“The cost is irrelevant.” Have you ever justified a purchase or investment with similar words? Have you ever wished those you’ve been trying to influence felt the same way? I have. Most recently, I purchased a package of consulting services, for which I’ll have to travel across the country twice, for several times the cost of similar services here in San Diego. By the time […]

Micromanagers get a bad rap, and understandably so. Their communication and management style, when not warranted, is costly in more ways than one. But not all micromanagers are created equal. Many micromanagers I’ve worked with don’t realize they’re hurting their teams. They feel justified to do so because they care about the bottom line… and about […]

Welcome! My name is Maria Keckler, founder and president of Superb Communication. I would love to talk to you personally about the challenges that are keeping you and your team from achieving superb results. Apply for a free 30 minute strategy session right now.  Select a time that works for you, using my calendar below. My personal […]

I’m obsessed with bridges. I still remember the first time I crossed the Coronado Bay Bridge that connects Downtown, San Diego to Coronado Island. I asked myself,  “Wouldn’t a straight line across the bay, instead of the 80% curved bridge, make more sense? Shorter distance. Cheaper to build and maintain.” Later I learned that the […]

Imagine a Steve Jobs keynote opening with “Hi, my name is Steve Jobs. The name of my company is Apple” Or Howard Schultz opening a presentation with “Hi, my name is Howard Schultz and I’m here to talk to you about Starbucks.” Boring and not very engaging. Yet, thousands of business presentations going on today […]

You’ve developed the courage, compassion, integrity, wisdom, and generosity you think you need to lead your team. But “leading” your team can be hard to wrap your arms around. “What should I do first?” is a common question when there is so much to do. The first thing new leaders must do is develop and […]

Is nobility of spirit a requirement for great leadership? Yes it is, and here’s why: Generous Leaders Are More Successful. Generous Leaders Build Committed Teams A generous leader creates a spirit of gratitude. Grateful people commit to the tribe with far greater frequency and fervency than those who are not grateful. And it all flows […]

Some time ago, I was managing a software development team working on a new product prototype. Several high-powered, potential customers would soon be witnessing the anticipated  demonstration. Everything was in place and would go without a hitch, or so I thought. The equipment was configured, tested, and ready. What could possibly go wrong? On the […]

If you have been following the 7 Stories Leaders Must Learn to Tell Well series, you know how important it is to build trust before gaining the audience’s permission to share your vision. Wouldn’t it be unfortunate to finally get to that point just to lose the audience’s attention?  I see it happen all the […]

I once heard a story about a distracted man who was walking along the road when he fell into a deep and dark hole. Over and over he tried to get out, but he couldn’t. So he cried out: “Help! I’m stuck in a dark hole and can’t get out!” A doctor, who was passing […]

Last year, while working in Miami, Florida, eight business colleagues and I decided to check out a posh restaurant after a client recommended it. When we arrived, we were immediately impressed with the ambiance and the friendly service. This is going to be fun, I thought. After a few minutes chatting and looking over the […]

At some point a newcomer to your team has asked this question about you: “What’s she like?” Often the answer takes one of two extremes: An enthusiastic “She’s all-right!” or a shake of the head back and forth because it perfectly expresses what words can’t. Avoid the head-shake by developing and maintaining a life of […]

Shaky employee morale is a sore spot at every level of the organization. It happens at the top as much as within the team. “I’m tired of my team’s level of effort and their attitude… They just don’t care,” shared a frustrated manager. “What exactly gives you the impression your team doesn’t care?” I ask. […]

“It”s a matter of time before everyone finds out I’m over my head… that I don’t really know what I’m doing!” Sounds familiar? The first time those words spilled out of my mouth, my mentor was in the room. With a single sentence, I was about to destroy her confidence that I could teach writing […]