Running a business, evaluating talent, leading others, communicating from the front of the room or in front of the business all share several things in common with doing play-by-play in an NFL broadcast booth: They require your complete, undivided attention to do them well You have to be both in the moment and aware of what’s coming next You have no room for error and not a shot at perfection And when things are going well, there is no place … Continue reading →

Humor covers a lot of territory. And most of it is tricky terrain. It can come across as playful or hurtful, insightful or biting. Planned and staged or organic and natural. You can use it to make fun of yourself, self-deprecating humor or use it to make fun of other peoples. You can use it to warm up an audience in a presentation or you can misuse it and turn off an audience. Very different styles. Very different outcomes. User … Continue reading →

Recently I had the chance to moderate leadership session with UnderArmour CEO Kevin Plank. It was billed as a “fireside chat” at the Baltimore Ravens annual sponsor summit. For an hour I had a conversation with Kevin and folded audience questions into the dialogue. Kevin was more than generous with his time and his insights on leadership in general and his journey in particular. The leadership lessons Plank has learned from growing UnderArmour from start-up in his grandmother’s basement to … Continue reading →

Everyone you know has problems. Everyone you present to has problems. And everyone you present to is looking for solutions.  That’s where you come in. Their Problems = Your Opportunity One fast and effective way to connect with your audience is to position your presentation as a solution to the audience’s problem or problems. Use your understanding of the audience’s problem or problems to establish a report. But the bulk of your content should help your audience move from problem … Continue reading →

When was the last time your really thought about your hands? If you’re like most people you never really think about them. You just use them. Until you have to give a presentation. The front of the room seems to give your hands a bizarre life of their own. Show of Hands Have you ever started a presentation and suddenly felt like you didn’t know what you should do with your hands? They can suddenly feel like they need an … Continue reading →

This week, the sport of horse racing will hold the Preakness, the second leg of its Triple Crown Series. I have covered the Preakness for 30 years. A few years back I had the chance to cover the Belmont. And this year, for the first time, I covered the Kentucky Derby. My own Triple Crown! Seeing each of these events up close, reminds me of how important context is when asked one of the most frequent questions I get regarding … Continue reading →