The First Word Blog

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Let’s be real

Have you ever Googled a celebrity or had a conversation about someone widely known and come across articles or whispers about whether they’re genuine? “What is ___ really like?” “You’d be surprised by how down-to-earth he/she is.” “Did they really mean that?” When you read that, you trust that person a little less, don’t you?

Let’s be real– genuine and authentic is in! And it’s time for us to take some notes.

We all want to believe the person we are hearing from is being real. Accusations of being “fake” or “disingenuous” often cause a huge blow in the credibility department. That’s a crucial thing to avoid, as credibility builds your company and brand, cultivates a great image, and can be something you rely on during a crisis.

We have already talked about cultivating credibility during telework in a few different ways, but it’s important to realize that credibility is easier to lose than to gain. If you show your authentic leadership in the right way, it can drag your reputation further in the right direction and do wonders for your organization.

Authentic leaders are those who lead with a purpose, believe in the mission, and are generally relatable. Lead with empathy and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable! If you’re less like a robot, and more like a person, it stands to reason that you can be a better leader. After all, no one wants to follow someone they don’t trust or relate to.

Take, for example, Taylor Swift.

I am fascinated with Taylor Swift for a variety of reasons, from her incredible storytelling that I heard on her very first album to the ways we have in some ways grown up together (we are roughly the same age.) A self-proclaimed mega fan, I have always bristled at those who said she seemed, back then, squeaky-clean and too put-together to be real. The public speculation has gone from whether she has genuine talent, to whether her country-turned-pop is effectively good, to drama she has with other celebrities to finding herself free of that reputation. I confess proudly that I have loved her through it.

She has responded to those who found her to be manipulative, fake, wrong– and she’s done it on her own terms through songwriting to lyrics and more. Each album cycle, she has revealed more of herself in interviews and songs, and she has become more comfortable doing so over time. She never lost her relatability and the personal connection she had with her fans (me) from the beginning. Swift is undeniably a brand expert and no matter how you feel about her (or think you feel about her), you can not help but realize her genius at the craft.

There’s a line from the Netflix documentary, Miss Americana, that rings especially true for any public figure struggling with authenticity. Swift is explaining what it’s like to be an entertainer in the public eye, holding an audience’s attention for the sake of her art: “”Be new to us, be young to us—but only in a new way, and only the way we want…Reinvent yourself, but only in a way that we find to be equally comforting and a challenge for you. Live out a narrative that we find interesting enough to entertain us, but not so crazy that it makes us uncomfortable,” she says. Here, she’s showing how hard it is to balance who you are vs. what you show the world publicly.

Big stars like Taylor swift walk the line of living private lives and showing the world who they are in the good, and bad, times. That’s probably why everone’s publicists are so expensive!

But I think we can all learn something from Taylor’s journey: being authentically you is not always automatic. It’s a skill that you must keep practicing. And putting yourself out there can pay off in a big way.

Taylor’s songs are all about, well, her! They’re famously like reading her diary.

How is your message, or your speech, or your interview showing vulnerability and authenticity? Are you being real?

Whether you’re telling your workforce how you’re in this together, leading with experience, mentoring a team of younger employees, or sending a message during a triumph or defeat, show a part of you that’s genuine. Tell the audience something that you really believe and it’ll shine through. Let the workforce, or whoever you are speaking to, know how you feel. Let them know how you rose above adversity, how you took a chance to land that customer, how you weren’t sure it was going to work out. Let them in.

But it doesn’t take telling your deepest, darkest secrets from your diary pages to help an audience get to know you! Tell a joke. Own it if you make a mistake, and laugh it off (or, Shake it Off re: Taylor.) If something is awkward, acknowledge it and move on. Add some color to the remarks, like a story about your family or a silly thing you did once as a kid. What’s something that’s “you” that you can use to relate to others?

Let the audience see your human side, because when you tell them more they’ll be with you. Like, really with you. They’ll connect with you so your triumph can become their triumph. Your message becomes more appreciated. People will look to you as a presence they like listening to.

All of this builds trust. Your people will love how you got real. Authenticity is the key to getting them behind you, and helping your company be more successful because of it.

I hope this inspires you to get real and show some vulnerability to boost your own credibility! A parting three things: be genuine, learn who you are as a leader and allow others to relate to you! You won’t be sorry.

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Going the Distance

This post is different than what I usually share, but it’s very meaningful to me. Throughout the pandemic, I have struggled with (and mentioned it here!) how I will better myself, or change my world for the better, once normal life is allowed to resume. I decided that I would go the distance and truly become what I always wished I could be: a runner.

Anyone who tells you running is easy is either lying or bragging. I’ve never been good at bragging, lying or running, so before all this I’d have told you that running is impossible.

