The Communication Guys Podcast: Communication Excellence | Professional and Personal Success
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
How to Connect in an Angry World [E174]
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible to connect with someone whose politics or social views are the virtual opposite of your own? Yes, it is possible—and it's important t...
Turning Resolutions into Reality [E173]
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do your New Year's resolutions have a way of vanishing, despite your best intentions? This week's Communication Guys podcast is "Turning Resolutions ...
How to Create Fun and Meaningful Conversations [E172]
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you getting tired of the same old boring conversations? Then you'll like this week's Communication Guys podcast, "How to Create Fun and Meaningfu...
The 1 Day Communication Challenge [E171]
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You would be amazed at how much you can improve as a communicator in a single day. All you have to do is apply 5 simple techniques that will leave peo...
5 Ways to Become a Warmer Person [E170]
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
According to research, the character quality that everyone instinctively looks for first is "warmth." Do people perceive you as a "warm" person? Today...
Dealing with Conflicts Before they Become Conflicts [E169]
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why do park rangers lob explosives onto a mountainside to purposely start an avalanche? Answer: Because the avalanche you start yourself is the easies...
Why We Make Bad Communication Choices [E168]
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you suffer from a "brain bias?" We all do. A brain bias is a faulty way of thinking that's hardwired into every human brain. They're common to all ...
The Soft Skills are the Hard Skills [E167]
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Your current skills allowed you to land the job you have now, but what are the skills that will allow you to hold on to that job in the future? What a...
The 6 Rules of Storytelling [E166]
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know how to tell a great story? Some do, most do not. Everyone agrees that stories are able to connect powerfully with listeners, but only if y...
Crucial Conversations [E165]
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a discussion where the stakes were high, opinions varied, and emotions were running strong? Master trainer Justin Hale from VitalSma...
Avoiding Drama in the Workplace [E164]
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When a conflict begins, what role do you naturally play: Victim, Persecutor, or Rescuer? According to Dr. Nate Regier, a conflict is like a drama tha...
The Compassion Mindset [E163]
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you sick and tired of conflict in your workplace? Do miscommunication and strained relationships drain your creative energy and keep you from bein...
25 Things All Great Communicators Do [E162]
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What are the habits that all great communicators have in common? Andrew Blotky should know. His career has taken him from the White House to Facebook...
The Golden Rule of Communication [E161]
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to communicate clearly, honestly and effectively in a business setting? Ask Andrew Blotky. For five years he led global employee co...
Be Real, But Not Too Real [E160]
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Modern audiences place a high value on the quality of authenticity. But how can you be open and authentic without revealing too much—or the wrong th...
Be Tough, But Not Bulletproof [E159]
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With all the criticism and negativity that surround us today, it can be hard to maintain a positive attitude. But when we tune out all negative-sound...
Give Your Idea a Chance to Live [E158]
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why are some people able to turn their great ideas into successful realities, while others allow their similar ideas to fade into distant memory? What...
5 Qualities of an Emotionally Intelligent Person [E157]
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
At Stanford University's prestigious Graduate School of Business, the most popular elective in their MBA program focuses not on business, but on Emoti...
6 Small Things that Make a Big Difference [E156]
02 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In business as well as relationships, we sometimes make the mistake of focusing on the larger issues and forgetting that there are small things that h...
How to Keep a Conversation Going [E155]
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do conversations feel like a boulder you're trying to roll uphill? Do your interactions with others seem like a fire that's always about to go out—a...
Connection Before Content [E154]
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There's a new mantra among communicators today: "Connection before content." It means: Before you attempt to impart that fascinating content of yours...
Email Fails [E153]
12 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that the average businessperson sends or receives 105 emails every day? Have you noticed how many of them you ignore—and have you ever ...
How to Be a Master Emcee [E152]
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered if you would make a good emcee? We tend to think of an emcee as a comedian, but the truth is, there's a lot more to being a ma...
A Story to Inspire Us All [E151]
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Did you see the story in USA Today? A woman named Alexa Bjornson put her 7 year-old son Landon on a plane to fly to Portland all by himself. But Land...
Throw Me a Bone [E150]
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why are we so stingy with our words? Words are like a miracle drug: They have the power to soothe, restore, and even heal the people around us, yet w...
