by Helen Iwata | Jan 9, 2024 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth
Do you have a word of the year? I’ve chosen one every year since I first learned about this technique from one of my coaches almost 10 years ago. Before that I was easily distracted by new possibilities, unclear about what was most important to me, and spreading...
by Helen Iwata | Jan 1, 2024 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth
As we step into the Year of the Dragon, what can we learn from the wisdom of this magical creature? If, in ‘23, you fell victim to overdoing, overthinking, and overcaring (worrying about what others think and always putting them first), now is the time to turn to the...
by Helen Iwata | Dec 19, 2023 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth
I was on the train from London Kings Cross to visit my parents last week. A Chinese woman was sitting next to me. She told me that she’d just graduated from university in Leeds. She LOVED the UK. She said she’d become more confident since moving there to study. I was...
by Helen Iwata | Dec 12, 2023 | All, Communication Skills, Managing Conflict, Personal Growth
Even though I’d practiced karate in the UK as a university student, when I first joined my dojo in Japan (over 30 years ago!!!), sensei laughed at my moves. I had to give up my blue belt and go back to being a white belt beginner. For years, I felt uncomfortable...
by Helen Iwata | Dec 5, 2023 | All, Communication Skills, Effective Facilitation, Expert Interviews, Personal Growth, Presentation Skills, Productive Meetings
Have you struggled with language learning as an adult? Or have you ever given up on something else you wanted to do because someone told you it wasn’t possible? English Pronunciation Expert and Coach Aiko Hemingway shared in her recent TEDx Talk at Huntington Beach...
by Helen Iwata | Nov 28, 2023 | Communication Skills, Managing Conflict, Other Topics, Personal Growth
Do you like having your photo taken? We always check with event participants whether they’re okay with us taking photos to share on social media. One of our participants – a lovely Japanese lady – always said, “No.” She didn’t like having her photo taken....
