 Ever find yourself wishing conversations made more sense? Here’s the twist: Logic alone rarely works. But analogy? That’s a game-changer.
“Life is like a box of chocolates.” “Like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” “Like putting lipstick on a pig.” Analogy turns abstract into obvious. It gives shape to fuzzy concepts, making them feel familiar. It connects emotion to reason. So instead of pushing someone to “just understand,” you guide them with comparison, clarity, and context. Jesper Sorenson, of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, says, “An analogy very quickly gives people a way of structuring their thinking around an otherwise vague idea.” He and his colleague Glenn Carroll teach MBA students to employ analogies in their presentations because they “are more intuitive than other forms of logical reasoning.” They point out that it is hard to inspire action around a vague, generalized idea. But analogy is a tool that can help people conceptualize in a more concrete manner. Want to craft a great analogy? Here’s a quick two-step process: 1️. Know Your Destination: What point are you trying to make?
2️. Make it a team sport: Gather your crew and brainstorm comparisons together. The more playful the session, the better the ideas. You might land on something iconic — like Steve Jobs calling the iPod “a thousand songs in your pocket.” When it clicks, it sticks. Do you have a favorite analogy and how have you employed it? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.
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 Let’s be honest — most of us would rather dodge tough conversations than dive into them. After all, who likes conflict?
But avoiding those conversations can quietly erode trust, stall progress, and strain relationships more than we realize. In Harvard Business Review, Joel Garfinkel — executive coach and author of Difficult Conversations: Practical Tactics for Crucial Conversation — shares some smart, doable strategies for making those tough talks a little less intimidating.
Have you had a difficult conversation lately? What helped you step up — and how did it change things afterward? Share your experience by clicking "Comments" below. Curious about how to build your communication muscles? Check out our online learning programs to keep leveling up your conversation game.  Kindness is quietly going viral in workplaces — and it’s transforming everything...
Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki has explored a fascinating concept he calls “positive conformity.” Through his research, he discovered that “participants who believed others were more generous became more generous themselves.” Simply put, kindness is contagious — it can ripple through people and even evolve into new expressions along the way. Bill Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company, shared his thoughts on this idea. He argues that Zaki’s insight, while crucial for improving society, also has transformative potential for companies. Instead of issuing kindness as a “directive,” Taylor suggests treating it like a contagion by creating environments where everyone naturally “catches” it. One inspiring example comes from the customer service transformation at Mercedes-Benz USA under the leadership of Stephen Cannon, their President and CEO. Cannon recognized that every customer interaction boiled down to a personal encounter — moments where employees could either create unforgettable experiences or deliver a standard, uninspired service. To shift the culture, he championed a grassroots movement to empower employees to go above and beyond for customers. Here are just two stories that highlight this transformation:
These moments weren't mandated from the top; they bubbled up from empowered employees who embraced a culture of care. As Taylor eloquently puts it, “You can’t order people to be kind, but you can spark a kindness contagion.” Now, we’d love to hear from you. Have you witnessed an act of kindness within your organization that inspired others to follow? Share your story by clicking on "comments" below. And if you’re interested in deepening your skills around high-impact communication, don’t miss our online learning programs — they’re designed to help you create habits that make a difference. |
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