communication
The Most Amazing Moments at TED2018
TED’s annual mainstage conference always kicks off with a bang, but this year the vibe at the first session felt a little different. From the #MeToo movement to the Parkland shooting to the dark side of tech, the opening talks in Vancouver set a new kind of tone for TED. It was heavier. More emotional.…
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How the “What If” Method of Storytelling Will Help You Move Every Audience, Every Time
Earlier this month, we took a deep dive into the science behind storytelling, exploring the way a good story affects listeners’ brains. We know that, thanks to the neurological and chemical changes they cause in our brains, stories are powerful motivators that make us more likely to remember and believe in a message.
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Don’t Be Fooled by Their Silly Name: Soft Skills Matter
One of our biggest pet peeves around the QC office is the use of the term “soft skills” to talk about critical leadership qualities like communication, self-awareness, and teamwork. The term undermines the value of these traits, making them sound hollow and frivolous when we all know that the “soft skills”—particularly communication—are among the most…
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Which Soft Skills Do Your Leaders Need, & How Can You Set Them up for Success?
When HR departments look for training and development programs for their organizations’ leaders and high potentials, they often focus on industry-specific and job-related tasks. This is because, much more than “soft skills” like communication, teamwork, or critical analysis, these more concrete skills are easier to standardize across departments and titles and simpler to evaluate and…
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AI and the Future of MBA Programs
As the future of work becomes more and more automated, MBA programs are beginning to integrate technological innovations to prepare their students for the new realities of running a business. From lectures on algorithm-driven decision making to full-blown partnerships with computer science and engineering programs, these schools are working hard to prepare our future leaders…
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How Can AI Re-Engage Bored Employees?
There are two trends we’re seeing over and over in today’s professional landscape: Companies of all shapes and sizes are grappling with the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and searching for ways to stay on the cutting edge of technology in a purposeful way. Human resources departments—especially in cash-strapped companies—are desperately seeking effective, cost-efficient ways to…
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How to Evaluate Online MBA Programs
As online MBA programs are gaining popularity and, more importantly, gaining clout among recruiters and HR departments, prospective students are finding themselves with more and more choices when they set out to apply for an online program. In fact, according to Forbes, this year’s US News ranking of online MBAs included 270 programs—up from just…
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What Is Executive Presence?
Look at a rundown of the characteristics required of leaders, and you’ll see several concrete traits—decisiveness, intelligence, flexibility—but at the very top of the list, you’ll notice one big buzzword: “executive presence.”
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Public Speaking by the Numbers: A Stanford University Perspective
Every higher-education professor knows the importance of public speaking for their students’ academic and professional success, and the students understand that public speaking—and communication in general—is a skill they need to learn. But the questions of what exactly strong communication is and how to go about improving have, for a long time, had somewhat murky…
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Talent Development as a Tool for Recruitment and Retention
If you’re an HR executive or CLO, employee talent is always on your mind. How do we find top talent? How do we recruit them? How do we keep them engaged and help them grow?
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