For me, it really felt that way. I always got shin splints when I tried to run, stopping before I ever really got started. My commute took time out of my day that I could be running. I really don’t like sweating. I didn’t feel strong enough, motivated enough or really worthy enough to start the ambitious task of becoming a runner. I also struggle with self esteem and body issues, which don’t help most endeavors in general. I had a lot of pressure working against me.

I’m not really sure if you’d call what I had last month a “breakthrough.” However, during the pandemic I reached a turning point where, after a conversation with someone I trust, I realized I could either do something about my situation or decide to be fine with it and accept myself as I am. That little realization that I was not ready to do the latter created a spark, which ignited my motivation.

I was ready to start going the distance.

I started strong: I read running blogs the day before I laced up, I practiced stretching and still do those stretches before and after a run, and I even started counting calories. I’ve begun a beginner strength routine so my muscles can keep up with the progress I’m gaining (slowly) on the pavement. I attempt yoga for balance and stretching on rest days. I bought new workout gear to stay motivated. I downloaded Couch to 5k and started a running plan to track my progress and push myself. It’s all going well, unless it isn’t.

Because still, it’s not easy.

I am often overwhelmed by the task before me when I step out the door to do my self-assigned run. Getting the gear on, braving whatever the weather is doing that day, feeling poorly about my odds of surviving… all of those things can reverse my motivation in a hurry. Sometimes, going the distance means cutting a run short because of leg pain. Sometimes, it means walking instead of running because of a stitch in my side. My feet can hurt for days after a run.

Going the distance often, for me, just means that cliche “putting one foot in front of the other” and focusing on my stride so I don’t get hurt and maintaining breath control when all I’d like to do is stop.

When? When does running become “easy?”

I hope that when I am able to see my friends and people I work with again, I might walk a little taller and maybe even be a few pounds lighter. I hope that they see I have changed and that I am able to keep this up for good. I pray that I can become more positive and use this momentum to believe in myself. I fear that I’ll let myself lose focus and revert back to spending more time on the couch than my course.

But I know I have made a change that can’t hurt me. One tiny change led to two, to three, to a potentially new lifestyle if I really commit!

It’s as one of my friends stated: “Any movement that is faster than a stroll can be running.” Even though I walk-run, gasping for air when the timer goes off and I can slow down, it’s running. I am a runner right now, and I will be one as long as I’m able to just keep going the distance.

I think this commitment can be equated to what our world is going through right now. Coronavirus changed us, and it’s not been an easy journey. We’re all figuring this out in our separate places, isolated, taking it one day at a time. When it is safe to return to stores and workplaces, our society will be forever changed. Many of us fear we will forget those lessons. Many others know that life will look different than it did before. But we will be more committed, if we try, to actions that make us better: respecting each other’s personal space, not shaking hands, staying home if we are sick instead of toughing it out at work, showing compassion for one another in innovative ways, video chatting more often, and so much more.

I shared this story not to brag (because as I said I’m not very good at that!) but to hold myself more accountable to my commitment to be better. Going the distance is teaching me about myself and connecting me to a goal I’d long thought could not be achieved. How will you go the distance in your own way?

As always, a parting three things: stay healthy, be well and remember that every step counts.

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Finding Your Formula

Public Domain

Public speaking is tough, but finding your formula can help you master your own style and elevate your performance. Want to help your audience follow along with you, keep yourself from tripping up, or own your prep? Read on for 3 ways to find your formula for a successful speech.

We’ve all been there: you prepared the best you could, but you walk up to the mic and draw a big old blank when the lights are all on you and it’s “go” time. You try to look at your notes, but suddenly you realize how difficult they are to read. You try a joke you didn’t plan, but it falls flat. Suddenly, you’re standing in a spotlight and all you want to do is start over.

It doesn’t have to be this way! It takes practice to master a speech, whether it’s 5 or 50 minutes long. Your process can win the day, if you find what formula works for you.

  • Bring notes you can use in a pinch

Notes aren’t usually for you to read for the whole speech! They are just there to guide you and keep you on time and in flow. You should find a style of notes that helps you find your place easily, remember key phrases and move on without distracting the audience from your message.

For some executives I work with, finding their formula means using a notecard-style page with large font and a few phrases. I print them an outline on card stock and cut it to size so it can fit directly into their jacket pockets. The typed print is easier to read than handwriting, and the small size allows them to keep the card in their palm until they need it. It’s not terribly obvious that they have notes, and the format of the outline keeps them on track.

For others, it’s full-word sentences set to bullet points. Those can be tricky, even for the most seasoned speakers, because it promotes reading rather than speaking from the heart. It can also be easy to lose your place. I find that adding bold face type to key phrases within those bullet points, as well as breaking up the sections With Easy to Read Headings works well here.