Communication Lessons from the Golf Course [E149]
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a golfer, golf viewer, or even a golf widow? Then this episode is for you. Golf immortal Bobby Jones once said, "Golf is the closest game to...
How to Connect with Someone You Hate [E148]
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible to connect with someone whose politics or social views are the virtual opposite of your own? Yes, it is possible—and it's important ...
But Enough About Me [E147]
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever left a conversation wondering if you talked too much? Why do we sometimes share more about ourselves than we mean to? Why do we sometim...
6 MORE Ways to Lose an Argument [E146]
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 145 described 6 common techniques we all resort to in order to win an argument. They never seem to work—yet strangely, we continue to use th...
6 Ways to Lose an Argument [E145]
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
No one likes conflict, so we often look for a shortcut that might bring the disagreement to a speedy conclusion. The problem is, some of those "short...
How to Help your Listeners Pay Attention [E144]
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In a busy, noisy, distracted world, how can you help your listeners pay attention to what you're saying? It's a big problem for communicators today, ...
How the Experts Make You Listen [E143]
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a fan of TED talks? Did you know that some of these 18-minute gems have been viewed more than 50 million times? What techniques do expert com...
Glad You Asked: Questions from Our Listeners [E142]
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Each week you hear the Communication Guys talk about communication principles that can make you a more confident, compelling, and creative communicato...
To Feel More Confident, Act More Confident [E141]
20 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists tell us that our thoughts can affect our physical health. Too much stress can raise your blood pressure; too much worry can give you an ulc...
Say What You Mean and Get What You Want [E140]
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do people come to you for extra help, work, or favors because they know you'll say yes? Do you quickly agree to the requests of others, but find yours...
How to Avoid the 5 Life Regrets [E139]
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you look back on your life one day, what will you regret most? In her book, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying," Bronnie Ware describes the five...
How to Choose Your Battles Carefully [E138]
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We all have battles to fight, whether at work or at home. The trick is know which battles to fight, which to postpone, and which to run from. No one ...
How to Connect in the Workplace [E137]
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How "connected" is your workplace? Businesses used to believe that social connections between employees were unnecessary and potentially distracting....
Dealing with Post-Presentation Discouragement [E136]
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel discouraged or disappointed after a big presentation? Do you feel as if you've failed in some way, and become overly critical of your...
Why Introverts Can Be Great Communicators [E135]
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you an introvert? Have you ever noticed that it's the outgoing, enthusiastic, dominant personalities that seem to get all the attention—and the ...
The Annual April Fools' Episode [E134]
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Could you use a good laugh? Then today's episode is for you. Are you looking for profound insight into communication theory and practice? Come back ne...
The Incredible Power of a Name [E133]
25 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have trouble remembering names? You know the names of the people who are important to you, but what about all the co-workers, neighbors, and ca...
Quick Tips for a Great Day [E132]
18 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know the United Nations wants you to be happy? It's true. In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that recognized happiness as...
Tips for the Toughest Conversations [E131]
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There's a wise old saying: "Aim at nothing, and you'll hit it every time." Sometimes we rush into an important conversation without taking the time t...
Don't You Believe It [E130]
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever lie to yourself? Self-talk is one of the most powerful forms of communication, because those are the messages you tell yourself. After al...
How to Heal with Words [E129]
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The bad news is that words have the power to wound, discourage, and destroy. Your words could be ruining your career or hurting someone you love. The...
How to Kill with Words [E128]
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Words have the power to motivate, encourage, and inspire, but they also have the power to wound, discourage, and even destroy. Your words could be rui...
The Amazing Power of a Compliment [E127]
11 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A simple compliment can help someone recognize their talent or potential, or it can motivate them to keep going or take a chance on something new. The...
The 1 Day Communication Challenge [E126]
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You would be amazed at how much you can improve as a communicator in a single day. All you have to do is apply 5 simple but radical techniques that wi...
How to Prepare for Successful Conversations [E125]
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you approach an important conversation, do your best-laid plans seem to vanish from your mind as you find yourself winging it and making regretta...
