Networking Archives - Catherine Johns

Business Communication, Networking, Remote Work, Speaking, Virtual Work

Genuine Connection in a Digital World

Genuine Connection in a Digital World. “It’s as much about the energy you project as it is about the content of what you say,” said a wise woman. Oh wait, that wise woman was me! And I said it on Thought Leaders Talk Business, the podcast Debbie Fliehman hosts.
Debbie and I had a terrific conversation about a huge challenge for professional people, whether we labor for a multinational corporation, a small local business, or hang out a shingle on our own. How do we communicate with authenticity and impact in an increasingly virtual world?

Catherine Johns | Jul 22, 2026

Bored businesswoman in asleep during Zoom meeting

Business Communication, Networking, Sales

Give Us the Soul in Your Data

Give Us the Soul in Your Data. Whether you’re selling your work, interviewing for a new position, or running for an office in your professional organization, you need a good story to tell. The temptation is to offer a lot of information, numbers, maybe a few charts and graphs. Brené Brown famously said, “Stories are data with a soul.” So how do you tell the story of your business? Your practice? Your product? How do you tell your story?

Catherine Johns | Dec 10, 2025

A graphic of pie chart with vibrant colors, representing different revenue streams, set against a digital background with stock market graphs in the distance.

Business Communication, Networking, Speaking

Emotion is What Moves People

Emotion is What Moves People. The chances are very good that if you’re speaking, you want somebody to do something as a result of what you say. You can increase the chances of that by the way you frame your ideas. So often, in business presentations, we get bogged down in data, delivering our information in detail and losing our audience in the process. Here’s another way to think about it …

Catherine Johns | Jul 2, 2025

female speaker is holding a lecture to employees

Business Communication, Networking

The Work of Finding Work

The work of finding work. If we’ve ever been laid off, RIFFed, or pushed out (and who hasn’t?) we can relate to the many government workers who find themselves not working these days. That whole range of emotions they’re experiencing is familiar. The loss, the grief, the anger? We know just how they feel. And it’s likely their response is familiar too. Government employees swept up in President Trump’s purge meet for happy hour and gather virtually as they navigate the stress of losing their careers and confront a tough job market.” The truth is, we should be actively making connections all the time. Those professional relationships are important in so many ways, irrespective of our current job situation. It’s best to nurture your network when you’re comfortably employed

Catherine Johns | Jun 25, 2025

group of business people networking in well-lighted space

Business Communication, Networking

Choosing our Words Carefully

Choosing our words carefully. We have so many ways to think about our business or our career. The language we use is important as we think, and certainly when we talk or write. And when it comes to the words we choose, metaphors probably play a role in the process. You might be launching a new project, for instance. Or building a team, or putting on a full court press. Or maybe you’re navigating a minefield at the office. Our work metaphors often have their roots in travel or construction or sports. And military metaphors show up all the time in our conversations or writing about our work. Also, we often speak about what we do for a living using language about farming.

Catherine Johns | Jun 4, 2025