From the sidelines of a weekend soccer game, you can often hear the “joysticking” parent or coach—calling out a continuous stream of instructions to the players on the field. “Pass it! Stay wide! Shoot! Get back!” The player glances over nervously. Instead of reacting to the game, they freeze, unsure of their next move because every decision is being dictated. Their goal shifts from playing the game to avoiding mistakes. In the process, they become passive, waiting for instru

This is the second in a series of articles about ceremonial speaking. You can read the first article here .  I’m often approached by individuals who’ve been asked to speak at a special occasion. They want to deliver a memorable message; however, they usually tell me that they are not sure what direction to take. Through these conversations I’ve learned that good examples of ceremonial occasion remarks are difficult to find: movies are full of cliches and most of us haven’t be

Two seeds were buried side by side in a field. The seeds—Amara and Brio—lay dormant, dreaming of the sky. One day, a gentle rain whispered promises of growth. Amara felt the call of the world above and thought, “It may be time to sprout. But what if the sun is too harsh, or the rain too scarce? What if I emerge too soon?” Fearful, Amara decided to wait. Beside Amara, Brio also heard the rain’s song. Excited, Brio thought, “What wonders await above! Yes, there might be storms

One of my favorite books when I was a child was The Little Engine That Could . I still have the worn-out copy my mother read to me, and I...

My career choice gives me the opportunity to speak in front of a wide variety of audiences from students to executives. After all these...

One of the primary reasons so many people fear public speaking is they are uncertain about how the audience will respond to their...

When I meet someone for the first time and they find out I teach management communication courses, one of the most frequent comments I...

At the beginning of every semester I tend to have a few students who are so nervous when they present that they make me feel nervous. Research suggests why this happens. Emotions can be contagious. Researchers have found that anxious mothers can unintentionally pass along their anxiety to their children. And it turns out you don’t even need to be in the same room as another person to transfer emotions. Studies have also shown that social media posts can transmit emotions acro