The stress of talking politics in our polarized world
Read moreThese days, I have been traveling more than usual, much of it to New York for work with clients who are requesting large blocks of my time. Working with them is fascinating and fun, since it involves one of my favorite undertakings. In fact, I am now truly feeling in my element, helping organizations express who they are and what
Six reasons why stories work
Read moreAgain this week, I have a dilemma, in the form of two divergent threads that I would like to write about. Both of these topics were stimulated once more by my work in New York over the past nine days. In fact, without watching much news or discussing it with people, I have nonetheless seen quite a lot of interesting
Back to basics: what is the real power of story?
Read moreIn the previous post, I mentioned that this is a time when my client work has converged with my writing and reflection. Such moments can provide remarkable synergy. In this case, two clients started me thinking about a chain of ideas and arguments that I had not considered for some time. This return to basics has provoked a review of
Story should take center stage in our presentations
Read moreMost of the time on this blog, I write about subjects that are distinct from the work I happen to be doing at the given moment. In other words, clients I am consulting with, the board meetings I attend, the travel I do, or the speeches I make find their way only occasionally into weekly posts. There is good
Storytelling in formal presentations: mixing the rational with the personal
Read moreAfter my last post, concerning the growing polarization in politics and in society at large, I fully intended to continue along the same line for a few more weeks. There is quite a lot I would like to address, including some of the ways that technology—big data and social media in particular—may be contributing to the phenomenon of societal polarization.
Language and polarization
Read moreIn the last post, we wrote that political discourse appears to be moving away from logic and rational argument, and increasingly towards pure assertion. Though I have often said and written that I have no grand desire to discuss politics in my public speaking or on this blog, I find what is happening in recent times to be of considerable