As a reporter, I joined other news professionals with the one-page of keywords approach. I took a thin reporter’s notebook and, after a press conference, broke my story into a few key sections (usually who-what-where-why-how up top with what we know, what we need to know, and what’s next to follow.) Then, instead of a sentence or two I would just put a few key words. (Ex: Suspect, w/m with blue jacket; Still at large; no risk to public.) It helped me give people need-to-know details up top and then flow in and out of the live shot cohesively. Plus, if I needed to jog my memory I could keep talking as I looked down and easily found what I needed to say next. It took years to refine this but it worked every time.

The point is, if you find your own formula to what notes you need on the stage, you can eliminate lots of distracting awkwardness, reliance on filler words like “um”, and long silences.

  • Help your audience follow along

One way you can increase audience participation and retention of your message is to keep them engaged. But you have to make it easy for them!

Some speakers, like pastors, have fill-in-the-blank style notes pages on the back of handouts like the church bulletin. That way, the congregation can fill in the missing words as the sermon goes along. That always helped me keep track of the main message I needed to hear that Sunday.

Another way is to improve your speech flow. Everyone has heard some variation of this one: tell them what you’re going to say, say it, and then close with a reminder of what you said. It’s tried-and-true, and often your best sound bites from from the closing because it’s like putting a bow on a present and ties the whole thing together.

I am a huge fan of the “sandwich” approach: start with a metaphor or scenario at the top of the remarks, work through it in the body, and at the close come back to it.

If I were explaining how difficult it is to get to Mars instead of to the International Space Station, I would say, “It’s like a remote camping trip.” Then, I’d explain in the body of the speech how when you’re driving to a friend’s house, you know you can get your mom or your friend to bring you what you need if you forgot something or come get you if you want to go home. But on a remote camping trip, you’ve gone so far and you’re so isolated that you can’t go back and get something you didn’t bring with you. You have to either make what you need, use what you have or do without. Finally, at the closing of the speech I would explain how taking astronauts to Mars is like that remote camping trip.

Those techniques help an audience see the full picture and even remember it, so they can tell their friends about it later.

You can even do it with a quote. “As Wernher von Braun said, ‘I have learned to use the word ‘impossible’ with the greatest caution.” I once used this quote in the beginning of a speech, referenced it a few times in the middle as I explained what impossible things NASA was working to make possible, and closed with it to note how the speaker, through her time at NASA, had also learned to use that word carefully.

I love finality. That’s your chance to drive it home. I think these formulas can deliver an impact that closes beautifully, alert the audience that the speaker is wrapping, and give that speech a sense of purpose.

  • Use your medium to your advantage

Are you speaking to a live audience? On a teleconference? On video chat? Know the medium and use it to help you find the right formula for success.

Sometimes I imagine that a telecon is the greatest gift to a speaker because you can use your notes way more and nobody will be the wiser! It allows you so much more ability to focus on what you’re saying, because you don’t have to worry about how you look. Your notes for a telecon may look way different than your notes for a live event. Let that work for you! Practice staying on message AND on time without the pressure of an audience staring at you!

A video conference can allow you some “cheats” too! Your notes can stay on your screen, so it looks like you’re looking toward the camera when actually you are staring at your message. There is no need to be seen looking down: you can engage like never before this way. Use this medium to find your formula for engagement. Use facial expressions, gestures, and other body language to allow yourself to practice being natural.

We are getting a lot of this practice right now during a time of coronavirus. Use these to get even better so that once we are able to attend events and live, on-stage speaking engagements you’ll be better than ever!

I hope you can find your formula for public speaking success even though speaking may be different right now. Remember: every time you speak you are only getting better!

Use this time to start finding your formula and wow your audience! A parting three things: be safe, be encouraged and go present a clear message today!

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Feeding your soul during a troubled time

Let’s be honest: we could all use some positivity, right? During dark times, it can be hard to feel happy or motivated. Here are 4 ways to inject some light into your life and feed your soul, even when the world seems dim.

  • Listen for positive news

I promise, its there! In every newscast, it’s been there this whole time: it’s just that the top stories can induce anxiety strong enough to cause you to overlook them. I’m seeing Gayle King and the CBS This Morning team feature great, heartwarming stories throughout their newscasts: not just before a break or before the end of a half-hour, but sprinkled throughout as you need your heart to feel lighter and feed your soul. The Eye Opener always has a good story included each morning!

And local news is in on it too! Some news stations like WHNT News 19 in Huntsville are even doing half-hour good-news broadcasts!

John Krasinski even made his own good news show! As of this post, it has 15 MILLION views! Clearly, we all need a dose of happiness (and we don’t have to go far to find it):

  • Create your perfect self-care routine

Self-care is, thankfully, all the rage these days. Feed your soul with encouraging acts like calming baths, a long walk outside, a mug of tea, a good book, a cuddle session with your dog or a cheat meal fit for a king. Forbes offers this great article to get you started.

For me, self-care has been the most rewarding part of self-quarantining at home. I now have all the time I ever wanted to do things like start running with Couch to 5K, take long baths with a glass of wine and a magazine, and sit outside on the back patio with a good book. This time is restorative: it’s what feeds my soul! I miss social interaction, but my self-care also includes virtual hangouts with friends which help me a lot.

