Newsletter Issue:​
June 2026

Hi Reader!
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Summer has begun and many of us are in need of a vacation just as review periods and end of quarter numbers arrive. In the spirit of the constructive feedback you’ll likely be giving yourself and your team - this month, I’m asking you to take a look at your communication skills.
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To support you, I'd like to offer three low-lift ways to uplevel your communication skills. Communication skills, like any other skill, can be developed. You do not have to be mired in misunderstandings.

Test these three for a week and let me know what you notice.
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1. Design Outcomes

Before you start a conversation or presentation, take time to design what your ideal outcome would be. Ask yourself: Do I have a clear vision of what I’d like to see from others and from myself? What's most important for me to communicate? What actions would I like others to take as a result?

Designing your outcomes will cut down your overwhelm by a significant margin and help you to focus on your priorities. Designing outcomes doesn’t have to be done in a silo - design can be collaborative and something I would welcome you use in discussions with team members. You can try asking, “What outcomes would you like to see by the end of our discussion today?”. This gives others an opportunity to contribute. Be open to learning from others and hearing new perspectives.

2. Loop

Who doesn't love a good loop? (Here in NJ, we have plenty of them. They're called jughandles.) In all seriousness, looping is an active listening tool that deepens understanding and clarifies what's actually being said.

Rather than assuming you understood what someone said, pause and reflect it back: "What I'm hearing you say is…" or "Sounds like…" Then give the other person a chance to clarify or confirm.

How many of us are guilty of preparing our response before the other person has even finished speaking? Looping interrupts that habit. It asks us to actually hear what's being communicated before we reply. You may be surprised at how quickly it deepens your relationships with others.

2. PEEL

When you need to prepare a presentation, consider how to deliver your information concisely and effectively, in a way that respects your audience's time. PEEL is a helpful framework, widely used in academic writing, that translates well into professional settings:

• Point — State your main point. (This is also a great place to brainstorm a hook that gets your audience engaged.)
• Example — Offer specific examples
• Explanation — Provide the reasoning behind your thinking
• Link — Connect everything back to your primary point

I find this to be especially effective when I need to organize my thoughts after a busy day. This is also a great opportunity to put together a rough structure and talk (outloud) through it. Hearing what you’re trying to communicate outloud will help you notice more quickly the weak areas that need additional support.

Bonus: 5 Minutes to Align

Remember those outcomes you designed at the start? Always reserve 5 to 10 minutes at the end of your meetings to surface next steps and confirm alignment. This keeps everyone clear in direction and ensures nothing important gets lost in the handoff.

Reflections

• How do you best like to receive information?
• How might that preference inform how you show up for others / and yourself?
• I.e asking for or looking for information in different formats to best support your learning.

What are some of the best conversations you’ve had in your life? What made them memorable? How can you apply these characteristics to future discussions?

What I'm currently reading:

Books:

• ​Upstream by Dan Heath​
• ​Mindset by Carol Dweck​

How to Work with Me ​ Got an important conversation or presentation coming up? Let's use it as a learning opportunity and prepare together. Coaching spots are open for late July. If you'd like to explore working together please fill out the form here. Learn More

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