The Communication Guys Podcast: Communication Excellence | Professional and Personal Success

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.