For many of us, finding ways to be outdoors if we are able to distance is soul-feeding too. Going outside helps us feel less trapped, and more in-touch, with the world. This can be harder and harder to do if you live in a city or don’t have a yard. The National Institutes of Health suggests the outdoors can be restorative: “proximity to greenspace has been associated with lower levels of stress… and reduced symptomology for depression and anxiety.” We could all use more of that effect in our lives!

  • Make small goals

Someone recently asked me, “How are you making sure your life is better after this than before it?” I really had to think about that and honestly, at that time I didn’t have an answer. Since then, I have challenged myself to find a few ways to be better and part of that is making small goals, and working toward them every day.

I started counting calories and keeping track of what I eat because, for me, that’s a really small goal I can work toward right now. In the next 3-5 weeks, I think it can become a habit that will help me stay healthy after all this!

If you need time to start working on those goals while working from home, click here. This article from a few weeks back can help you manage your time and take some breaks along the course of your day.

  • Do something for someone else

Remember all the good news we just talked about? There are so many examples of human kindness around us right now, from parades past children’s homes for birthdays to community-wide rounds of applause for first responders and medical staff. Doing something nice for someone else just feels good! One way to feed your soul might just be to find a way to be there for someone who is struggling through the pandemic.

Websites, including that of this New York-based nonprofit, have tons of information about how you can help virtually or with important acts like blood donation. We are all in this together!

I hope this helps, and that you have a better understanding of what you can do to feed your soul through this difficult time!

I pray you find encouragement and motivation, strength and hope. Three thoughts to close: be well, be kind and be at peace!

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What to Tell Your Team During COVID-19 Telework

Here’s 5 things to help you decide what to tell your team during an uncertain time dominated by coronavirus headlines, as you work in unconventional ways.

Let’s face it: we’re living in a strange time. Telework is mandatory for so many of us who are privileged to have jobs that allow remote work. The virus appears to be closing in on our family or loved ones. Your workforce, likely scattered across your area instead of congregating at the same workplace, may feel anxious, stressed or fearful.

Consider that they also, like you, have a lot on their minds right now. Perhaps they’re working while keeping kids busy, taking care of sick family members, cleaning or stocking up on supplies.

Now, more than ever, they need a leader.

Now is your time to be more than just a decision-maker. The tone you set now, and the way you deliver your message, can make history for your company or agency and be more impactful than you may realize. Here are 5 things to tell your team, your workforce, right now:

  • “We are all in this together.”

This isn’t just a catchy High School Musical song: it really makes a difference for your workforce to know they aren’t alone in any struggles or confusion.

Whether they are choosing to self-isolate or under a government-mandated stay-at-home order, chances are your workforce is not socially active right now. This can lead to feelings of isolation that can be dangerous at worst and difficult at best. The American Psychological Association says, “loneliness can wreak havoc on an individual’s physical, mental and cognitive health.” If you can establish a community, or draw on the connection your team already makes with a feeling of community at the traditional workplace, you can remind your team they are just that: a team!

  • “Here’s how you can connect with our Employee Assistance Program.”

As someone who has considered, but never made the leap to use the employer-sponsored help program at one of my jobs, I’ll say it’s never unhelpful to have a nudge to check it out.

The Office of Personnel Management says an EAP is “a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems.”

Your team is likely processing a situation, and the accompanying emotions, they have never experienced before. The EAP can help them maintain their mental and/or physical health and be a lifeline in a crisis. Drop them an employee communication about how to connect with your company or agency’s EAP and let them know it’s confidential, free and available 24/7.

  • “I will keep you informed.”

Your team needs to know you are looking out for them and that you will not keep them waiting for essential information. Tell them you’ll keep them in the loop, and then follow through by passing along updates on a cadence that feels best for your situation and organization. You walk the line of messaging so frequently that they tune it out and messaging not often enough to answer questions before the workforce thinks of them.

What is most important here is accuracy. You can be forgiven for being a little late on messaging if it’s accurate, true and easy to understand. It’s as they say: it’s better to be right than first. Just be sure that what information you choose to share is factual and relevant to your team.

  • “Your safety and health come first.”

As you decide what to tell your team, this is a big one. This must feel authentic as you say it, and it is key for your workforce to understand they are your priority. It helps explain many of the decisions you make in a crisis situation and can do a lot for a person who is struggling to know that you are looking out for them.

If we subscribe to what Abraham Mazlow wrote about the hierarchy of need, physical (food, water, health) and security (safety, stability) are two of the most basic needs for human beings. While Mazlow’s work has drawn criticism over the years, this still highlights how highly many of us hold those values in life.

In order to be a productive team, that team needs to be its best! You show you care for your people when you keep their safety and health at the top of your priority list.

  • “I don’t know at this time, but we are looking into it.”

