The ten questions every leader should ask before crafting an important message. Over the past three decades of coaching executives and observing leaders across industries, I've noticed a consistent pattern: over 80% of the communication I observe is centered on what the speaker wants and needs to express rather than what the audience wants and needs to hear. Most communicators spend the majority of their preparation asking questions like: What do I want to say? Which slides should I include?...

Most executives don’t struggle in their preparation because they lack expertise. They struggle because their preparation process doesn't leverage that expertise or strengthen the relationships that matter most. When preparing for a presentation, a speaker’s job isn’t to simply transfer data. It’s to create clarity, build confidence, and move something forward. After coaching leaders across industries—from healthcare and technology to finance and media—I’ve noticed the same preparation...

Every January, I encourage leaders to set communication goals for the year ahead. I love reading the thoughtful, ambitious goals they share—goals that reflect the kind of communicator and leader they aspire to become. I believe reflecting on that progress deserves equal attention. This is not about bemoaning all the things you didn’t get around to doing. The guiding principle here is an old saying often attributed to Maya Angelou: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you...