Years ago, a neighbor put up a road sign: “Slow Down, Karen!” And I thought…Karen who? Later I learned “Karen” was the new putdown for an intolerable woman. (In this case, one who drove intolerably fast!) I tried to imagine how I’d feel if my name became shorthand for someone characterized as entitled, obnoxious, or...Read More

“Women don’t like being told what to do.” That’s what I heard from a young man in a recent workshop when we discussed the high expectations women face regarding likability in the workplace.  I wondered: Is he referring to the result of mansplaining? Mansplaining: a term describing a person, most often a man, who offers...Read More

One shout from the audience changed the tone of the entire panel discussion. That’s Agency Gifting — using your influence to lift someone else’s voice.Read More

The Lowdown on Uptalk: What it is, when it hurts, and how it can actually boost your conversational influence. From time to time, I hear someone say, “I can’t STAND it when women use uptalk!” (SIGH. 🙂 Newsflash: it’s not just women.) Let’s dive into this vocal affect that drives some people crazy. What is...Read More

No outgoing voicemail? Or one that hasn’t been updated in years? That is sending a message. And not a good one. But here’s what I’ve learned: Most people don’t have an outgoing message. Or, if they do, it’s missing even the basics, such as their full name. It starts like this: “Hi! You’ve reached Rebecca’s...Read More