Any good public relations professional will tell you that if you don’t know the answer to a question, sometimes the best thing to do is say a version of, “I don’t know.” It’s part of the recipe to cultivating trust and credibility. Rather than lie, or push through answering something haphazardly to risk getting it right, it can be beneficial to tell your team when you don’t have all the answers yet.

Maybe you don’t know when the workforce can return to work. Maybe you haven’t yet confirmed how many people on your team have tested positive for COVID-19, or how this affects what you do. Maybe you aren’t aware how many people a positive case came into direct contact with, but you’re working to track it.

The key to admitting you don’t know is to add a promise: “We don’t know yet how this affects our ____, but I will let you know tomorrow before noon.” Whether you are responding to media, or just your own team, this goes a long way. It allows a reporter to tell their audience when to expect more information, and it allows your workforce to look for your timely updates. It also shows what action you are taking to directly address the unknown.

Once, a reporter I admired told me that the best thing I can do when covering political stories is to avoid pretending I know things that I really don’t. He advised me that people can see through it, and it’s better to ask for clarity at the beginning than after the report (or speech) has run. It’s simple to say and even more simple in practice. Seeking answers is an important part of leadership.

I hope this helps you communicate with your organization and display effective leadership during a stressful time.

Now you know what to tell your team, a parting three things: be empathetic, be efficient and know you and your team have each other’s backs.

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Working from home? How to manage your time

working from home

Working from home can be tough. Work is always accessible, the fridge is so close and you have only virtual connections with your coworkers.

As coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns heighten, many of us find ourselves working from home. Whether you are infected, self-quarantining or otherwise social distancing, you may find yourself in a position you’ve never experienced: sitting at your kitchen table and trying to do work you used to leave at the office.

But do not despair! Working from home allows you some efficiencies. Take advantage of them NOW to make the best of your situation!

  • Make the most of the time you earn back

Congratulations! You are no longer commuting! Whether that means you just got back fifteen minutes, half an hour or even an hour you’d typically spend sitting in traffic, make the most of that time. What have you been putting off around the house? What news can you catch up with, or friends can you call, now you have some time? What new skills can you learn that you never had time for before?

I’ve used the “free” time I suddenly have to watch more news, which I find particularly valuable since the world is grappling with COVID-19. I’m walking and writing more frequently in my newfound personal time! It feels healthy and keeps me informed.

  • Improve your will-power

Several people in my office have remarked about this… the fridge is now so, so close and those snacks we’ve stocked up on are within feet of us at all times. Diet or no diet, that’s a challenge for all of us! Food is within reach and there is no need to walk to a cafeteria or take a “break” to go eat it. The pantry is a dangerous place, my friends.

If your new work space is the kitchen, consider moving to a new place. It could be that you’re conditioned to eat while you’re in there. It proved beneficial for me to set up a table in a corner of the living room, away from the table where we eat dinner, so I could avoid the temptation to stress-eat.

  • Take time to unplug

Think of some things you can do to detach from work for a brain break or to remain active during your more sedentary lifestyle these days.

I’ve noticed that I keep checking my work computer, or my work email, well after I “clock out.” Part of my job is working with the crisis communications team for our center’s response to COVID-19, so in many ways I need to stay informed and abreast of any tasks I need to complete to help out. But other times when I am not being called upon to help, I see myself stretching my time “at work” while working from home. It’s all too easy to work without a break when work is all around us and not separated by a long drive where we have time to decompress.

And, perhaps we aren’t watching our health the way we should right now. Our home office chair is now home base, so we aren’t walking to meetings or around our work campus anymore. I have, at the suggestion of my supervisor, scheduled time to take a walk outside with the dogs or while listening to a podcast. Make time to move! It does wonders for your mental health and capacity to keep on going.

A friend who works from home for a living year-round also suggested 10-minute breaks every hour or so to get some housework done. Not only do you move around more, but you get some chores done on top of it! So smart. I think I see a floor that needs a good cleaning… I’ll add it to the list!

It can also be helpful to schedule some human contact. While we are being encouraged to implement social distancing into our everyday lives, I have “lunch dates” with a friend and coworker via video chat. Our friend group is also considering virtual wine nights to ease the loneliness of working from home.

  • Stay in communication

It’s easy to forget that your supervisor can no longer see you right now, unless of course you start a video chat with him or her. (Make sure you follow this guidance to make the most out of your video call!) That means, he or she is unaware of the work you are doing to support your team and what your needs may be during this time you spend working from home.

I ran into this for the year I worked as a bureau chief for a TV station in West Virginia: the big bosses don’t know what they can’t see. That means you must communicate with your boss so they know that not only are you doing work and completing tasks, but you don’t need them to keep you accountable. I was praised for checking in regularly and letting the newsroom know where I was on a story because they weren’t physically nearby to see my struggles or successes and help out.

