WORK

Many of the problems I've seen in the workplace over the decades are at least partially attributed to one thing. (You may be thinking leadership - yes, that's true - but that's a story for another day.)

I'm talking about communication.

Or, more specifically, lack of communication, lack of clarity, inconsistent or absent feedback.

I've experienced this from both sides - as a leader of a team, I'm definitely guilty of - well, a lot of things. But over time, I learned to listen more than I spoke, and to incorporate the tips below. I've also been on the receiving end and in the weird position of coaching CEOs I worked for on their communication style.

So while there are books and articles and many ways to write about communication at work, I want to focus on something here that might just help you tomorrow as you head back to work, because the most impactful conversations often happen between just two people. How you communicate one-on-one can make or break your relationships and results.

Here are three tips to help you have better conversations, tomorrow. I learned all of these the hard way - hopefully you don't have to.

BE PRESENT. Do not, and I can't stress this enough, play on your phone or your laptop while you are having a conversation with someone. Whether that's your kids, your coworkers, your team members - they all deserve your full attention. (If you've ever had one of your kids say to you "Mom, you are always on your phone" like I have, you may already practice this!) When someone feels truly heard, they'll share more openly and you will start to build trust.

GET CURIOUS. Instead of jumping to solutions or moving to the next topic (guilty, guilty here!), pause and ask something like "What else is on your mind?" or "How are you feeling about that approach?" Or something similar relevant to the conversation. That extra question may just uncover the real concern. People will often open up when they feel like you actually want to know what you think.

MATCH THEIR COMMUNICATION STYLE. Some people (like me) need time to process before responding. I had a lot of conversations with my former boss about this before he really started to get this. Because he, like I did for many years, adopted a similar communication style for all his team members. Some of the team wanted to talk things through, others were like me and needed information and space to process. Some (also like me) want direct feedback in the moment. Others need encouragement before the challenging feedback. Pay attention to how someone naturally communicates and meet them there. This one shift can transform your working relationships almost immediately.

What did I miss? Reply to this email and let me know!

Want to go deeper into discussing all things work? Especially if you are in industries like distribution or manufacturing where I spent my career, I'd love to chat!

Book time with me here!

COMMUNITY

Being part of the keynote speaker community was not on my pre-COVID bingo card. It wasn't even on my COVID bingo card.

But sometime after, something changed.

I'm a very, very deep introvert. I know I hide it well, because I've learned strategies over the years. I'm also Autistic. These things combined don't scream "yes, I can talk in front of thousands of people!"

And yet, here I am.

Most of my keynotes are packed into the spring, but here's a peek at what my fall looks like (one of these days, I'll add this as a section in this newsletter!)

Anyway, keynote speaking is a very significant part of my business, and my revenue. While it used to surprise me, it doesn't anymore. If you do something often enough, a funny thing happens - you tend to get good at it! And, because I'm a lifelong learner, I try to be a bit better every time.

Here's how I got started.

Aside from a brief intro at a few meetings that were so terrifying I literally had to go home and nap, I didn't speak in public until 2016.

My friend Melissa Fisk was running programs for the Concord NH local SHRM chapter. There was an upcoming program on transgender employees at work. I had just gone through the process of helping one of our employees transition at work, and with her permission, I called Melissa and let her know she could let the speaker know she could share her story. I had a hard time finding resources and support to help our employee, so I wanted to offer to be that for someone else.

The speaker didn't share the story. She called me and asked me to co-present.

That was a real fork in the road moment for me. Should I say no, like I always did, because I was scared? Or should I take a risk and say yes?

I'll be forever grateful to Melissa and the speaker Linda Johnson, and will forever be proud of myself for saying yes.

And that's how I found myself on my first "stage" at the age of 45, terrified. But I survived. And an interesting thing happened.

I realized the impact that sharing stories, challenges, and information could have. I connected with so many people, had conversations and shared experiences, and maybe most importantly, our employee knew that her story helped others.

So I said yes to that, and we spoke together several more times. That gave me the courage to apply to speak at HR Tech (I had always wanted to go, but didn't have the budget!) I had just gone through an HR Tech transformation that I considered just part of my job until I started sharing it with people, who wanted to know more. Steve Boese called me, offered me the speaking spot. And that's how I got on my first big stage. That led to so much more.

And then during COVID, Dirk Beveridge brought me to an industry conference and gave me my first chance at speaking within an industry adjacent to my own.

And now, I'm grateful to be working with many different industry groups to share my experiences and help the industry learn everything from modern HR practices to AI to personal branding and so much more.

Want to know how to get started as a speaker? See the "question" section below!

Want to know more about how I work with organizations as a keynote speaker? Click the link above to book a time to chat, or the button below to message me on LinkedIn.

​

​

​

Connect with me on LinkedIn here!

​

COFFEE

We are incredibly lucky to live where we live - we are an hour from the White Mountains in NH, an hour from Boston, an hour from the ocean, and an hour from Vermont. With lots of cool stuff to do in our city and just beyond.

Today we took advantage of being an hour from Vermont and made the hour and fifteen minute drive to South Royalton, home of at least one Hallmark movie, Worthy Burger, and First Branch Coffee.

Yes, we will drive over an hour for burgers and/or coffee. If you have ever been here you know it's "worth" it (pun intended.)

So for this week's newsletter exclusive coffee pic, here's an iced espresso from First Branch, so good we bought a bag of beans for home.

Have a great week ahead!

​

YOUR QUESTIONS

I get asked a lot about gettings started with speaking. I'm sure some people start speaking and charge five figures right away, but most don't, and opportunities to share your experience for free are everywhere, and are often really rewarding. That's how I started. (And while, yes, organizers should pay all speakers, that's not always the case, certainly within the HR community. So start with something you are attending regardless.) And here are some more thoughts:

START WITH PANELS. Do you work in the HR field? I highly recommend getting involved with Hacking HR. Transform also offers great opportunities to speak (and it's an excellent event!) In Distribution, Manufacturing or other industries? Reach out to the organizers of some of the events you attend. They are often looking for panelists.

WRITE. Especially in Distribution and Manufacturing, if you have a point of view, share it with a publication. This can - and often does - lead to opportunities on panels or presenting in other ways.

There are lots of other ways to get started. I'm always happy to chat with people interested in getting started, or about most anything!

Want to chat more about your HR challenges? Want to submit a question that's on your mind? Click the button below!

​

Questions and Feedback

​

Until next time....... thanks for reading!

​

Tracie

My Partner Spotlight High performing teams start with better reviews. WorkStory makes the review process easy - and while maybe not fun, much more human - through using AI. I'm thrilled to continue to partner with WorkStory! Click on their logo to find out more, and watch my LinkedIn for more information on our upcoming webinar! ​

​