What the World Wants Most [E124]
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Meet an NYU professor with a Ph.D. in Computer Science who decided to find out how most people finish those sentences. Last year he collected 600 mill...
The 6 Rules of Storytelling [E123]
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know how to tell a great story? Some do, but the truth is that most do not. Everyone agrees that stories are able to connect powerfully with li...
Are You Numbing Them with Numbers? [E122]
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Does your job involve presenting data or statistics? Have you ever noticed that your listeners begin to glaze over when you do? We live in the age of ...
Dealing with Last Year's Regrets [E121]
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's the start of a brand new year, and everyone is advising you to set greater goals and higher expectations for the year ahead. But what about the g...
5 Ways to Become a Warmer Person [E120]
24 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When you meet someone for the first time, they form an impression of you in a matter of seconds—and that first impression is very hard to change. Ac...
Do You Know What You Sound Like to Others? [E119]
17 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what you sound like to others? Do your listeners perceive you as weak? Blunt? Rude? Overpowering? Sometimes our perception of ourselves do...
What You Thought You Knew About Millennials [E118]
10 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
According to today's guest, much of what you've heard about millennials isn't true. She should know: She's a millennial herself, and she built a natio...
Permission to Screw Up [E117]
03 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did you ever make a major mistake in your business? Meet a woman who launched a cleaning business while she was still a college student, signed a cont...
The Epidemic of Loneliness [E116]
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel lonely? Did you know that in a recent survey of 3,000 corporate CEOs, more than 50% described themselves as feeling isolated and lone...
Why Gratitude is Good for Your Health [E115]
19 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a grateful person? Do you make a habit of expressing gratitude to others? We all love to receive gratitude, but did you know that there are ta...
Why We Make Bad Communication Choices [E114]
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you suffer from a "brain bias?" We all do. A brain bias is a faulty way of thinking that's hardwired into every human brain. They're common to all ...
Conversation Tips from a Founding Father [E113]
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that one of America's founding fathers made a lifelong study of conversational skills? He formed a club for his friends and colleagues wh...
5 Reasons to Enjoy Halloween [E112]
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Of all the critical issues related to communication, what's the most important topic of all? Not this one—this episode is just for fun, and we had a...
How to Deal with a Victim Mentality [E111]
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How do you deal with a person who always blames their problems on someone or something else? How do you relate to someone who constantly complains but...
Are You Really an Entrepreneur? [E110]
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you an entrepreneur? What exactly is an entrepreneur? Does the label rightly apply to anyone who starts a business, is self-employed, or has a cle...
Tell Me a Story or Tell Me Goodbye, Part 2 [E109]
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What are the critical elements in crafting a powerful story? As important as stories are in business communication, why do so many executives hesitate...
Tell Me a Story or Tell Me Goodbye, Part 1 [E108]
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that great leaders are almost always great storytellers? Why is that? What do they understand about the power of storytelling, a...
Have You Plateaued in Your Career? [E107]
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you reached a plateau in your career? Do you sometimes feel as if you're standing still, while you're forced to watch co-workers with no more edu...
Know the Features but Talk About Results [E106]
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you trying to pitch a product or service, but for some reason your customer just doesn't seem interested? Are you proposing a partnership—either...
How to Beat Burnout Before it Beats You [E105]
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you lost the ability to find pleasure in things you normally enjoy? Do you struggle with a sense of fatigue that you just can't shake? Do you fee...
Dealing with Conflicts Before they Become Conflicts [E104]
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why do park rangers lob explosives onto a mountainside to purposely start an avalanche? Answer: Because the avalanche you start yourself is the easies...
How to Keep a Conversation Going [E103]
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do conversations feel like a boulder you're trying to roll uphill? Do your interactions with others seem like a fire that's always about to go out—a...
The Soft Skills are the Hard Skills [E102]
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Your current skills allowed you to land the job you have now, but what are the skills that will allow you to hold on to that job in the future? What a...
How to Interrupt Without Being Obnoxious [E101]
13 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How many times are you interrupted in the average day? Does it make you feel angry or disrespected? The truth is, sometimes you have to interrupt, so ...
6 Small Things that Make a Big Difference [E100]
06 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In business as well as relationships, we sometimes make the mistake of focusing on the larger issues and forgetting that there are small things that h...