A good boss will also keep standing appointments to check in with employees, even during a telework situation. Before publishing this post, I wrapped a tag-up with my supervisor, who used the opportunity to ask where I need support and how I’m doing during this telework phase. He kept our communication going because he knows he can’t just walk down the hall and visit my desk to see how things are going!

There you have it! How to keep the workflow going and take care of yourself while working from home! As always, a parting three things: be well, social distance and thank those who are on the front lines of COVID-19 like nurses and store clerks.

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Public Speaking Amid Coronavirus Concerns

With coronavirus (COVID-19) concern rising, many companies and agencies are implementing video conferencing instead of face-to-face meetings. Here’s how you can present well on video for a successful interaction, virus-free.

Whether you use WebEx, Teams, Skype or any other video platform, chances are your office is cutting down its use of conferences and meetings to connect people for your industry or cause. This week, global concern about coronavirus is center-stage, instead of you! How can you get your message across when you can’t shake hands, look an audience in the eyes and walk around the same room?

It’s all about using your medium.

Video conferencing is awkward at times, but useful for social distancing and teleworking. It’s a great way to check in with employees and hear from them while they also get to see your face. Leaders know how important it is to be visible, and speakers know how important it is to use eyes and ears to tell a story. Let video meetings work for your advantage!

  • Preparedness is key

You should still come prepared, even though you’re not in a face-to-face meeting. In some ways, a Skype call is easier! Your notes can stay out of the video frame, or you can even tape them to the wall beside your computer for quick reference!

Adjust your mindset. The more calm, collected and business-as-usual you appear on-camera, the more at-ease your team will feel in a crisis (or perceived crisis.)

Make sure that as a part of your preparedness, you still dress the part. Even if working from home is mandatory, if you appear on camera to your team you should still be wearing makeup, a nice shirt (and pants, if the audience can see them!) and a professional hairstyle. No messy bun or skipping hair gel for you! Presentation is important. It can boost your credibility and communicate a nonverbal message. Let yours say, “I’m here to work and get this done as a team.”

  • Orient your computer

If you are not in a ViTS (Video Teleconferencing System) room with a camera mounted to a wall, chances are you are using a computer’s on-board camera for your communication. This can be tricky, so bear a few things in mind to make sure you are not distracting from your message and setting yourself up for sucess.

First, find a stable place to put the computer down. A desk is the obvious answer, but if you are doing so from home without access to a desk, a sturdy table or even a shelf will do. I have also placed a computer on a chair and sat on the floor with a wall to my back. The audience doesn’t know what they can’t see! As long as your computer is not wobbling, shaking, or otherwise moving and your legs are out of frame, your audience won’t know you’re sitting cross-legged on a floor. Avoid excessive jostling or movement to keep from annoying or distracting your audience, whose eyes are more eager to follow excessive movement than pay attention to you.

Second, the background can make or break your speech or meeting. Some video conferencing programs have the ability to blur backgrounds, but if yours does not do so or does not do so reliably, choose a neutral background. A blank wall is never ideal, particularly if you are doing a recorded interview that media will record, but for your meeting purposes it will do. You can also use your home office or library, if you have one. Books are often a perfect backdrop! I would avoid being seen in a kitchen, in a bedroom or on a couch unless you can find a way to keep the cushions and pillows out of the shot.

Third, if you are using a phone or tablet, hold it landscape (horizontally), not portrait (vertically). That will allow your shot to fill most computer screens. Again, if your Skype session is being recorded for a media interview, most reporters will request landscape so they don’t have to try to fit you into a 16:9 screen in post-production.

  • Now, for the speaking!

Finally, you are ready to speak! We have already gone over what you can do to up your public speaking game, but this will look and feel different than taking the stage at a face-to-face meeting.

Remember to engage the camera. Too often, I see people on Skype calls looking at the screen itself and forgetting the camera at the top or in the corner. If you want your audience to feel “seen” and to properly engage them, look directly at the camera and speak to it as if you would a person. This way, the audience can look into your eyes and your credibility and sincerity can shine through.

It also helps to appear comfortable (even if you aren’t!) Don’t stiffen your posture too much, but don’t slouch either. Feel free to gesture as you speak, although since you aren’t on a stage you may not need to as often or as much. Don’t fidget– not only can mics often pick that up, but you appear nervous to your audience. And, avoid moving your eyes to the side and looking off-camera as you’re speaking. This could make you appear shifty or distracted.

Be aware that you can be seen and heard at all times. If you are unable to mute your mic, chances are you may cough or be heard (and not just seen) if you crunch on a snack. Your dogs may bark and your doorbell may ring. If you want to have a private conversation with someone in the room, or make comments, do not do so on a live mic!

Secure your space. Lock the office door and keep your window shade drawn. You could even be interrupted by a dog (or a child!) What person in the world has yet to see this:

^^ Cringe.

