Essays on communication, feedback and difficult conversations.
Feedback, difficult conversations, persuasion, listening and saying no. What I learned about communicating as a consultant and as a founder, including the mistakes.
Start with these
How I deal with difficult conversationsCrucial conversations fail when people feel unsafe — restore safety and almost anything can be said.CommunicationUsing the pyramid principle can incredibly improve your communicationLead with the core message, then two or three arguments, then evidence — and know when not to.CommunicationHow to get people to listen when you speakPresence comes from purpose, clarity, and authenticity: say nothing without intending to deliver it.CommunicationHow to better say noPostpone the decision, sandwich the refusal between two yeses, keep reasons short, and repeat yourself.CommunicationFrom Complaints to Commitment: The Power of Effective FeedbackNine in ten of my friends complain about leaders who can't give, receive, or appreciate feedback.Communication
More on communication
Creating vs. consuming: two ways to spend your lifetimeI worked through my own vacation and realized creating brings me more joy than consuming.CommunicationLast-Minute Trip: Startup Glory or Waste of Time?I flew to Madrid overnight for a pitch we lost — the expected value still made it right.CommunicationTalk less to convey moreOverexplaining, underpreparing, and missing the point are the three habits that keep us from being concise.CommunicationFrom start to end I wished it to endA recruiter's unprepared 20-minute call showed me why every meeting deserves five minutes of preparation.CommunicationAn entrepreneur who makes money from students’ existential fearsA reputation takes decades to build and minutes to destroy; short-term greed rarely survives scrutiny.CommunicationBoost your productivity by making use of agile methodsShort sprints and honest retrospectives beat detailed plans when the problem is complex and unfamiliar.CommunicationI learned the hard way what it means to not have the trust of othersTrust splits into practical and emotional — met expectations, empathy, sound logic, and authenticity build both.CommunicationA skill everyone has to learnLife is a series of negotiations, and I practice every time I get the chance.CommunicationToday a new chapter has begunMoving in with my girlfriend taught me to ask instead of assume — and to prefer solutions over being right.CommunicationWhy brilliant teachers teach the worstThe curse of knowledge makes experts forget the struggle of learning — a novelty index preserves it.CommunicationHow to stop overstressing and perform betterWorking harder when stressed backfires — rest, health, and reframing keep pressure productive.CommunicationMake better decisions – the negligence of alternativesAlternative blindness makes us weigh one option against the status quo and miss everything in between.CommunicationA habit that changed my lifeWhenever I feel afraid of something, I force myself to do it as fast as possible.CommunicationOwnership – a key skill to developConsulting taught me that ownership means being trusted to deliver — no blaming, no waiting, no overpromising.Communication3 tips for immense personal growthThe sweet spot for growth lies in just-manageable tasks, honest feedback, and regular reflection.CommunicationStop having expectations of other peopleNobody is in this world to live up to your standards — state your wishes instead of assuming.CommunicationMindset matters: How to start something newLearning to inline skate reminded me: at first the easy things are hard, so set process goals.CommunicationHow to convince people – never hesitate to admit a mistakeOwning your errors fast builds trust — sometimes an apology wins even when you were right.CommunicationYou must learn to say noA reluctant yes costs more than an honest no — boundaries make room for what matters.CommunicationNever give unsolicited advice & what to do insteadPeople want to be heard, not fixed — ask what would help before offering solutions.CommunicationStop needing to be rightWinning an argument usually just means the other person stopped debating — conceding feels better.CommunicationThe importance of listening wellMaking others feel heard decides relationships and careers, yet it is the least trained communication skill.CommunicationWhy showing vulnerability is a real strengthDropping the armor and risking rejection is what creates depth in every relationship.CommunicationInfluencing others – how to better persuade and convince peopleHead, heart, or hands — pick the tactic that fits the person, prepare well, and persist.CommunicationEmpathy — its importance and powerListening without judging or fixing is a skill anyone can build — and every relationship needs.CommunicationWhy to always have a smile on your faceEven a forced grin lifts my mood, feeds gratitude, and opens conversations with strangers.CommunicationHow to have more meaningful conversationsGenuine curiosity, asking why, and sharing small vulnerabilities turn small talk into real connection.CommunicationHow to deal better with criticismSeven steps from defensive reflex to useful conversation — breathe, find agreement, and never justify yourself.CommunicationCuba – what I should have knownCuba rewards low expectations and hard preparation — I arrived with neither.CommunicationSemester abroad – what to know before you goLanguage gains, local friendships, and great trips abroad all demand deliberate effort — I learned that the hard way.Communication3 reasons why openness pays offCuriosity has brought me friendships, knowledge, and opportunities I would otherwise have walked past.Communication3 reasons why I love being an optimistBelieving you can master a challenge quietly raises the odds that you will.CommunicationHow you say something matters a lotI hurt a friend not with what I said but with the tone I said it in.CommunicationHow quitting video games changed my life for the betterNearly crying over lost games made me decide everything I do regularly must carry a purpose.CommunicationWhy I always wake up at 7 amA fixed wake-up time only works with something worth waking for — naps cover the short nights.CommunicationWhy video calls are awesomeOne spontaneous call from a friend showed me how much more personal video feels than audio.CommunicationWhy purpose is extremely importantThere is no universal meaning of life — choosing my own mission is what gives me energy.CommunicationAccomplish the most annoying task of the day firstThe dreaded chore only grows while it waits; doing it first thing frees the whole day.CommunicationCreate not-to-do lists to change habitsWhat you stop doing determines what you can do — banning habits works better than listing them.CommunicationDo it with all your heartA half-hearted hello taught me to greet, thank, and say goodbye like I mean it.CommunicationDo not be afraid to make mistakes!How a failed deadline at my consulting job became a win, and why honest feedback matters.CommunicationDo not work away like mad — the power of schedulesA strict exam plan with built-in breaks and buffers gave me more calm, not less freedom.CommunicationDon’t hesitate when you are afraid to do somethingActing before my mind can invent worst-case scenarios is how I leave the comfort zone.CommunicationDon’t try to impress but express yourself the best you can“Just be yourself” is useless advice — showing people who you genuinely are takes deliberate effort.CommunicationExercise leadership whenever you canWhen a group drifts toward the usual option, someone has to suggest a better plan, and it can be you.CommunicationHold yourself accountable for everything happening to youYou can't control what happens, but owning your response moves you from victim to driver's seat.CommunicationHow to identify your strengths — and why you need to capitalize on themWhen the work fits you, the clock runs fast — three questions to find that job.CommunicationJust do itStart within 72 hours or the odds of ever starting collapse — there is no perfect moment.CommunicationManage your energy levels not your timeTime is fixed, but energy from body, emotion, mind, and spirit can be grown.CommunicationNever satisfied, always gratefulDissatisfaction fuels my improvement while gratitude keeps me happy — the two are not opposites.CommunicationSuccess does not come overnightConsistency beats talent and luck — small daily decisions compound into what later looks like sudden success.Communication