by Helen Iwata | Jun 20, 2023 | All, Announcement, Communication, Conference Calls, Facilitation, Interviews, Meetings, Personal Development, Presentations
“My son has been sick this week, and he ended up watching YouTube for kids all day since he wants to be in my room where I work. I felt bad.” This is a classic example of mum guilt. In many cases, “Mum guilt” (or “Mom guilt” or “Mommy guilt”) is when you want to be a...
by Helen Iwata | Jun 13, 2023 | All, Announcement, Communication, Conference Calls, Facilitation, Interviews, Meetings, Personal Development, Presentations
I was amused when I read an article about how Japanese people were taking classes to learn how to smile after spending so long wearing masks during the pandemic. It makes sense though. Our facial expression has a huge impact on our communication to others as well as...
by Helen Iwata | Feb 27, 2023 | All, Communication, Conference Calls, Facilitation, Interviews, Meetings, Personal Development, Podcast, Presentations
In 2022, Japan ranked 80th for English proficiency out of 112 non-English speaking countries and regions, falling two places compared with the previous year, according to a Swiss study. It’s easy to find media reports that Japan needs to improve its English skills...
by Helen Iwata | Feb 20, 2023 | All, Communication, Conference Calls, Facilitation, Interviews, Meetings, Personal Development, Podcast, Presentations, Uncategorized
“I get so nervous giving presentations.” Many clients tell me this when we start working together. And my response is usually, “Good. That means you’re a normal human being.” As human beings, from primitive times, we needed to be part of a group to survive. If we...
by Helen Iwata | Feb 6, 2023 | All, Communication, Conference Calls, Facilitation, Meetings, Personal Development, Podcast, Presentations
Do you feel anxious about virtual meetings in your business? That’s common for various reasons, such as technical problems, different time zones, and not feeling confident about the impression you’re making on your global colleagues or clients — especially if you’re...
by Helen Iwata | Jan 9, 2023 | All, Communication, Conference Calls, Facilitation, Interviews, Meetings, Personal Development, Podcast, Presentations, Uncategorized
Snowboarding with family for my birthday, it struck me how giving presentations and snowboarding are alike. You may wonder in what way? Well, I remember just after my first snowboarding lesson at the age of 47, I happily started practicing on the easy slopes. Then, I...