by Derek Percival | Jul 21, 2026 | Communication & Listening, Tips
We’ve become so uncomfortable with silence that we’ve lost the ability to use it. In conversations, silence isn’t emptiness. It’s space for the other person to catch up, to go deeper, to say what they were about to talk themselves out of. The...
by Derek Percival | Jun 23, 2026 | Communication & Listening, Tips
Recently, during a leadership team meeting, one person bravely admitted, “I don’t feel comfortable sharing my thoughts in this group.” This was an incredibly powerful and admirable moment of honesty. Another leader responded in the best possible way:...
by Derek Percival | May 6, 2024 | Communication & Listening, Tips
LISTENING IS MORE PERSUASIVE THAN TALKING People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. As counterintuitive as it may seem, listening is actually more persuasive than talking when it comes to influencing others. One explanation for why...
by Derek Percival | May 6, 2024 | Communication & Listening, Tips
IF YOU WANT A BETTER ANSWER, ASK A BETTER QUESTION Is the significance of a question greater than that of an answer? From my experience, many leaders are experts at answering but seem less skilled at asking thought-provoking questions. I firmly believe leaders and...
by Derek Percival | May 6, 2024 | Communication & Listening, Tips
SILENCE ISN’T EMPTY; IT’S FULL OF ANSWERS I believe silence is one of our most powerful yet underutilized skills. As leaders, mastering the art of creating and preserving this silent space is invaluable. It demonstrates patience, respect for others, and a...
by Derek Percival | May 6, 2024 | Communication & Listening, Tips
APOLOGIZE EFFECTIVELY, NOT EXCESSIVELY. Just as I was about to commence a workshop, an individual (senior leader) entered the room, instantly capturing everyone’s attention. They proceeded to express their apologies, uttering the word “sorry” a total...
