[ Volume VII, Issue 3 ] It’s hard to believe that the last presidential campaign Walter Cronkite covered was 29 years ago — Ronald Reagan’s 1980 election victory over Jimmy Carter. When a person of such longstanding influence passes on, it often is a great opportunity to consider their contribution to society, the world and [...]

[ Volume VII, Issue 1 ] As many of you are already aware, my wife, Emily, teaches at Choate Rosemary Hall, a private boarding school in Wallingford, CT. And in an effort to expose the students to the world outside the campus, the school attracts many high-profile leaders to come and speak. On January 22, [...]

[ Volume IV, Issue 6 ] In politics, as in all professional endeavors, first impressions and perceptions are crucial for success. Regardless of how intelligent a person might (or might not) be, the way he or she speaks has a dramatic impression on the way he or she is initially perceived. When one speaks well, [...]

[ Volume IV, Issue 4 ] [Author’s note: This is an excerpt from my forthcoming book Move the World: Persuade Your Audience, Change Minds and Achieve Your Goals which will be published by John Wiley & Sons in April 2007. If you would like to be kept informed of events related to the book launch [...]

[ Volume IV, Issue 1 ] Once again, domestic doyenne Martha Stewart has given us the perfect recipe – two, in fact. In 2003, she showed us the perfect way to destroy a carefully-crafted public image, with equal parts arrogance and ignorance. And now, in just-completed 2005, Martha has shown us the best way to [...]

[ Volume III, Issue 3 ] One person’s clarity is another person’s confusion. One person’s certainty is another person’s falsehood. Recognizing others’ perceptions is the most important aspect of effective communication. As the old saying goes, seek first to understand then to be understood. As I reflect on the career of Dan Rather at CBS [...]

[ Volume II, Issue 5 ] Personal politics aside, the upcoming presidential election is a fascinating case study in message development. I do not dare suggest in this missive that the outcome of the election is clear. It clearly isn’t. But while the outcome is not certain, the differences between these two candidates and the [...]

George Bush recently opined that “Public speaking is very easy.” Yet when I listen to our President expound on military “strategery,” or the current trade imbalance (“The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country”), I am struck by the importance and difficulty of articulate expression. I know many bright individuals who struggle [...]