When is talking about others gossip? In theater we say, “theater work is life work,” meaning that the things we struggle with onstage offer wisdom for those things we struggle with in life. Gossip is a perfect example. Actors know...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/gossip #communication

Rasheryl McCreary Talks with Kate Last week I posted the interview I did with my dear friend, Rasheryl McCreary for her “A Woman’s Voice Summit.” After my interview, she asked if I would interview her! It was an unexpected joy...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/rasheryl-m... #leadership

"A Woman's Voice Summit" with Rasheryl McCreary Over the phone I heard the resonant, clear, and warm voice of Rasheryl McCreary—executive coach, actor, writer, director, spiritual leader, and my dear friend. We’d not spoken...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/a-womans-v... #communication

Goals vs Intentions I heard a communication coach tell her audience that every communication encounter must have a goal. What is the goal of this meeting, this phone call, this speech? In the context of her talk, I realized that...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/intentions... #intention

So excited to be a part of this event! My interview with the amazing Rasheryl McCreary, PCC is on Friday July 25th at 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT) learning.siliconvalleycsl.com/awv-day-5

Work Everything that I have ever valued, everything that is the most precious to me, has come with hard work: relationships, raising children, writing, acting, coaching, loving, exploring, collaborating...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/work #communication #work #practice #rehearsal

Achievement vs Success “Achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/achievemen... #leadership

The sweetest thing. Thank you, Brian. ANEW: The Frequency of Our Intentions open.substack.com/pub/brianwth...

Fundraising: matching passion and purpose My friend, Pat Belisle, is a phenomenal fundraiser. I’m afraid to ask how many millions he has raised in his lifetime of championing causes he believes in. From children’s hospitals to the United Way...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/fundraisin...

When speaking, no need to… There are many habits of writing and speaking that dissipate the meaning and impact of our communication. My theory is that this begins with our very first...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/when-speak... #fillerwords #redundant #intention #audience #habit

Stories to Heal and Connect I first heard the interview with Padraig O’Tuama from “On Being” with Krista Tippett through my tinny earphones while working out. The lingering warmth of his voice and words, the poetic telling of his life...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/stories-to... #story

How to Use Stories Years ago I worked with my mother’s dear friend and partner in everything musical, Eugenia. She was giving a talk in a fancy club in the hopes that she could sway this audience to support her programs at...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/how-to-use... #storytelling

When the kids were little, they loved hearing stories about when I humiliated myself. These stories made them absolutely giddy. “More!” “Another one!” I knew it must have been reassuring that a person who could drive and read whole...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/writing-ou... #intention

Cocktail Conversation: everyone is fascinating A recent client came in with a list of things he wanted to work on: small talk, flirting, deepening conversations, listening, asking for what he wants…the list was long! I was...Read on: katebennisstudio.substack.com/p/cocktail-c... #communication

All tricky conversations require respect for the others involved. Even if we do not have respect for their ideas or behavior, we bring respect for their humanity. “It was much later that I realized Dad's secret. He gained respect by giving…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/polariz... #negotiation

Tricky Conversations: the ones worth having A conversation that raises our heart rate, that leaves us flustered, that gives us a pit in our stomach or butterflies in our heart, is a tricky conversation. These will differ for everyone…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/terrify... #communication

Hello All! Anya's new single, BOYS THESE DAYS has dropped! Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/6L10vr...

How to Calm Anxiety It’s opening night. I am standing in the shadows in my sturdy high-heels, nylons, and silky blue dress. Waiting. I am watching the stage manager introduce the show, reminding everyone to turn off their phones. But I…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/how-to-... #managinganxiety

The Role of Leader “I have heard celebrated orators who could start thunders of applause without changing any man’s opinion. Mr. Lincoln’s eloquence was of the higher type, which produced conviction in others because of the conviction of”… Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/the-rol... #leadership

The Moments Just Before… Not long ago, as I sat back stage, listening to the rustle of the audience and the pre-show music, a fellow actor asked if I was nervous. I answered, “No. I’m ready.” I may even be a little addicted to that liminal…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/the-mom... #TEDx

Critics: internal and external INNER CRITICS In my life and practice, it’s clear that many of us have pretty harsh inner-critics. In some cases, these critics keep us from doing the very things that might bring us happiness: asking someone…Read On: katebennisstudio.com/blog/critics... #criticism

Country music star Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla and will donate her funds to NPR “There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla.” 📝 thehill.com/blogs/in-the... #3E #EndOligarchy #TeslaTakeover #TeslaProtests

Use of the Whole Self: body, voice, expression, movement, emotion As we move onto the stage, remember, there is a reason that some company or organization has paid to have a flesh and blood person brought into the room. They pay for…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/use-of-... #publicspeaking

Welcome and Move Towards Obstacles Once, while doing summer stock in a Vermont barn, a lovely but inexperienced actor said she simply couldn’t play the scene. The gun she needed to wield was hidden in a purse on the opposite side of the…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/welcome... #storytelling

Personal Vision and Mission: Purpose Statements Many businesses have both a Vision Statement, the aspirational WHAT we most wish for, and a Mission Statement, the HOW do we get there. Apple Computers, known for their beauty and simplicity, had…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/persona... #purpose

Context: the given circumstances "Mastering the context is about understanding your place in the world. You have to understand the state of the world around you in order to enact change within the world and within yourself." "The first step…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/context... #context

Make Your Offering I did a one-year online mindfulness course with Rick Hanson called “The Foundations of Well-Being.” For me, the practices were life-changing; for the first time I understood how short…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/making-... #offering #gift #talk #communication #mindfulness

Making a Pitch: igniting others I love working with my clients on pitches. We have only minutes to ignite others. There is something so clean and sharp about a pitch. The best are simple and passionate. And they take a lot of work…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/pitches #pitches #communication

Faking It “…if your spontaneous cheerfulness be lost…sit up cheerfully and…act and speak as if cheerfulness were already there…So, to feel brave, use all of our will to that end, and a courage-fit will very likely replace the fit of fear”…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/faking-it #communication

The Generosity of Being Generative In Sophocles’ Antigone, Antigone defies her uncle Creon’s decree to leave her brother unburied; her brother had fought against his homeland and this was his punishment. Even though her sister…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/the-gen... #leadership #greatergood

Making the Positive Choice The late, great, Michael Warren Powell gave me an enormous gift during an audition. A mentor, teacher, and dear friend, he reminded me to make the positive choice. In theater this means…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/making-... #communication #theater #intention #hope

Raising the Stakes Remember the urban legend of the mother picking up a VW Bug to save her baby? That act is pure intention with immediacy and high stakes. That mother’s action, thought, behavior, voice, and words are…Read on: katebennisstudio.com/blog/raising... #purpose #LadyMacbeth #leadership

“If you are trying to change the world through the spoken word, then you hire Kate to help you do this.” —Ken Bloom, Senior Client Partner, Korn Ferry Learn more at katebennisstudio.com #communication #publicspeaking #presence