – Why it's not all about books appeared first on Just Saying.

If change is the only constant, why aren't professionals, teams and organizations keeping their message up to date? Whether it's economic, political, technical or strategic change, organizations must keep their messaging current, yet many keep falling far behind. In this episode, I provide some guidance on how to stay current and avoid having their mission […] The post Ep. 353 – When your mission changes, why doesn't your message? appeared first on Just Saying.

As the release of my third book “Quiet Works: Make silence the secret ingredient of the workday” approaches, I take time to field some questions on each chapter.  In this episode, I focus specifically on Part Four: Quiet Places and Programs (chapters 14-17) and Part Five: Quiet Challenges (chapters 21-22). The post Ep. 352 – Q&A on the book “Quiet Works” (part 3) appeared first on Just Saying.

As the release of my third book “Quiet Works: Make silence the secret ingredient of the workday” approaches, I take time to field some questions on each chapter.  In this episode, I focus specifically on Part Three: Quiet Practices at Work (chapters 9-13). The post Ep. 351 – Q&A on the Book “Quiet Works” (part 2) appeared first on Just Saying.

As the release of my third book “Quiet Works: Make silence the secret ingredient of the workday” approaches, I take time to field some questions on each chapter.  In this episode, I focus specifically on Part One: Our Noisy World Just Gets Noisier (chapters 1-5) and Part Two: Quiet Isn't What You Think” (chapters 6-8). The post Ep. 350 – Q&A on the Book “Quiet Works” (part 1) appeared first on Just Saying.

A recent “ice cream” incident at a restaurant got me thinking about my immediate reaction when I first saw Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. Spoiler alert: my two words were, “that's it?” In this episode, I talk about managing expectations as a deliberate communicator. The post Ep. 349 – Managing Expectations (Two Words When I Saw Plymouth Rock) appeared first on Just Saying.

Do you find it a struggle to engage in formal, one-on-one conversations at work? For many managers and subordinates, these scheduled exchanges can seem stale, fruitless and stiff. By approaching them as a pointed and personal conversation with specific questions in mind, we can make them memorable and impactful on both sides. The post Ep. 348 – Three questions to improve your next one-on-one appeared first on Just Saying.

Going deeper can be quite difficult, especially when there's so much competing for our attention. Our value and impact are greatly diminished by impulsively skimming the surface and chasing the least important thing and most tempting text. In this episode, I share insights from three profound business books that might help you answer this question […] The post Ep. 347 – Do you do deep work? appeared first on Just Saying.

Are we spending enough time thinking about what's critical for us today, this week, or this month? Are we talking about it in clear and concise terms? And are we actually getting our MPP done consistently. In this episode, I make the connection between deliberate preparation and predictable execution. The post Ep. 346 – Defining your most pressing priority (MPP) appeared first on Just Saying.

The term bottom-line-up-front (BLUF) is widely known in military and governments circles. Regardless of how many people are familiar with the acronym, most end up delivering the bottom line at the bottom (or BLAB). This isn't what busy, attention-starved audiences really want yet are forced to accept. The post Ep. 345 – Why does BLUF frequently turn into BLAB? appeared first on Just Saying.

What would you likely do if given a few extra minutes while waiting for someone to arrive? Or standing in line? Or in-between meetings? In this episode, I discuss how our impulsive tendency to grab our smartphone or keep on consuming information is what makes us squander magic moments of quiet and settle for more […] The post Ep. 344 – How you might abuse a few minutes of free time appeared first on Just Saying.

Professionals often overemphasize the value of collaborative work. Time spent together is frequently less valuable because we buy into underlying falsehoods without question or deeper critical concern. In this episode, I highlight three lies we believe that hurt how we work together and alone.   The post Ep. 343 – Three Lies about Collaboration appeared first on Just Saying.

What if your words of “wisdom” turn out to lead others to damaging results.  Many people inadvertently and impulsively blurt out a “you should” or a “you shouldn't” without really thinking through the recommendations, guidance and counsel they are dishing out. The post Ep. 342 – Giving Bad Advice appeared first on Just Saying.

A few words can pack a punch. As you look to add tools and techniques to become an elite communicator, you need three flavors of a short saying in your toolbox. In this episode, I share three versions of concise sayings that can be memorable, impactful and brief. The post Ep. 341 – Adages, Aphorisms and Epigrams appeared first on Just Saying.

What really happens when your credibility is lost? Finding inspiration from a memorable audition scene in the movie “Walk the Line,” I isolate three different moments when people's trust in us seriously erodes. In none of these instances should we lay blame on our audience, but need to take a look in the mirror to […] The post Ep. 340 – I don't believe you appeared first on Just Saying.

Time matters and when we lose track of it, we can devalue it and cause others to start to tune us out. Keeping track of time not only is what professionals do, but also what elite communicators know how to master. In this episode, I cite five distinct moments to zero in on the precious […] The post Ep. 339 – Managing the clock like a pro appeared first on Just Saying.

Poorly run meetings are often a bi-product of people repeating bad habits they have experienced over time. Creating meetings that drive collaboration and connection – either in-person or online – means following a few best practices. In this week's podcast, I share five key considerations that will help you facilitate better discussions, no matter when […] The post Ep. 338 – Five insights to run a tighter meeting appeared first on Just Saying.