The Persuasive Power of Humility [E99]
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever get tired of conversations where everyone is competing for the spotlight and bragging about their accomplishments? Is boasting, resume pad...
How the Best Get to the Top [E98]
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How important are communication skills to overall business success? What communication abilities do all great leaders share? What communication blunde...
Help, I'm Talking and I Can't Shut Up [E97]
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by words? What did Francois Fenelon mean when he warned us, "The more you say, the less people remember?" Does endless ch...
5 Things to Never Do with an Audience [E96]
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what to do to connect with an audience in a powerful and compelling way? Do you know the five things that a communicator should NEVER do? ...
Thought Bombs [E95]
02 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A powerful quotation has the power to lift your spirits, give you new insight, and even change your whole outlook on life. It's like a "thought bomb" ...
A Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Staying Together, Part 2 [E94]
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What does Manhattan divorce attorney James Sexton mean when he advises clients to "Make the holes you dig shallow?" What does he mean when he says, "Y...
A Divorce Lawyer's Guide to Staying Together, Part 1 [E93]
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
James Sexton is a high-powered Manhattan divorce attorney who has facilitated the demise of more than a thousand marriages. Over the years he has cata...
Why Can't People Hear Me? [E92]
11 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever get the feeling that people are ignoring you? Does it seem like people often "talk over" you in conversations? Do you find yourself wonder...
How to Brief an Executive [E91]
04 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A busy executive doesn't have the time or patience to endure reports that are vague, disorganized, or irrelevant to her needs. If you report to an exe...
How to Complain Without Whining [E90]
28 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How do you bring up a problem at work or a concern at home without sounding like you're just complaining? And when the problem has to be brought up mo...
How to Discover What your Customer Really Wants [E89]
21 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did you hear about the woman who visited a marina intending to buy a pontoon boat, but left with a yacht instead? We heard the story from Steve Hedric...
How to Apologize [E88]
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We live in a time where celebrities and public figures seem to offer public apologies on a weekly basis—and sometimes those apologies sound less-tha...
How to Keep Meetings from Wasting your Time [E87]
07 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are meetings the bane of your business? Do poorly-planned conference room gatherings steal your time and challenge the limits of your endurance? What ...
10 Ways to Not Start an Argument [E86]
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever find yourself in the middle of an argument and wonder how it could have been avoided? Do your casual conversations have a habit of escalat...
Try to See it My Way [E85]
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Why is the world so polarized today? Why does it seem harder to connect with your world than ever before? How did we get that way, and what can we do ...
This is For Your Own Good [E84]
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How do you offer badly-needed criticism to a co-worker who might not take it well? It's for his own good, it's for the company, it's for the team—bu...
How to Make a Boring Topic Fascinating [E83]
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Think your product or company could use a little more sizzle? Meet Hollywood editor Marc Elmer, who helped turn the topic of alligator trappers in the...
The April Fools Episode [E82]
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to connect with your world is a serious business—but there's a lighter side to it too. Episode 82 of The Communication Guys podcast is "Th...
Before and After the Sale [E81]
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When most people think of Sales, they focus on the sales presentation itself. But the success of your presentation just might depend on what you do be...
Spring Cleaning for Communicators [E80]
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week marks the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere, a time to clean out those dust bunnies and cobwebs that have accumulated over the ...
How to Keep Blarney Out of Your Communication [E79]
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes our desire to tell a great story tempts us to embellish it a little—or as the Irish would say, to allow a "wee bit o' blarney" to creep in...
Recipe for a Great Presentation [E78]
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Every chef knows that it helps to have all the ingredients at hand before you start a creative new recipe, and preparing a great presentation is no di...
Crucial Conversations, Part 2 [E77]
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What can you do when a conversation starts to turn angry or offensive? Today's Communication Guys podcast is Part 2 of "Crucial Conversations," where...
Crucial Conversations, Part 1 [E76]
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a discussion where the stakes were high, opinions varied, and emotions were running strong? In today's Communication Guys podcast t...
Everybody Has a Story [E75]
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Who is the most fascinating person you ever met? The world is filled with interesting people with fascinating stories to tell, if we would only take ...