Career Advice for New College Graduates

  By John Millen  Congratulations on your college graduation! You might have heard amazing commencement speeches with advice on your role in changing the world; on thinking globally but acting locally; on finding your bliss and living your dreams. That is all good and inspirational advice. You should follow your dreams. But as a veteran…… Continue reading Career Advice for New College Graduates

Relearning In-Person Eye Contact

By John Millen As we begin returning to in-person meetings in business and our personal lives, we are making a lot of social and personal adjustments. Having stared at people’s eyes as pixels on video screens for the past 18 months, in-person eye contact may take some getting used to. And in-person meetings and presentations will…… Continue reading Relearning In-Person Eye Contact

How to Be Successful with Your New Boss

By John Millen We all know the importance of first impressions. They can make or break a relationship. This is particularly true if you have a new boss, are in a new company or even a new assignment in the same company. I have a lot of clients and friends who have gone through big…… Continue reading How to Be Successful with Your New Boss

9 Strategies for Success After Graduation

By John Millen Congratulations on your college graduation! You might have heard amazing commencement speeches on Zoom with advice on your role in changing the world; on thinking globally but acting locally; on finding your bliss and living your dreams. That is all good and inspirational advice. You should follow your dreams. But as a…… Continue reading 9 Strategies for Success After Graduation

How Do People Perceive You?

“Your reputation is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” –– Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO By John Millen We like to say we don’t judge people, but the truth is that’s all we do. All the time. Our subconscious minds begin assessing people from the moment we see them. It’s human.…… Continue reading How Do People Perceive You?

Welcome to the Workplace

By John Millen Congratulations on your college graduation! You might have heard amazing commencement speeches with advice on your role in changing the world; on thinking globally but acting locally; on finding your bliss and living your dreams. That is all good and inspirational advice. You should follow your dreams. But as a veteran coach…… Continue reading Welcome to the Workplace

Holiday Networking Conversation Survival Guide

As she entered last week’s PRSA senior leaders’ reception in Chicago, an unemployed pro said she was advised by friends and a recruiter to shut down her job search until mid-January. I disagreed and challenged her to expand her network by meeting six new individuals before the end of the party. She accepted the challenge…… Continue reading Holiday Networking Conversation Survival Guide

How to Stop the ‘Ums’ and ‘Uhs’

We’ve all been there. In ameeting someone asks you an unexpected question that you don’t immediately know how to answer. As your mind searches for something to say, your mouth begins to speak. If you were to listen to a recording of your response, it would likely include a few “ums” and “uhs” as you…… Continue reading How to Stop the ‘Ums’ and ‘Uhs’

How to Control Your Voice Like Morgan Freeman

By John Millen Our human voice is a truly amazing instrument. We produce a range of incredibly nuanced sounds that are capable of conveying meaning, emotion, and subtle cues to others. Here’s a passage of dialogue from Morgan Freeman, as “Red” in The Shawshank Redemption. Try reading this without hearing his comforting, mellow-toned voice: RED: I…… Continue reading How to Control Your Voice Like Morgan Freeman

Warren Buffett’s 5 Secrets of Communication

By John Millen In my work with CEOs and other C-suite leaders, I sometimes have executives question the work required to prepare for presentations. They ask, “What’s the ROI [return on investment] of communication?” Not being glib, I like to tell them that effective communication is priceless. That’s because without communication there’s no leadership, no…… Continue reading Warren Buffett’s 5 Secrets of Communication