When you have something important to announce, do you take more time thinking about the messages you want to deliver than the people you're empowering to deliver them? Critical information may never get through to the right audiences because leadership teams are too concerned about framing the right words and not spending enough time arming […] The post Ep. 337 – When your messengers can't deliver appeared first on Just Saying.

If something doesn't make sense, how does that feel? As you endure a long and confusing explanation, what is likely to happen next? When you expect clarity yet dive deeper in the weeds, what chaos will likely ensue? In this episode, I create a laundry list of the real struggles that your audience is forced […] The post Ep. 336 – What happens when you're confused appeared first on Just Saying.

Flagging is a simple, powerful and predictable technique to get people's attention and keep it.  Earlier in my career, I learned it from a media trainer and was mesmerized by its immediate impact. In this episode, I not only explain what flagging is but also provide three ways to use it to capture and captivate […] The post Ep. 335 – Flagging, Flagging, Flagging appeared first on Just Saying.

Every executive or leader I've encountered all think that they are clear. Nobody thinks to themselves, “wow, was I so confusing in that last conversation!” What seems perfectly logical and reasonable in your head, often sounds confusing when it's said aloud. This week, I share four distinct possibilities that might contribute to your tendency to […] The post Ep. 334 – Why Don't You Make Any Sense? (When You Think You Do) appeared first on Just Saying.

Imagine the odd feeling of standing in silence on a long elevator ride filled with a mix of friends and strangers.  Enduring silence can be a momentary reality in conversations, interviews, meetings and presentations. It can feel uncomfortable, strange and even embarrassing. Rather than look at it as cringeworthy, we need to manage and even […] The post Ep. 333 – How to Survive an Awkward Silence appeared first on Just Saying.

You expect a leader to talk like one. However, in a variety of moments professionals talk like amateurs. They speak over and for their subordinates, dilute their own words, and pull punches with weak, apologetic language. In this episode, I share three simple practices that can make you sound like you really run the place. The post Ep. 332 – Three Ways to Communicate Like a Boss appeared first on Just Saying.

Like a picture hanging on a wall, any message must periodically be adjusted, cleaned, and even rehung entirely.  Communication can easily get tired, out-of-date, and unattractive. Our opportunity is to first notice this is the case, then to step in and reframe the message that is deliberately organized, undeniably appealing and clearly explained. The post Ep. 331 – Reframing a Message to Regain Focus appeared first on Just Saying.

If something doesn't matter, why do we keep talking about it? As you sit in enough meetings and conversations, you can easily conclude that people spend a lot of time mindlessly doing this. It not only wastes tons of time, but also induces professionals to feel helpless, unfocused, and fruitless at work. In this episode, […] The post Ep. 330 – It Doesn't Matter appeared first on Just Saying.

Recent research indicates that spending time online, especially on social media, fundamentally changes our perception of time. If asked how much time do you think you actually spend online each day, would your answer be accurate? In this episode, I challenge you to rethink the time you allocate online (versus what you get in return), […] The post Call Back Episode – Ep. 274 – The social media time warp appeared first on Just Saying.

One of the most important aspects about effective communication is being able to get what you want. Whether it's landing a sale, gaining a leader's support, or securing a new promotion, we are trying to take aim on a targeted objective and often end up missing the mark entirely. In this week's episode, I share […] The post Ep. 329 – The Intersection of Interests appeared first on Just Saying.

What drains your time every day? For many professionals, it is long meetings, useless e-mails, and endless conversations. During these moments, we feel helpless and frustrated. In this episode, I share some practical advice that will help you confidently manage the noise, not carelessly succumb to it. The post Ep. 328 – Getting Out of Time Sucks appeared first on Just Saying.

Great leaders learn to earn people's attention. Others fall far short by assuming they have it and treat people like a captive audience. I recall two different leaders and explain how one bombed –and didn't know it the entire time – while another shined – and didn't bask too long in the bright lights. The post Ep. 327 – Can you command attention? appeared first on Just Saying.

After seeing an interview with comedian John Mulaney, I became even more convinced of the close connection between clear communication and stand-up comedy. During the interview, he shares a painful experience that turned into a defining moment. In this episode, I break down his insightful answer and will help you embrace what he discovered to […] The post Ep. 326 – Clarity and Comedy are Related appeared first on Just Saying.

Every professional will face challenging circumstances, tasks, and decisions. With all our busy schedules, however, many of us will not set aside enough time alone to reflect on them, accept them and address them. We all need to embrace quiet time to create a mindset to embrace what is objectively tough (versus ignoring or running […] The post Ep. 325 – Doing what's difficult appeared first on Just Saying.

Are we taking advantage of the known pockets of downtime in our day or week to plan for quiet time alone? After a recent conversation with a former client and friend, I realized that his suggestion to take Friday off could be a potential way to wind down from others without taking the day off. The post Ep. 324 – Taking Fridays off (for quiet) appeared first on Just Saying.

We might be dominating conversations and not even notice it. In our daily exchanges, it's likely that someone is doing all the talking. In this week's episode, I provide different ways to notice this more, whether it's you doing it or someone else. The post Ep. 323 – Letting other people speak appeared first on Just Saying.

Most meeting start weak and never gain momentum. It's up to the designated meeting leader to start every meeting with clarity, organization, conviction, and purpose. As a seasoned meeting facilitator, I will share simple ways to start strong, set the tone and get every participant ready for a meaningful exchange. The post Ep. 322 – The Meeting Kickoff Sets the Tone appeared first on Just Saying.