Will Leaders Dare Comfort Their Afflicted Now?
As the new administration approaches the gates, people who help institutional leaders communicate are trying to figure out which way the wind will blow (and whether it will blow hard …
The Year in Leadership Communication
(Retail) Starbucks was down and (Robby) Starbuck was up. Boeing’s CEO apologized sincerely, vowed solemnly and resigned eventually. Many beleaguered college presidents issued statements about why they’ll issue fewer statements …
What Are We Going to Do About It?
I once found myself dancing in a tavern in Bayfield, Wisconsin with a local woman whose hands were so rough that I couldn’t help asking her what she did for …
A Certificate Course, in Executive Communication? I Almost Can’t Believe It Myself
I’ve long been skeptical of professional accreditation. Always thought the now-moribund “ABC” designation from the International Association of Business Communicators stood for, Average Business Communicator. Always thought a truly talented …
You Don’t Know the Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was not a ceremonial speech, inevitably bound for a marble wall. It was a strategy speech, designed to “convince a very skeptical public in the north that …
The Upside of a Tribe
Last week professional speechwriters for government officials, university presidents, corporate CEOs and nonprofit heads from around the world flocked together to find the intellectual means, the moral strength and the …
Literally Indefensible
The old joke: An Irishman walked past a bar. It could happen! Well, I feel the same about philanthropic, civic-minded billionaires. It could happen! Another one bites the dust. Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, in …
Why ‘Executive Presence’ Can Be a Touchy Topic
It’s been a couple weeks since my company finished putting on a virtual seminar called “Executive Presence for Exec Comms Pros,” and I’m still thinking about it. Obviously, teaching about …
‘Sound Helps People See’ (and Other Artistic Insights Into Exec Comms)
Following last year’s series of Standard Practice articles delving into the foundational elements of executive communications, I wondered how best to build on these basics with the next series. My mind kept …
Guest Post: A Bracing Rebuttal to ‘Leaders Who Dare Not Speak, Dare Not Lead’
My friendship with David Murray is almost as old as our respective adult daughters. It spans my entire career as a speechwriter and most of his second (or third) act …