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Why Guiding (not directing) Decision Makers Improves Communication
When something is obvious, it does not require embellishment.

JD Solomon
Mar 312 min read


Swap "You" for "We" to Build Trust with Decision Makers
It’s a subtle shift that makes a world of difference.

JD Solomon
Jan 272 min read


Three Reasons a Trusted Advisor Should Not Care about the Decision
Where most advisors lose the "trust" in "trusted advisor" is when they mix the roles of “advisor” with “decision maker.”

JD Solomon
Sep 27, 20245 min read


Rebranding Alice: 6-Points for Communicating Creative Materials
Managing creative projects requires FINESSE in communication.

Jessica Morgan
Aug 21, 20244 min read


Ten Things You Might Hear An Ineffective Communicator Say About Senior Management
Improving our communication skills makes us better technical professionals and respected trusted advisors.

JD Solomon
Aug 11, 20242 min read


Asking Better Questions: Remember It’s a Long Game for Trusted Advisors
The approach of trusted advisors to asking questions is fundamentally different from that of short-term persuaders or manipulators.

JD Solomon
Jul 18, 20244 min read


Empower Your PFAS Communication with Advice from US Mayors
Join Communicating with FINESSE for May’s free webinar, "Communicating PFAS and Other Contaminants of Concern," on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

CWF
May 22, 20244 min read


Trustworthy? Trusted Advisors Develop a Default Ethical Framework
The time to develop a default ethical framework is before the action occurs. Spend some time studying ethics. More importantly, watch the...

JD Solomon
Jan 30, 20242 min read


Effective Communication: Treat Others as You Wish to Be Treated
Effective communication requires treating others the way you wish to be treated. Trusted Advisors Your duty is to provide all of the...

Lester Ray Moore
Aug 4, 20231 min read


You'll Like These 3 Months of Guest Insights!
Each month CWF provides guest insights related to a technical topic involving big decisions with high complexity and uncertainty....

CWF
Jul 7, 20231 min read


The Journey of Communicating the Benefits of Land Conservation and Watershed Protection
Land conservation and restoration have many moving parts and many uncertainties. Technical expertise is needed to understand aspects...

Bill Holman
Jun 21, 20235 min read


Real or Perceived: You Get One Shot At Professional Credibility
Effective communication is challenging when complexity and uncertainty are elevated. Decision makers want the best information possible....

JD Solomon
May 9, 20232 min read


The Three Most Common Disruptors When Facilitating Risk Management Plans
Risk management plans can be some of the most challenging things to guide the participants through a series of predefined steps to arrive...

JD Solomon
Dec 20, 20223 min read


How to Improve Your Communication of Probability to Senior Management
The Chance of Rain Most people do not understand what the chance of rain means. Some believe it means it will rain "30% of the day,"...

JD Solomon
Nov 21, 20226 min read


Know What You Are Talking About
Epictetus was a Greek philosopher who was born into slavery. He believed all external events are beyond our control. Epictetus believed...

CWF
Oct 21, 20221 min read


Three Things Every Trusted Advisor Should Know to Communicate with FINESSE
Making a decision requires an irrevocable allocation of resources. In a world full of complexity and uncertainty, decision makers turn to...

JD Solomon
Oct 18, 20223 min read


Possibly the Worst PowerPoint Slide I Have Ever Seen
Well, maybe not the absolute worst because I have seen some bad ones. But this one is in the Top 10. Good Intentions This slide was part...

JD Solomon
Oct 6, 20223 min read


Seven Simple Questions That Empower Communicating with FINESSE
Avoid rushing to make a statement: ask simple questions instead to gauge everyone's interpretations and maintain control of the crowd....

JD Solomon
Oct 3, 20221 min read


Improve Your Communication of Rare Events Before They Happen
Low-likelihood, high-consequence (“rare”) events present special challenges for effective communication. Pre-event plans are often well...

JD Solomon
Sep 27, 20222 min read


Three Indicators of a Rare Event to Help Your Communication Strategy
The high-consequence, low-likelihood nature of rare events makes them unexpectedly and disproportionately impactful. Rare events can...

JD Solomon
Sep 26, 20222 min read
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