Aristotle defined rhetoric as “the art of persuasion.” He identified the three main elements of persuasion: character, emotion, and logic. His wisdom still holds true today. An audience’s judgment of a speaker’s character will determine whether they accept the messenger and therefore the message. What does it take to make an audience comfortable enough to…
When adults attack others online, is it any wonder some kids become cyber bullies?
Aon reserach sites new challenges for leaders. Fortunately the principles of good leadership don’t change. Learn how to apply timeless truths in new ways to meet the challenges you face.
According to Barna Research, only one of every four Americans has a worldview that guides their decisions and actions. It appears that most of us know what we do, for whom we do it, and how much we get paid to do it. The one thing we don’t know is why we’re doing it. To…
True confession: I used to worry too much about not making others unhappy with what I wrote. No more. Learn why here.
(I often advise and coach executives and professional speakers. For leaders, the ability to communicate well and speak persuasively is a critical skill. All professional speakers, myself included, can continue to improve their skills. To answer the questions I’m most frequently asked and share some of the insights I’ve learned from 25 years of professional…
Giving compliments is an art form but so is receiving them. Consider the content of the compliments you receive and how you respond.
Recently an Amazon reviewer said that my 112-page book The Fred Factor was about being thoughtful and nice and ended with a dismissive “so I just saved you the time and money of reading it.” Gee, thanks. In the same spirit of public service inspired by my Amazon reviewer, I thought I’d take on a…
The problem most leaders face isn’t being more decisive–it is being informed enough to make a decision. They waffle because they don’t understand the problem or situation, haven’t framed it well or haven’t thoroughly considered the options for addressing it. Here’s what to do when facing a problem or decision: First, define it. Unclear problems…
There is wisdom in this inspirational poem and it has a most interesting story behind it as well.