When I started my coaching business in 2015, I reached out to an established communications coach for coffee.
She listened to me futz around trying to find the right words to explain my new business venture, and then gently asked, “Katherine, I’m sensing you’re embarrassed about something. What is it that you’re trying to hide?”
Ahh man, I thought, she’s good!
Read MoreMy parents are moving from my childhood home and sent me a pile of letters, report cards and other mementos.
If you find yourself with boxes in the front hall dropped off by down-sizing parents, I urge you – before you tuck them away in the basement or toss them – take some time to go through them, at least quickly. There is so much history, clarity and story strength in the exercise.
[Extra points if you do this with your kids!]
Read MoreStorytelling is our most basic and most profound way of communicating. Knowing how to tell your story can be the difference between getting the job, landing the client, receiving the standing ovation—or not. It’s simple, but not easy.
People come to me to when they have a keynote, TED-like talk, interview or just want to get more comfortable talking about themselves. They know something is missing but not sure what to include, what to take out. They want to make their story stick.
Read MoreI wrote in June about answering the ONE question that can bring a room to tears (in a good way).
Now…. I can’t offer you a simple, Mad-Lib-style, insert-adjective-here Template for giving a speech or presentation – but for something a little longer and/or more formal, I do have a sure-fire way to help you organize what you want to say. It can work for a professional or personal moment. It’s structured, reliable, repeatable…but not generic…there’s a difference!
Read MoreThe scene: my wedding day, twenty years ago. Two hundred people seated, ready to dig into filet of beef and pomme frites. It’s time for the pre-meal blessing, and our priest was nowhere to be found. The marriage was sealed, but the fancy french fries were getting cold!
Panicking a little, I shot my dad a look across the long banquet table. He immediately stood up, walked over to the microphone and launched.
Read MoreSo last month I offered a simple formula to help answer “Tell us about yourself,” without falling into a fast-moving river of dates and job titles and cascading over the waterfall of TMI.
This month I’m going to tackle another question you can answer with authenticity and confidence… and without a trace of dread or annoyance.
Read MoreI got a call the other day from a friend who made it to the final round for a big job: “You’re never going to believe the question I blew during my interview, Katherine...”
My spidey sense was that I would believe it and already knew, but I asked curiously, “What was it?”
With a whimper she said, “Ugh. Tell us about yourself.”
Read MoreWhen I was 17 years old, I was a senior in high school and Student Council President. One day I was rushing to class when the school counselor plucked me out of the hallway and said, “Hey Katherine, come in my office for a minute, I want to talk to you about something.”
Read MoreWriting helps me figure out what I’m thinking. Telling my story helps me figure out who I am.
In November, I signed up for an open-mic night at a storytelling event. I had a message in mind, and when the invitation popped up to speak, I jumped at the chance.
Read MoreYou know I’m obsessed with helping you share your personal story and I'd like to share why.
When you dive into your story, you get to learn about who you are. You get to make meaning out of your life. You get to understand what you stand for and why.
Just be yourself.
I cringe when I hear myself —or worse, my husband—say that to our kids.
Which self am I suggesting they be? The kid who didn’t make their bed, left their wet towel on their floor and then forgot to say thank you for the homemade egg sandwich this morning? Don’t think so.
Read MoreYou may not be commissioned for the Sistine Chapel, but you do have a message to share with the world. While I’m always here to help, here are five ways I’ve learned to get started… on a speech or for any situation where I need to speak in front of others.
Read MoreMining for stories is what I love to do. I help all kinds of people tell all kinds of stories, because I know that YOUR story matters. It doesn’t have to be a tearjerker or a tale of hardship. You have a message to share with the world, and I’m here to help. Want to find the story inside you? I’m leading some upcoming workshops and invite you to check them out.
Read MoreI’m in the amazing vacation state of Maine visiting my husband’s family. I never knew summer could be a verb until I showed up here.
The other morning, I hopped on a bike to ride up to the courts where my daughter was playing tennis with my husband.
It takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. -- Mark Twain
I whispered to a friend, “Yikes. I wish I’d cornered him before dinner.” We were at a 50th birthday. Yes, that’s the stage of life I’m in…
Read MoreGrowing up, I was the youngest of four. The baby. Big surprise, eh?
Each one of us played a role.
I know very well how public speaking can bring up a whole set of anxieties, from childhood traumas to real time pressure. I know what it’s like to be anxious and want to please and to impress.
Read MoreOur eyes locked. A jolt of joy permeated through my body, straight into my soul. You think I’m talking about the love of my life, right?
Read MoreI love Thanksgiving because it’s about gratitude. It’s a moment to put differences aside, appreciate life, and most of all, appreciate each other.
Read MoreI learned to cook. Small detail: when I was 40 years old.
For most of my life, recipes were an open invitation for anxiety.