Adjust the audio, but don’t overcompensate. The tendency for many people who are not accustomed to wearing a mic, or speaking on a mic, is to shout or project the voice. If you are wearing a mic, you absolutely do not need to do that (unless those in the audience as you to.) A mic level can be adjusted so you don’t need to project your voice at all. And, this has body language benefits too: your whole body relaxes when you speak normally. You appear more natural and you aren’t leaning forward: you’re just talking. That’s what a mic is for!

Test, test, test. It may help to test the audio before the call to ensure that it is picking you up appropriately. Plus, technical difficulties waste everyone’s time! Whether it’s your public affairs officer, your speech writer, your secretary or just you doing it yourself, find time to test the system you are using to make sure it works. And put this i your plan to test from time to time and train new folks on the system too! That way, everyone is prepared in case of an emergency or in this case, a pandemic.

There you have it! Simple tips for video conferencing success!

As always, I’ll end with three things: test your systems, be prepared and wash your hands to stay safe and healthy!

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Write Better: Making Your Space Your Own

Do you ever wonder why you can’t start writing? Give your space a makeover and let the words flow!

All writers know this scenario (I am not joking when I say, this could be an anxiety trigger for you): you fully intend to start writing, so you gather your laptop or notebook and go to your designated writing spot. You sit down, set up and wait for the inspiration but it never comes. You type maybe three words and have to take a break… and never pick up where you left off.

As a professional writer, I know it can be way more complicated than that. Sometimes someone interrupts. Sometimes, you become overwhelmed by research and have to go down a rabbit hole to get going again. But other times, you just aren’t comfortable enough to let yourself go to that place where you can crank out content.

Motivation comes from all over, though. Maybe you just haven’t found the right trampoline to jump on and get you out of the slump.

One way to create your own trampoline, of sorts, is to make your writing space your own. Get creative! Fill it with what inspires you! And declutter, declutter, declutter!

For my personality type– which I don’t entirely know because it differs with every (free) test I take and I’m waiting for an angel at my workplace to pay for a team assessment so I don’t have to– I know I need to feel secure in order to really achieve anything. Creating peace is important. I’ve done a few simple things at work to foster that feeling so I can reduce worries and get to writing, and I will share a few with you.

photos to write better
  • Surround yourself with photos of people you love

It really could be this simple. My husband got me this great photo printed on wood, and I love it! When I look up from my computer, I see his smiling face and it makes me feel good.

Bonus: a plant can make a space feel more cozy, especially a low-maintenance one like this cactus that stays on a shelf and can withstand the holidays when you aren’t there to water it!

personal touch to write better
  • Add a personal touch

It is easy to leave your workspace bare, with boring cubicle or shelf walls and no personal touch. It’s cheaper, too! But I find that if I surround myself with things that bring me joy, like these magnets that are made to look like planets, it can make all the difference. This very small thing, for me, promotes that feeling of peace that I need. Since I work at NASA, this allows me to feel inspired.

Organization to write better
  • Organize your space

A well-organized or well-kept space is key for success. When you know where everything is, you waste less time around the office looking for what you need to work. I like to give everything a “place” so I know where it needs to go and make sure to put it there every time. These magnetic coat hangers are surprisingly useful in my space, for example.

Clutter and disorganization breed contempt from not just your coworkers, but also for yourself. Psychology Today details the science behind the psychological power of cleanliness and organization: “Researchers… found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.” A clean space can be calming.

Bonus: See the sticky note at the top of the photo? I have all kinds of reminders placed strategically around my cubicle to remind myself to do things before I leave for the day. That way, I don’t focus on what I might forget to do: I know I will get it done. This allows my brain to pay attention to the tasks at hand.

I hope this is helpful to give you a more relaxing and useful writing space!

As always, a parting three things: clean up, take care of yourself and enjoy the journey.

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5 Tips to Up Your Public Speaking Game

Whether you’re a confident public speaker, or if you need a little help, these five things can make or break a speech.

Public speaking can be daunting. None of us want to embarrass ourselves or the people we work with, and we all want to come off the stage feeling like we did our best. In my experience writing speeches for executives in aerospace, giving speeches around communities to represent my TV station and giving live shots, you can take note of five things right now to change for your next speech to instantly up your game!

  • Take a deep breath

This sounds oh-so-cheesy but it really is a game-changer. Before going out to do a speech, or doing a live shot on camera, deep breaths can help you get your “game face” on and slow your adrenaline. Some adrenaline is good (there’s nothing like a quick dose of energy!) but too much can make your hands shake at the podium or cause your voice to waver as you struggle to appear calm. In other words: a deep breath helps you center. I often accompany that with shaking my arms out, or a shoulder roll. I would tell my interviewees to do this too, and it worked for so many!

Harvard Medical School suggests there’s a good reason for that: a deep breath is your body’s built-in stress reliever. This post says, ” Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange — that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure. ” Obviously, that’s an incredible benefit right before you do something that requires intense concentration, connection with the audience, poise and confidence like public speaking!

