Insights for Communicating with Intention
 

A Reflection on Certification Standards, Sustainment, and AI as a Strategic Partner A few weeks ago, I found myself frustrated over a score. I had completed a performance exercise and believed the evaluation didn’t reflect the quality of the work. My instinct was familiar: tighten the prompt, clarify the criteria, refine the scoring language. If the output felt off, the instructions must need adjusting. So I turned to AI to help me improve the prompt. Instead of rewriting it

You know that voice in your head that whispers, "Just stick with what worked last time"? That voice sounds reasonable. Responsible. Professional. It's also the fastest path to becoming forgettable because it lies. Every time you step up to speak, whether it's a board presentation, a sales pitch, or a team update, you face a choice: protect your comfort or expand your range. Most choose comfort. They reuse the same structure. The same energy. The same opening slides. They cal

Here's a stat that should wake you up: 80% of people require a tailored communication approach, or they simply won't connect with you. Let that sink in for a moment. Four out of five clients sitting across the table, or on the other side of your Zoom screen, need you to adjust your style, or you've already lost them. And yet, most commercial bankers show up the same way every single time: death by PowerPoint, jargon-heavy monologues, and questions that sound like they were pu

Recent volatility in the global markets has shifted the banking landscape from a race for technology to a desperate search for certainty. In 2026, your clients aren't just looking for an interest rate or a credit line; they are looking for a fortress. The obstacle is that most high-stakes banking conversations are failing before they even begin. Whether it’s a high-net-worth client questioning a portfolio shift or an internal credit committee scrutinizing a complex mid-market

"Professionalism." What does that word bring to mind? If you ask a Traditionalist, they might see a polished suit and a firm handshake. Ask a Baby Boomer, and it’s a scheduled conference call and a detailed memo. A Gen Xer likely thinks of a direct email with clear bullet points. A Millennial might envision a collaborative brainstorm on a shared digital doc, while a Gen Z employee views a quick, authentic Slack message with the right emoji as the height of efficient professio

You’ve been in that meeting. You know the one. The presenter clicks through slide 47 of what feels like 200, and you’ve mentally checked out by slide 12. You’re wondering if this is ever going to end, whether any of this matters to you, and how many emails you can covertly answer before anyone notices. Now flip the script. You’re the presenter. And that glazed-over, multitasking audience? They’re wondering the same thing about your deck. Here’s the blunt reality check: most

Miscommunication costs companies an estimated $37 billion annually . Now here’s the part leaders don’t want to hear: a big chunk of that bill is getting run up by leaders who are boring, vague, or inconsistent ...  and then act surprised when execution falls apart. Your intentions might be good. Your strategy might be solid. Your vision might be clear… to you . But if your team doesn’t understand you, your good intentions are irrelevant. And if you keep talking in a way that

We are social beings. Whether you are introverted or extroverted, the loss of random social connections in the office was one of the...

by: Vernon Roberts September 2022 Walking on a sidewalk is vastly different than hiking a mountain trail. The trail is uneven, there...

by: Vernon Roberts March 7, 2021 Working Virtually was forced into action for many businesses due to the pandemic. Here are 3 big...

I was talking with a client about virtual training options and designing virtual training workshops. We were discussing how to take the...

Deep down we all know when something just isn't right. Generally our intuition is a pretty good indicator. When preparing for virtual...

I currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina where NASCAR racing is one of the premier sports. In this sport, winning races not only...

The first rule in presenting or speaking is to be clear. If you are not clear, I need you to put a sock in it. I don't mean to give you a...

If you are reading this, you intimately know the daily challenges you face leading a virtual team. In my experience, it is difficult...

OK, that's not exactly accurate. I have never led meetings in my pajamas, just running shorts. Sometimes I top the shorts and running...

Okay, not life threatening ... but fatal to any chance you have of influencing your listeners. You know that person that's dreadful to...

A friend of mine is responsible for product development at a San Francisco Bay area company. He manages a team that is not just local,...

Ok, ok. I know it's a pain at times. Setting up that web cam or simply turning it on when you don't feel presentable. Many times we don’t...

When influencing, through presentation or conversation, it is to your advantage if you spend just a moment setting the proper context...