Nick Morgan's Blog

The Lost Art of Apology

The times they are wrathful, and the art of apology seems to be atrophying. We are quick to take offense, slow to forgive, and often too proud -- or too defensive -- to admit when we are wrong. Yet perhaps if we brushed up on our apology skills, we could help ease the tension in ...

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Why We Love Curves – and How to Use Them to Communicate

We are only beginning to scratch the surface of understanding how the human brain works. Neuroscientists remind us again and again that most of our thinking is unconscious. The conscious mind—our ability to reason, analyze, and explain—operates like the visible tip of an iceberg, while the massive structure below remains hidden, shaping us in ways ...

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Should Speakers Be Cool or Good?

Which do you think is more important for speakers, thought leaders, and leaders to be:  cool or good? Let’s look into these two words a little more deeply before we decide.  The slang use of the word ‘cool’ has had an unusually long run (for slang).  By all accounts, ‘cool’ has been cool for about ...

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Should You Dress for Success?

What do you think of when you hear the phrase dress for success?  Perhaps it's a no-brainer for you, or perhaps you dismiss it as vanity—wearing a well-cut suit or polished shoes so others will take you more seriously. But the truth is more complex -- and important. How we present ourselves doesn’t just change ...

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Stage Fright or Stage Adventure?

I just completed two days of teaching in Harvard's continuing education program for mid-career executives.  It's one of my favorite assignments.  The students come from all over the US and the world, and they are curious, expert in their own fields, and ready to network and learn. And this group was particularly honest and open.  ...

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Why the Hybrid Workplace Doesn’t Work Yet

How’s the hybrid workplace working out?  According to a recent study, published in HBR, “Hybrid Still Isn't Working,” in the July-August 2025 issue, not well.  Meetings are less effective, despite being more frequent.  The wrong people are getting promoted.  The culture of hybrid companies is weaker than in-person ones.  The commitment of workers in general ...

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How to Create a Great Story

Great storytelling is rare and difficult – and it has always been so.  But the challenges are becoming more rather than less formidable.  In our overstimulated age, we are skimmers more and more often, and so those of us who are storytellers have to worry about catching and keeping the attention of our audiences more ...

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How to Close a Speech

In great speechmaking, there’s a received wisdom: “Start strong, end stronger.” People remember the first thing you say, and the last.  If both pack a punch, the speech will be powerful.  Today, I’m focusing on the ending (I’ve posted before about how to begin a speech).   The ending of a speech is the moment when ...

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How to Fake Your Way to Good Cheer

The idea of ‘faking it until you make it’ receives a bad rap in this authentic era.  Better to be real than bogus, goes the current thinking.  But by taking advantage of a bit of brain science, you can trick yourself into thinking that you are more of a superstar than you are yet really ...

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How to Provoke Change – New Approaches

Let’s say you are a leader having to give a speech persuading people to change in some way.  Maybe you need them to leave some old behaviors behind, or address a new market challenge, or launch a new division of your organization in a new locale.  What are all the levers you can use to ...

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