Our Values
At MSB Executive we want to be a force for good in business.
We get a kick out of helping people become more confident
communicators and businesses achieve the success they deserve.
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What We Believe
Purpose
For us and our clients, we want our work to have value that goes beyond the workplace
Confidence
We take pride in helping our clients to perform at their best by overcoming nerves and fears
Communication
Positivity
Trust
Inclusivity
Engagement
Enjoyment
Social Good
Environment
Communications partners of the
Recent Blogs
How (Not) to Ask a Great Question
We work with our clients on questioning skills for various scenarios, including interviews, panels and fact-finding conversations. One of our top pieces of advice is to ask a single question at a time. This takes discipline. It is surprising how prevalent stacked...
The Rise of Body Doubling
When a colleague asked me a few weeks ago if I’d heard of ‘body doubling’, I replied that I was an actor, of course I had. In the film business, a body double is someone who stands in on set for one of the leads. They are used to perform a dangerous stunt or special...
The Importance of Uncertainty Part 2: Be Realistic, Win Trust
In a post earlier this month, I reflected on the dangers of communicating over-certainty about the future. Naturally, if we are selling our services or asserting our credentials, we want to gain an edge over our competitors. One way of doing so is to envisage the...
The Importance of Uncertainty Part 1: Admit What You Do Not Know
“My clients expect a degree of certainty from me that I am not always able to give.” If you work in an advisory role – for example, as a consultant, lawyer or investment professional – that probably sounds familiar. The future is by its nature uncertain. Yet many...
Accents
“The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain” Once upon a time, a voice coach might have asked you to repeat this sentence over and over until you were placing your vowels in exactly the right region of the soft palate. Thank goodness the days of elocution lessons,...
Three Top Tips for Inspiring Presentations
A couple of weeks ago I was at the Institute of Physics. There I watched an excellent presentation given by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. The audience were hanging on his every word. What did he do to achieve that? Here are the three...
What Can an Outstanding Production of Much Ado About Nothing Tell Us About Powerpoint Slides?
I was lucky enough to see a brilliant production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Theatre Royal on London's Drury Lane last weekend. It’s had lots of hype and 5-star reviews. When your two leads are Hayley Atwell and Tom Hiddleston (both of Marvel-movies fame) you’re...
The Dual Personality of the English Language: What We Can Learn About Word Choice When It Comes to Punchy Writing
This week I ran one of my favourite MSB Executive masterclasses, Great Written Communications. I have a deep background as a linguist, and it’s fun to share my passion for language in general and the English language in particular. One tip I share for clear, concise...
Preparing for High-Stakes Interviews Part 2: Kemi Badenoch
In Part 1, I discussed handling challenging questions. As an example, I used Boaz Weinstein’s interview with Investor’s Chronicle. This week, let's flip the script and explore how to ask challenging questions effectively. Challenges of Asking Questions We often assist...
Preparing for High-Stakes Interviews Part 1: Boaz Weinstein
Fielding Tough Questions We are often asked by clients to help them prepare to deal with tough questions in high-pressure situations. Listening to two completely different interviews over the past couple of weeks has highlighted some key lessons on this topic – not...
Dive In
Presenting to Camera
Stay Connected As a Team With Online Video Tools
During these uncertain times where the majority of us are now working from home, it's so important to keep that sense of connection with our teams...
Online Meetings
Natural, Virtual or Blurred Backgrounds?
‘We can’t decide what to do about our backgrounds.' This question arose recently during an online communication workshop I was running for the...
Powerpoint
Dealing with Nerves when Speaking in Public – according to ChatGPT (Part 1)
At MSB Executive we love writing our blogs. An interesting topic comes up in the office, and someone dashes off to write a blog to share with the...
Body Language
Top Tips for Great Communication: When Presenting, Always Have a Glass of Water to Hand
When presenting, always have a glass of water to hand. The most obvious benefit is hydration. A moist mouth and throat are vital when we are...
