Philadelphia Business Journal

Perspective on People: Philadelphia Business Journal
by: Karen Friedman

Executive Presence is the latest leadership buzzword. Like shovels to snow, apparently you can’t conquer one without the other. Websites scream it. Search engines look for it. Coaching firms promise to teach you how to get it. So, what is it anyway? Articles and self-proclaimed experts categorize executive presence as ‘gravitas’, ‘charisma’, people who have ‘it’ and those who can ‘command a room’. [Read more…] about Executive Presence: Getting It and Keeping It

Perspective on People: Philadelphia Business Journal
by: Karen Friedman

Welcome to Philadelphia. Or maybe not. Arriving at 30th street station to catch the Amtrak to Washington DC should be a welcoming experience especially if you’re visiting from out of town. Fortunately I’m a resident and have come to expect a certain amount of rude behavior from Philadelphian’s assigned to help.

Wondering what track my train typically arrives on, I inquired at the information desk. [Read more…] about Welcome to Philadelphia: Giving a bad impression

I was stressing over an upcoming keynote when my husband asked me why I was so worked up about it. There will be over 1,000 people there I told him. So what, he wondered out loud. When you were on TV, you used to speak to millions of people and it never bothered you.

Well, that’s different, I informed him. I didn’t have to look at them!

That’s when the light bulb went off. Yes, I make my living teaching people how to become better communicators and for the most part, I’m a confident speaker. But his remarks sparked a new level of understanding regarding our clients. It’s far easier to present to people when you don’t have to look them in the eye. And it’s far less nerve-wracking when people are not staring back at you. [Read more…] about Too many people mistake public speaking with performing