by Helen Iwata | Nov 7, 2023 | All, Communication Skills, Conference Calls, Effective Facilitation, Other Topics, Personal Growth, Presentation Skills, Productive Meetings
If you’re like many busy business professionals, you’re rushing to finish your presentation slides at the last minute and definitely don’t have time to practice your delivery. Sound familiar? Here’s the problem… Your slides may be logical, comprehensive, and...
by Helen Iwata | Oct 31, 2023 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth
What do you do when you’re feeling down? How do you handle your own negative thinking or low energy? I take time to acknowledge how I’m feeling and consider the cause (so that I can do something about it if it’s within my control). Then, here are 9 things I find...
by Helen Iwata | Oct 17, 2023 | Other Topics
The locker was empty! Whaaaaaaat??? Where was my bag with my laptop, credit card, and other valuables!!! My mind was racing just minutes after I’d emerged from the lovely, relaxing hot baths at my local spa in central Tokyo. Here’s what had happened… I’d realized the...
by Helen Iwata | Oct 10, 2023 | Communication Skills, Other Topics, Personal Growth, Productive Meetings
I was on a call to confirm details about an upcoming corporate speaking engagement. Since we were meeting online for the first time, everyone briefly introduced themselves. I was struck by how each of the Japanese women immediately apologized or put themselves down in...
by Helen Iwata | Oct 3, 2023 | All, Communication Skills, Managing Conflict, Other Topics, Personal Growth
Well, this story certainly got a laugh from the audience at our recent event. Around 30 years ago (!!!), I was working as a Coordinator for International Relations at Yokohama City Hall. I’d been asked to show some important foreign visitors around the city. When I...
