Hey Reader, This week inside the School of Communication, we practiced pausing for others. Most people think the pause is for them - a moment to collect thoughts, find the right words, or calm down. And yes, it does all of that. But the real purpose of the pause is the person across from you. When you pause, you give them space to fully finish before you respond. It's been powerful to watch how that small shift has shown up for our members this week. Let’s get into this week’s 3 things. #1....

Hey Reader, May has a way of speeding everything up. The warmer weather and longer days have my kids drinking more of their favorite “salty water” (and me too!). As summer plans ramp up, it becomes easy to rush conversations. This week, let’s change that. #1. From My Inbox: “How do you respond to someone that is constantly bragging? I don't want to be mean spirited, but I get tired of hearing how wonderful they are.” Wanting to stop the monologue isn’t mean spirited and it can be done in a...

Hey Reader, In this episode I have the privilege of listening to more voicemails sent by you. I hear these questions for the first time on the podcast, so my responses are completely raw and real. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to respond when someone says “that’s just my personality” as an excuse to be rude What to say when someone gives you a backhanded compliment or passive aggressive jab Calm phrases that immediately shift power back to you in tense conversations How to know when a...