Communication
The “How” of Storytelling
Humans are the only animals that tell stories. It is fundamental to our nature. We told stories before we learned to read and write. There is a reason why scriptures and moral codes have been passed down verbally as tales and stories. We communicate by finding meaning and patterns among different events in our lives […]
You’ve Been Brainwashed!
By Dr. Brian C. Johnson I’ve been teaching film appreciation courses in colleges for nearly twenty years. No questions have posed more laughs and discussion than these four questions I begin each semester with these questions: What is the BEST movie of all time? What is your FAVORITE movie of all time? What is the […]
Treasures Buried Deep Within
By: Kinja Dixon, CAMPUSPEAK Speaker Have you ever thought? “If only that person knew what they were capable of?” or better yet “Am I on track to be all that I am capable of?” I have asked these two questions many times during my 39 years of being on this earth, but about a decade […]
Combating a Culture of Silence
By: Lorin Phillips, CAMPUSPEAK Speaker There is nothing scarier to me than an organization where their members feel silenced. The leaders stand in front of the room during a meeting, share decisions made by leaders, tell the group what is happening next, and there is a quiet, emotionless head nod. Then on to the next […]
SMARTER Goals: Begin with the Change in Mind
This is an excerpt from Camille Nelson’s full article, SMARTER Goals: Begin with the Change in Mind Why are goals important? It is a complex question. It is a known rule that it takes an average of 10,000 hours to become an expert at a craft. So to become truly phenomenal at something, you need […]
Letting Go to Get Everything
The more I have learned to LET GO, the more life fulfillment I have received. As I look back on the life lessons I experienced over the years, the Law of Detachment is one of the most valuable principles that I practice daily. The Law of Detachment enables a person to maximize growth within the […]
Why The Best Students Seek Out Good Friction
If you’re striving to make progress on anything meaningful in your life, what you need most is something we all tend to avoid. Good friction. What is good friction, exactly? It’s another way to describe getting real, constructive feedback that asks the tough questions, helps us find our footing so we can get traction, and pushes […]
Listen Up!
When was the last time you really listened to someone? I mean really, truly listened—with no phone in your hand, no earbud in one ear, no inner monologue? Chances are it’s been a while. Listening is an incredibly powerful skill—and an even more powerful tool. By truly listening to someone, you’re ensuring their voice is […]
See something, say something: how confrontation makes us better
Years ago, there was a student on our team—I’ll call her Julie—who did some strange things while cleaning our clients’ homes. She would try on clients’ shoes, spray on their cologne, play their very old, very expensive and very off-limits pianos (“Mary Had A Little Lamb,” no less), and she even made a […]
Spring Fever
Spring is officially here, spring break has likely come and gone, and the rapid pace of the end of the semester is about to begin. While this is often filled with exciting events, it can also be a time with numerous deadlines and long to-do lists. The stress of getting it all done may lead […]
Words Make a Difference
Recognizing people is one the most important parts of being a leader, and it’s also one of my favorite parts. Praising and complimenting others has always come naturally to me, and I love making people feel good about themselves. But the first time I remember my positive words really making an impact on someone […]
Selling is Synonymous with Success
“I do not have the personality to be a great salesperson.” I may be the first one to tell you this, but personally believing in that statement can be a major hindrance to your personal and business progression. Out of every ten salespeople that you meet, two usually have the personality of a […]
Class Begins After School
“After I finish college or graduate school, I am going to attack my first job with the same intensity as school and set short term goals to stay motivated.” This thought seems like the best way for all college students to look at the next phase of their lives, but based on recent statistics, […]
Boosting event attendance
Student organizations are constantly dreaming up the ultimate event for their campus. But no matter how great the event is, it won’t matter unless people actually show up. Many student leaders have been disappointed by low attendance at the events they throw. Sometimes students scramble to increase attendance by trying things that help a little […]
We have a communication problem
During my more than twenty five years of working with college students, I have seen a lot of change. In recent years I have spent a great deal of time with students, specifically, sorority women. When you spend time in their environments and not just speaking to them from a stage, you learn more than […]
The lost art of civility
ci·vil·i·ty: (N. courtesy, graciousness, polite, respectful; the way to change the world for the better in 5 minutes. Some days I fear that courtesy and civility are dead. I was at a student group meeting last week and felt like I was actually attending its funeral. Folks were so rude to each other and to […]
What “old” people want from us
As a young entrepreneur in a college town, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with a lot of professors and mentors from older generations about how they view our generation, the Millennials, as we’re usually called. Contrary to what you might think, most of the feedback is actually pretty positive. People from the Boomer and […]
Five ways to #BeLessAwkward
Being able to communicate with confidence is a game changer. It’s the difference between getting people to believe in you and your organization, or causing people to quickly forget about you and your cause. If your professors and campus administrators are inspired by your passion, they’ll invest in you and your college experience. If employers […]
Communicating diversity correctly
by T. Leon Williams 1) Manage emotions and know your biases and misconceptions One of the first steps in dealing with diversity issues is to understand how your emotions, biases and misconceptions interplay. This is an important first step because as emotions rise around the issue, the intervener/moderator/facilitator/student leader/campus community must have a pulse on […]
Elephants and Onions workshop
Motivating students to embrace diversity and peel back the layers of social justice. For many campus communities, diversity is the elephant in the room. As it continues to morph into something bigger, social justice, people need a safe environment to have discussions and learn how it impacts our communities. You might be looking for an […]
Yeah… but
How often do you make excuses for your daily actions? Do you often look back on your actions or reactions and think “oops”? Whether it’s making personal decisions or ones within a group setting, it’s time to look at the moments that the little voice in our head says “yeah, but…” As we embark on […]