join me on my youtube channel!

 

I’m passionate about helping you build the social skills you need to elevate your life personally and professionally.

Each video is easy to follow with practical advice and actionable steps you can put into practice - no matter where your starting point is.

Don’t miss a video - Stay up to date on each video release by subscribing to my channel now.

I publish new YouTube videos each week on:

  • Understanding people

  • Building relationships

  • Negotiating and influencing

  • Handling fear of rejection and avoidance

  • Attracting people, winning them over

  • Initiating conversations

  • Sharpening your listening skills

  • And much more!

The Best Way to Start Team Meetings | A Manager’s Guide to Increasing Engagement

The Best Way to Start Team Meetings | A Manager’s Guide to Increasing Engagement

Looking to boost engagement and create a positive atmosphere in your team meetings? In this video, I’ll share a simple yet powerful technique that every manager can use to kick off meetings with the right energy. Starting your meetings the right way can make all the difference, helping your team feel more connected, motivated, and ready to contribute.

I’ll walk you through how to start each meeting by sharing personal and professional wins, why this approach works, and how it can transform the dynamics of your meetings. If you’re tired of low-energy meetings and want to increase participation, this video is for you!

🚩 In this video, you’ll learn:

  1. How to start team meetings with a positive check-in that boosts engagement

  2. Why sharing personal and professional wins can create a stronger team bond

  3. How to set the right tone for a productive and collaborative meeting

  4. Tips for making your meetings more engaging, focused, and effective

  5. How to increase team morale and communication with a simple change

If you’re a manager or team leader looking for ways to improve your team meetings, make sure to watch until the end!

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How to Start a Difficult Conversation with Your Direct Report | Step-by-Step Guide for Managers

How to Start a Difficult Conversation with Your Direct Report | Step-by-Step Guide for Managers

Struggling to start a tough conversation with a team member? You’re not alone—many managers find it challenging to approach difficult topics without causing defensiveness or discomfort. In this video, I’ll walk you through a proven framework for starting difficult conversations with your direct reports that sets the right tone, promotes understanding, and drives positive change.

We’ll cover common mistakes managers make when handling tough conversations, why they happen, and how to avoid them. Then, I’ll introduce you to a simple, effective step-by-step approach inspired by trial lawyer Jefferson Fisher’s communication strategies—techniques that will help you communicate clearly, separate behavior from the person, and create a constructive dialogue.

🚩 In this video, you’ll learn:

  1. How to set the right tone for a difficult conversation from the very beginning

  2. Why the “compliment sandwich” often fails and what to do instead

  3. How to avoid defensiveness by separating the person from the behavior

  4. Tips for making tough conversations more collaborative and productive

  5. A practical framework you can use to start challenging conversations with confidence

If you’re a manager or team leader looking for practical communication tools, this video is for you!

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How To Introduce Yourself to a New Team as a Manager

How To Introduce Yourself to a New Team as a Manager

New to the leadership game?

Or maybe you’re an experienced manager that’s about to begin leading a new team?

Either way, this episode equips you with a winning strategy for your first introduction as a manager. Learn how to craft a powerful introduction that builds trust, fosters open communication, and sets the stage for a successful tenure with your team.

You'll learn:

  • The key elements of a powerful introduction (what to say & what to avoid!)

  • How to tailor your delivery to the company culture (suit & tie vs. jeans & t-shirts?)

  • Strategies to encourage questions and open communication with your team ️

  • Common team questions you should be prepared to answer

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From Peer to Leader: Building Trust & Respect with Your Former Colleagues

From Peer to Leader: Building Trust & Respect with Your Former Colleagues

Feeling awkward leading your former colleagues?

This episode is for YOU!

Learn battle-tested strategies to build trust, foster collaboration, and earn respect from your new team, even if they used to be your peers.

We'll cover:

  • Common mistakes new managers make (and how to avoid them!)

  • Communication techniques that build trust and transparency

  • Collaboration strategies that leverage your team's strengths

  • Leadership approaches that command respect

  • BONUS: Real-life story: How to deal with a difficult employee (who used to be your colleague!)

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't worry, we've got your back! This episode is packed with actionable tips and practical advice to help you navigate this tricky transition with confidence!

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9 Tips for Managing Remote Teams

9 Tips for Managing Remote Teams

Struggling to keep your remote engineering team engaged and productive? You're not alone.

Leading a remote team comes with unique challenges, and this episode equips you with 9 actionable strategies to boost communication, build trust, and foster a thriving remote work environment.

In this video, you'll learn:

  • The top challenges remote team managers face (and why they happen)

  • How to overcome communication breakdowns and build a culture of transparency

  • Practical tips to leverage technology and boost collaboration

  • Strategies to set clear expectations, promote work-life balance, and recognize achievements

  • Techniques to encourage social interaction and build a strong remote team spirit

Plus: Discover actionable advice for soliciting feedback and continuously improving your remote leadership style.

If you want to increase engagement and motivation, improve communication and collaboration, and unlock the full potential of your remote team - watch this episode now!

