Practical Eloquence Podcast

We all like to get along, but sometimes the only way to ensure you get everyone's best thinking is to openly court disagreement. The trick is to do it properly, and that is what I address in this podcast.

Today’s topic is creative conversations. Have you ever had a conversation with someone that just clicked? But more than that, the clicking produced a solution to a problem or a creative idea? In this podcast, I talk about what a creative conversation sounds and feels like, and how to make them more likely to happen.

The best persuasive conversations are those where the other person does most of the talking, and tells you exactly what you want them to hear. Capping of my series on using questions to persuade, I discuss ways to achieve that kind of flow, with as few questions as possible. 

Questions are one of the power tools of persuasive communication. When you combine them with stories, you have a match made in heaven. In this podcast, I discuss how to ask the right questions to get the other person to tell you the story you want them to hear.

Persuasion is about helping others, but you can only be helpful if the other person trusts you and owns the advice you give. The best way to do this is through a questioning approach called humble inquiry.

Questions are the most powerful persuasive technology we have for learning, influencing and leading, so why don't we ask enough good ones?

In which I try (probably in vain) to set the record straight about the 7% myth, the learning styles myth, and the Myers-Briggs myth.

In this episode, I extract lessons in leadership communication from Doris Kearns Goodwin's new book, Leadership in Turbulent Times.

Follow these 9 Keys to Lean Communication to consistently Add value, Briefly and Clearly.

Today's paradox is that while it's easier than ever to communicate, it's harder than ever to get the information you need, when you need it, to make the best decisions. Lean communicators solve this by applying lean techniques to the process of communication, in order to produce more value with less waste.

Humor can be your most powerful tool for getting attention and connecting with your audience, but it can also backfire on you. Follow these tips to be seriously funny.

There sometimes seems to be two tribes in business today: the numbers tribe and the words tribe. Effective persuaders are "bilingual"--they know themselves and their audience and know how to strike the right balance. 

Part 2 of my leadership communication series. Sometimes how you say it is just as important as what you say. And, contrary to what most people may think, rhetoric is not dead.

As Nitin Nohria said, "Communication is the real work of leadership." IN this podcast, I talk about the additional layer of skill you need to add to your communication toolbox and what your followers need to hear from you.

"Embrace the chase" is a quote by swimming superstar Katie Ledecky, and reading it inspired me to reflect on the mindsets that can make all the difference in work and in life.

Despite all your preparation, there is a good chance you will get hit with a question you have not planned for. In this podcast, I share 9 steps for ensuring you can think on your feet and ace this portion of any meeting or presentation.

The idea of the hero swaying a hostile audience through the force of their eloquence makes for great movies, but in real life, the most  successful persuaders do all the work beforehand to stack the deck and avoid the drama.

Over decades of training salespeople, I've met an elite few who embody professionalism in their attitudes and actions. Here's what true professionals know, care about, and do, and why it matters.

If you  follow the advice so far in this series, you will definitely be the most credible person in the room, no matter where you are. And that is a huge asset. Like any asset, Max Cred needs to be protected, maintained, and cultivated.

Deep commitment to a cause or an idea is one of the most powerful and sustainable factors of credibility because it reflects on your good character, good sense, and goodwill.