… so let’s fix it. HERE’S WHO TO VOTE FOR. This is a follow-up to my last post about local elections and using AI to choose who to vote for based on what’s important to you. It’s that time again to use democracy while it remains. Presidential elections are pretty easy, but local elections can be overwhelming when you don’t know all the candidates or where they stand on the issues you care most…
The following are three paramount points to consider before proposing a presentation. Don’t just review these points for yourself, do it for the organizer and, especially, the audience, who are exchanging their precious time and attention for what you promise to deliver. We all have opinions and thoughts on specific topics, but does that mean we should stand in front of a room full of people to…
I’m dating these references, but it’s to make a point. What’s happened in society when there are no more leading characters like Inspector Clouseau, Maxwell Smart, and my personal favorite, Lieutenant Frank Drebin? Maybe it’s that many of our elected officials appear to suffer from the same psychological phenomenon. What IS The Dunning Kruger Effect? The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a cognitive bias…
Most of us learned the Golden Rule as children: treat others the way you want to be treated . It's a simple, powerful idea, and I believe in it completely. Then I got diagnosed with ADHD at fifty and started paying attention to how I actually talked to myself. What I found was uncomfortable. I was extending patience, grace, and compassion to people around me while running a relentless internal…
Know your strength with this quick and simple way to discover your superpower.
With approximately six percent of the adult population being folks with ADHD, and based on everything I’ve learned about improving their lives at work and beyond from over seventy episodes of my podcast, ADHD Wise Squirrels , I’ve come to a major realization on how every company can improve culture, communication, and retention. I believe the best workplaces are built around an important truth:…
During my morning walk, I realized something significant: I have a subconscious habit of negative self-talk that nearly hijacked my mood. I’ve had a great week, and I pushed myself to attend two networking events for British healthcare startups in Nashville. Both were interesting, and I enjoyed meeting so many new people and running into old friends and colleagues. I’ve been feeling relaxed and…
In my 2013 book, New Business Networking , I dedicated an entire chapter to LinkedIn. At the time, it was the gold standard for professional connection. However, a recent change to one of its most vital features threatens the platform's very foundation, and unless LinkedIn reverses course, it could signal the network's demise. The Power of the Connection Request Personal Note During my 2015…
We’ve all been there: the “stuck” phase. It’s that heavy, static feeling where your to-do list looks like a mountain range, your business feels like a ball and chain, and the “creative spark” you once had has been smothered by administrative spreadsheets and late-night anxiety. When you hit this wall, the instinct is often to push harder. But the real secret to moving forward isn’t more force,…
My Human-Centric Handbook for LLM Communication How to sharpen the tool without losing your humanity. In the rush to embrace Artificial Intelligence, most of the conversation has centered on speed, how to get answers faster, how to automate more, and how to "hack" the prompt box. But as we integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) into our professional and creative lives, we are discovering that…
It’s local election time in Nashville (Davidson County), and each year I’m left scratching my head on who to vote for. Most people don’t have the time to research every candidate, so they don’t vote at all. But I have a solution for you, no matter where you are in the country, because this matters . Check your voter status… REGISTER TO VOTE / CHECK VOTER STATUS Most of the services you interact…
Photo by Tausha Dickinson. Last week, I stood in the center of a room filled with leaders at the cityCURRENT breakfast, and for a split second, I wasn't just a 53-year-old executive coach. I was back in 1978, a seven-year-old boy in a forest-green turtleneck, about to "timber" onto the stage and change the trajectory of my life. Delivering " The Root Down " was more than a keynote; it was a…
As a professional keynote speaker for over 15 years, I have always wanted to deliver a TED Talk. TED is at the top of the mountain for professional speakers, and I’m thankful that years ago, TED launched TEDx local community conferences. I even had a cameo in my pal, Marcus Whitney’s TEDx Nashville talk a few eleven years ago. I’ve waited years to deliver my talk I know other speakers who have…
In 2026, most organizations are not struggling because they lack talent, technology, or data. They are struggling because their people are not aligned, not understood, and not moving in the same direction. At the center of all three problems is communication . For years, communication skills were treated as a “soft” competency, important but secondary to technical expertise, strategy, or…
Authentic Connection in an AI World: ADHD at 50, Leadership, and Human Networking with Dave Delaney Ronderings Podcast with Ron Rapatalo. If you had told me twenty years ago—back when I was launching one of the world's first parenting podcasts in 2005—that I’d still be behind a mic today, I wouldn't have been surprised. Communication is my oxygen. But if you told me I’d be doing it while finally…
I posted this on LinkedIn recently because, as Peter Griffin says, it’s grinding my gears . I don’t mind personalizing emails, but when you send unsolicited emails that include BS, that’s where I draw the line. Think about it, would you buy something from someone who starts their first email to you with a blatant lie like: It’s inspiring to see how Futureforth continues to make an impact in the…
It's hard to believe it's been over ten years since I first delivered my Improve with Improv presentation, now known as The Master Communicator's Secret Weapon . I’m teaching presentation skills now , too. Please join me as I cringe and share a younger Dave Delaney delivering this presentation at Hubspot’s Inbound Conference in 2015. I'm going to share my notes with you to help you make your next…
If you’ve ever searched “public speaking coach near me” or wondered whether working with a public speaking coach is actually worth it, you’re not alone. Public speaking remains one of the most common professional fears, yet it’s also one of the most powerful career and business accelerators when done well. Whether you’re a leader preparing for high-stakes presentations, an entrepreneur pitching…
Back in 2021, we pulled the trigger and purchased a hot tub for our screened-in porch. Each time Heather and I submerge in the bubbling 104-degree water, we share a deep sigh of relief and exclaim that it’s the best purchase we’ve ever made. Without the distraction of phones, we can discuss upcoming family plans, what’s going on at work, etc. I’m very aware of the constant draw and addictive…
If you’re planning events for 2026, I know your challenge isn’t finding speakers . It’s finding speakers who actually help your audience work better when they return to work . I spend a lot of time talking with meeting planners, conference chairs, and leadership teams. The same themes keep coming up: hybrid fatigue, disengagement, fear around change, uncertainty about AI, and concern about…