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The Best Strategy for Building Consensus and Gaining Buy-In

The Best Strategy for Building Consensus and Gaining Buy-In

Are you a manager or leader who’s struggling to get your team behind your brilliant new strategy?

You're not alone. Leaders often fail to build consensus, leading to resistance and ultimately, failed implementation.

This episode reveals a powerful framework based on viral diffusion, the science behind how trends spread. Learn how to:

  • Identify your team's "innovators" and leverage their influence

  • Build strong relationships and co-create a winning strategy

  • Gain buy-in from the "early majority" and address latecomer concerns

  • Stop dictating and start influencing!

This framework will transform how you lead your engineering team and achieve remarkable results!

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Improve Team Problem Solving and Decision Making with Tiered Escalation Meetings

Improve Team Problem Solving and Decision Making with Tiered Escalation Meetings

Feeling like your team's drowning in slow communication and mountains of emails? Critical issues get stuck, approvals take forever, and problems snowball, leaving your team frustrated and disengaged.

In this episode, you’ll learn a simple and powerful tool - Daily Tiered Escalating Meetings - that empower you to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and empower your team to tackle problems head-on.

This system will foster:

  • Fast-Track Decision Making: Bypass approvals and get the right people involved quickly

  • Enhanced Team Ownership: Empower your team to solve problems at their level, fostering accountability

  • Improved Communication Flow: Stay on the same page and ensure everyone is informed

  • Early Problem Identification: Catch issues early before they snowball and cause major damage

  • Boosted Team Morale: Feeling heard and seeing problems addressed keeps your team engaged

We'll also cover:

  • A clear framework for implementing daily tiered meetings within your team

  • Common roadblocks and how to overcome them for a smooth rollout

  • Tips to ensure these meetings are efficient and don't waste your team's time

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Mastering Presentation Skills for Engineers and Tech Professionals | Tips from Communication Expert
Career, Management, Leadership, STEM, Communication Doug Howard Career, Management, Leadership, STEM, Communication Doug Howard

Mastering Presentation Skills for Engineers and Tech Professionals | Tips from Communication Expert

Are you an engineer or tech professional struggling to create compelling presentations that captivate your audience?

Join us for an insightful interview with Christopher Chin - a Presentation Coach, Course Instructor, and Keynote Speaker who teaches engineers, tech professionals, and introverted leaders how to communicate and present with executive confidence.

In this second part of the interview, we delve deep into the art of creating impactful slide presentations. Discover why engineers often struggle with presentation skills and learn two essential strategies to enhance your ability to inspire action through your presentations. Christopher also shares valuable insights on simplifying complex data, choosing the right visuals, and creating clear, concise messages that resonate with your audience.

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your presentation skills and make a lasting impact in your professional life!

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How Introverted Leaders can Become More Confident with Communication and Presentations
Career, Management, Leadership, STEM, Communication Doug Howard Career, Management, Leadership, STEM, Communication Doug Howard

How Introverted Leaders can Become More Confident with Communication and Presentations

Discover the secrets to confident and effective communication for engineering managers and tech leaders in this engaging interview with Christopher Chin - a Presentation Coach, Course Instructor, and Keynote Speaker who teaches engineers, tech professionals, and introverted leaders how to communicate and present with executive confidence

You’ll learn how introverted leaders can harness the power of authenticity to make a significant impact, how to overcome the biggest communication challenges, and why empathy is the cornerstone of successful communication.

You’ll also gain powerful (and practical) tips for enhancing your communication and presentation style, understanding your audience, and finding your authentic voice. Unlock the skills you need to thrive in the tech industry and master the art of persuasive communication. Don't miss this valuable insight into becoming a more influential and impactful engineering leader and tech professional.

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How to Convince Your Boss to Let You Work From Home in 5 Steps | Secret Tips from and Engineering Manager
Career, Soft Skills Doug Howard Career, Soft Skills Doug Howard

How to Convince Your Boss to Let You Work From Home in 5 Steps | Secret Tips from and Engineering Manager

Knowing how to influence, persuade, and win someone to your way of thinking is more valuable than any technical skill - even for engineers!

Because when you know how to influence people, you can convince anyone to do anything - and you can even convince your boss to let you work from home!

But influencing people is like learning a new language. It’s a unique way of thinking, and it takes some getting used to.

In this episode, I explain:

  • How to actually influence your boss (or anyone)

  • 3 Rules to follow when influencing peopl

  • A specific step by step formula for convincing your boss to let you work from home

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Why Engineers Struggle With Soft Skills - How to Improve Your Communication!
Career, Soft Skills Doug Howard Career, Soft Skills Doug Howard

Why Engineers Struggle With Soft Skills - How to Improve Your Communication!

Communication and soft skills are critical to your success as an engineer - but many engineers struggle in these areas, and it holds you back from reaching your full potential.

In this article, I explain - why engineers think differently than most people, how and why it leads to communication breakdowns and misunderstandings, and how to use this awareness to improve your communication skills.

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