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How do you feel when you’re in a meeting - maybe online - and you’re suddenly asked a question that you weren’t prepared for? This is a huge concern that I often hear from my clients. They don’t want to be embarrassed by not having a clear answer. Can you relate?...
- A conversation with Haruko Kawashima When you face a difficult situation, do you keep crying, yelling, and complaining? Or do you start to look for something better - a solution, perhaps? This second approach is a sign that you’re a leader. Leadership isn’t about...
How often are you using Zoom these days? Only a few months ago, I regularly had to explain what Zoom was when Japanese managers and executives were signing up for my online coaching and programs. Now, it seems that most Japanese business professionals are familiar...
Do you use weak words in meetings? Do you know what weak words are? I’ve noticed that many of my Japanese corporate clients and online students use weak words. The good news is that it’s a habit that you can fix quickly when you’re aware of it. The bad news is that...
If you’re like many of my online students and corporate clients here in Japan, you’re doing more online presentations than before. And you probably feel quite nervous about them, right? Is your message clear? Is your English correct? Can the audience understand your...
Have you ever been in a meeting where you didn’t agree with what someone said, but you didn’t say anything? Or you didn’t understand something, but you didn’t say anything? Or you thought that you agreed and you understood, but after the meeting the action that your...
How do you feel when meetings go off track? You may feel frustrated or stressed because you’re not reaching the meeting goals and you’re failing to achieve the business results you were looking for. You’re wasting time. Tension is building among the people in the...
Even if you clarify the meeting goals and roles of each participant, the conversation can easily go off track if the facilitator fails to align everyone on the ways that you will get things done in a meeting. Let me give you two examples: brainstorming and decision...
What role do you play in meetings? Is everyone in your meetings clear about their role and how best to contribute to achieving the meeting goals? Like unclear goals, a lack of clear roles leads to poor results, wasted time, and disengaged or frustrated colleagues. So...
Do you have a facilitator in your business meetings? It’s the facilitator’s role to lead the meeting and make it easy for participants to achieve the meeting goals. Did you know that the word “facilitate” comes from the Latin “facilis,” which means “easy”? Sadly, in...
Do you wonder what to do with your hands when giving presentations? Let me first share with you what NOT to do - three common hand positions to avoid if you want to build trust with your audience and get your message across clearly. 1. The fig leaf The “fig leaf” is...
Have you ever thought about where you stand when giving a presentation? Even when you’re nervous, you can choose a physical position that helps you look and feel more confident. Let’s look at three typical settings in business and public speaking and where to stand...