The next time you get in front of an audience to make a speech, do a deep and diaphragmatic breath and go for it!

  • Give yourself a compliment

The first rule of positivity is to be kind to yourself! And before a speech, when your confidence is key, helping yourself feel good in a healthy way is a great thing to practice.

Maybe you tell yourself simply, “You got this!” before walking onstage. Or, you could go find a mirror, look yourself in the eye and say out loud, “I am strong, I am capable and I am a powerful speaker!” Hey, whatever works! All that matters is that you come away from the interaction with your own mind feeling ready to go.

Before a live shot where I felt immense pressure to be “on” or I felt concerned that I wouldn’t hit the details just right, I would think a prayer from under the camera lights. As the anchor tossed to me, and before I opened my mouth, I wanted my last thought to be, “God, be with me.” To me, that’s an empowering move. It allows me to remember who, in my faith, is in control and can help me be my best in order to serve the viewers. It was not only helpful, but it allowed me to take the pressure off myself in that moment. I respond well to stress, but too much stress during a big moment can be crippling to your agility and your body when you need to be smooth, authoritative and collected to an audience.

  • Have a laugh

Oh, the relief that comes pouring out when you let yourself laugh! Similar to taking a deep breath, I imagine that I can almost feel the stress leaving me with that staccato exhale of laughter.

^ Definitely in her own head!!!!

Lifehack.org provides these tips for letting more laughter into your life. Before a live shot, connecting with the videographer behind the camera often did it for me (unless we were on a tragic story where laughter at the scene would not be appropriate.) The institution says that laughter can not only lead to those physical benefits we talked about for deep breathing, but there is also an added mental health benefit including improving your mood and increasing endorphins.

  • Look your best

When we look our best, we feel our best. So, make sure you’ve worn an outfit you love, that your hairstyle is your fave (and won’t get in your eyes while you’re speaking!) and your shoes are comfortable.

It helps if your outfit does not distract the audience. Don’t wear any jewelry that jangles: the mic will catch it and it will detract from your message. Big or light-reflecting jewelry is great for high fashion or a fun brunch, but make sure it doesn’t overwhelm your body and become a focal point for the audience under the lighting. And if your clothes don’t fit well and you’re constantly pulling on them or adjusting them, the audience will notice and deem you “fidgety,” which could signal to them that you are not confident in what you are saying.

Instead, choose jewelry that is your style and taste (preferably modern and of-the-moment) but allows you to freely gesture and move. Choose footwear that will reduce your tendency to trip or stumble. Wear shoes that you can stand or walk in for a while. And bring the attitude you want your outfit to say about you!

  • Fake it till you make it

It really is true: if you aren’t confident, pretend you are! It works. Eventually, you start to see it pay off even if you don’t think it’s going well the first time you try it.

Do what you have to do to fake confidence: stand up a little straighter, give out a few firm handshakes, smile and tell everyone how happy you are to be there and how excited you are to give your talk (even if you aren’t!) People feed on that energy and give it back to you. Everyone knows when you aren’t enthusiastic about something because they can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice and see it in your body language.

Try this: close your eyes and say, “I love this.” Then, with your eyes still closed, smile and say the same phrase. Do you hear the difference? You can hear the smile! The same thing translates to the eye. A smile changes your whole body and invites people to share in your joy. Allow that to change how you speak.

It also helps to pretend you are acting during a public engagement. Imagine a confident person you admire and try to act like them or pretend you have some of their traits. How would they respond to this stress? How would they walk on stage and greet a crowd? This technique allows you to distance yourself from the emotion of fear or anxiety. If you are not you, then you don’t feel those things as strongly and can detach from them.

Confidence may be something we struggle with, but we can overcome those forces that weigh us down and keep us from feeling our best in small increments until one day, you believe in yourself and have been living in a confident on-stage persona long enough to make it a part of you.

I know this will help you give the speech of your dreams!

I’ll end with this: be your best, take care of yourself and know we are all in this together!

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Welcome to Kristen’s Blog!

Hi, I’m Kristen Conner Hill. Or Kristen Conner. Or Kristen Hill. Or Kristen.

I have gone by a lot of names over the years, whether you watched me on TV for WVVA News in Bluefield, West Virginia or on WHNT News 19 in Huntsville, Alabama or if you met me when I started speech writing for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center. No matter what you want to call me, I want you to know what I’m about.

This blog is a passion project for me as I practice my skills, grow as a communicator, tell stories and learn more about myself.

I wanted a way to tell you more about who I am and what I’m learning, in hopes it helps you learn something and discover something about yourself too. I’ll be writing about my passions: writing, leadership, public speaking, positivity and makeup!

“Short and sweet” is something I’m working on, because “concise” is a challenge for me. So, I’ll end with this: enjoy the blog, enjoy your life and let’s go on a journey together!

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