It is with immense pride and humility and satisfaction to announce Steve Johnson Connects (SJConnects) is taking a big leap in growth by acquiring the WPNT Ltd. client book of business. We’ve have been well underway with the transition which will be completed by 1Q27. It is an amazing new phase as we enter our second decade of operations. The WPNT Ltd tag line (“Stronger communications. Better business results.”) fits neatly with ours – “Beyond engagement to connection.”
Read MoreYou’ve heard me say it over and over – be strategic in your communications DAILY. That even means when listening. Strategic listening comes in many forms, and one of those forms is (counterintuitively) by talking – specifically, by asking questions. It’s a kind of consultative mode when you use questions strategically to drive listening and build relationships.
Read MoreWe must provide strategic credentials to validate our #perspective. If we have no validity in our perspective, we have no strength in our #message.
Read MoreLeverage #notes to remind yourself of the that #choreography and the #communications tools you want to amplify. They are parts of achieving your communications goals.
Read MoreKeep in mind how important it is to connect with your audience regarding what they care about in order for you to successfully communicate with them.
Read MoreEvery single culture on this planet uses hands when communicating. And the science tells us it is clinically easier to comprehend someone using his/her/their hands than someone who isn’t.
Read MoreA message needs to be clear, and concise, but at declarative. MESSAGE = TOPIC + PERSPECTIVE
Read More#Communications pros must promote and move the business forward. But it is a disservice to the profession and clients (internal or external) if your communications don't acknowledge problems or issues in the enterprise -- and the path being taken to fix them.
Read MoreA lot has been said about vulnerability in business recently…especially as a growing competency in leaders. But a vulnerable leader is different than vulnerable leadership…and that is due to the fact that words and actions need to be combined to reach peak power.
Read MoreThe phrasal verb "deal with" drips with negative connotation. It sounds as if the subject is a nuisance -- it may be a day-to-day element or a unique, high priority component. It provides no nuance to your skills. You've got a great #vocabulary! Use it, and let synonyms showcase your credentials.
Read MoreHearing is the practical, and listening is strategic. And as with most things strategic, there's more than one way to listen. But really listening, can lead back to really hearing – and understanding. It requires, strategic, discriminative listening – looking past the words you hear to look to body language, tone changes, and volume to determine what the speaker really thinks and feels.
Read MoreWhat to do with your anxiety when speaking? You may find yourself in front of 100 people. Or it might be 10. Or it may be one – one very…important…person. And on the spectrum of anxious moments, your body’s response can impact your effectiveness. How to overcome anxiety when front and center is a common question I get.
Read MoreNo matter the situation, knowing what you want to communicate is vital. I often encounter would be communicators who are quick to determine they need a message to deliver – in an email, on a conference call, during a panel discussion, at a town hall meeting, or as a keynote speaker. But often, these communicators don’t have a real handle on what it looks or sounds like. More difficult is coming up with a message that is complete sentence.
I will offer you this: the science of message delivery is perfected by targeting 11 words. (11 words.)
Read MoreWe must leverage the second-most powerful tool we have to connect: eye contact. We all are aware that good eye contact signals confidence, competence and credibility. We are not all aware of the physiological changes eye contact makes. And, as important as it is when face-to-face, it becomes amplified in the indirect world of remote meetings. To be more effective, maintain strong eye contact, and that means speaking into a camera.
Read MoreFrankly, most people don’t use them enough. Now with most every meeting being over video, hands have basically disappeared from the communications signals available to us. But even when Zooming, your hands are your most visual communications tool – use them!
Read MoreIt’s been six years since the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign retired Chief Illiniwek as a symbol of the school. A few days ago the school settled a six-year trademark dispute with Chief fans who have continued the tradition “underground.” In that settlement, the university protected misappropriation of the name and visuals associated with Chief Illiniwek, but it missed a huge opportunity to advance better understanding of why Chief was retired in the first place. In effect, the perception is that without being a part of the bigger solution of championing diversity & inclusion, the U of I continues to be part of the bigger problem of insensitivity toward Native Americans.
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