We spend hours preparing for interviews, researching the company, rehearsing answers, and choosing what towear. But one thing most candidates underestimate? Your Tone.

For me, the one thing that's always true at the beginning of every interview is to let the candidate know I tend to bounce around and don’t follow a set interview style. Maybe that might throw them off, but I’ve found over my twenty years that it actually calms them down. The script in their minds is instantlywashed away, and in some cases, you can see their shoulders soften and their body language shift. I find it helps neutralize their nervous system, and quietly, it also demonstrates to me that they listen and are coachable for the client.  The tone sets the temperature of the room, regardless of whether you're the interviewer or the interviewee.

Before you even finish your first sentence, your tone already speaks volumes. It shows the interviewer how you handle pressure, connect with others, and fit with their culture. It’s the unspoken language that determines whether your words land or linger. And my job is to set you up for success. 

Your Tone

Think of tone as the thermostat in an interview. Too cold, and you seem detached. Too warm, and you risk sounding unprofessional or overly familiar. The right tone, confident, grounded, and conversational, creates psychologicalsafety. It signals that you’re self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and able to communicate with composure.

Research shows that 38% of communication impact comes from tone of voice, while only 7% comes from the actual words. That means how you say it often outweighs what you say.

Tone is emotional intelligence in action; it demonstrates your ability to connect, not just communicate.

Your Brain on Art: Why Music Moves More Than Just Your Mood

You’ve probably felt it before: that sudden moment when a song hits just right. Goosebumps. A flood of memories. A tear. A grin. A moment of pure, indescribable connection. The other week, I posted a newsletter about static while driving to Oregon; this time, it’s the opposite, MUSIC! I was drivingback to California when it happened. Now, I’m not a singer, I know how I sound, so when I’m alone in the car, I might belt out a note because it feels sooooo good!  :-)

That’s not a coincidence. That’s your brain responding to art.

When the Mind Sounds Like Static: Finding Your Frequency Again

I’ve always loved driving, especially the long stretch from California to Oregon. There’s something meditative about it: the rhythm of the road, the steady hum beneath the tires, the quiet company of my own thoughts. Sometimes I’ll let a podcast or audiobook fill the silence, other times I just drive in peace, nosoundtrack needed.

But last weekend was different. The silence didn’t feel peaceful; it felt uneasy. Every time I tried to find a station, all I got was static, loud, relentless static. It filled the car, and then it started to fill my mind. Sixteen hours of scanning, searching, and coming up empty. Somewhere between the mountains and the border, I realized that this static wasn’t just on the radio; it was in my head. 

Facing Fear: The Silent Saboteur of Potential

Let’s discuss the silent obstacle to progress: fear. Not the kind that stops you from walking down a dark alley, but the kind that whispers in your ear, “You’re not good enough.”

I struggle with "fear" daily. It is a constant battle for me; it is debilitating at times.

The "Why" and "What" behind Motivation.

Adapting to Change: It's unavoidable. We all experience it; times are evolving, and embracing change is crucial.

What are three actions you can take now to incorporate your shift, whether in your personal life or professional growth?

We talk a lot about upskilling teams and rethinking strategy, but what about the most powerful tool you already have, the brain? The science is clear: your brain isn’t fixed. It can rewire, remap, and reshape itself through what’s called neuroplasticity. And in today’s workplace, that’s not just fascinating, it’s essential.

With so much tension, discomfort, and unease in both our professional and personal lives, we often discuss theimportance of connection: between leaders and teams, colleagues and friends, and even companies and their customers.

So I ask: what kind of connection are we honestly talking about?  What are you trying to achieve in order to feel safe?

Imposter Syndrome: Is it real, or just a sign of a broken workplace culture?

We tell people to “own their confidence,” but what if the real problem is a system that never allowed them to feel confident in the first place?

It’s time we stop treating self-doubt like a diagnosis and start fixing the culture as the solution.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion; it’s a culture killer.

If your team is disengaged, detached, or just “getting through the day,” it’s time to talk.

I look at the cost of burnout in my latest The Talent Brief podcast + this newsletter.

Listen, read, and let’s reset the conversation.