Thought for the Week – From Fuel to Flow: How Communication Creates Momentum

ripple-effectWhat ripples out after you’ve left the room?

Last time, we explored “Fuel or Fizzle: The Energy Behind Every Conversation. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Ripples are powerful. A stone dropped into a pond lifts water, catches the eye, and draws attention. Yet a single ripple alone will fade. True impact happens when the motion spreads, creating waves that move far beyond the first splash.

That’s the challenge with communication today: too many messages create momentary energy but no lasting movement.

Flow is what happens when communication builds direction, trust, and curiosity that lasts. It’s not just “feel-good energy” in the room – it’s energy that keeps people moving once the meeting or conversation ends.

Think of it like this:

  • A splash or a spark is motivation.
  • Flow is momentum.

Leaders, parents, colleagues, friends – we all face the same choice: do we chase sparks, or create flow?

As Jay-Z wisely said: Don’t just go with the flow. Be the flow.”

I invite you to try a small practice this week:

Instead of finishing a conversation with “That was great,” finish with one thing that sustains flow. For example;

  • a clear next step
  • a shared story
  • a powerful question.

Because conversations that spark disappear, while conversations that flow endure – and multiply. And we don’t have to be a leader to inspire others.

 

“Don’t just be a leader who inspires in the moment; be one who creates momentum beyond the moment.”

– Craig Groeschel –

[Public speaker, New York Times best-selling author who has written several books, including “Winning the War in Your Mind” and “Lead Like It Matters”]

 

As always, I love hearing your thoughts. If you’d like to have a conversation anytime, let’s arrange one!

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!

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Thought for the Week – Fuel or Fizzle: The Energy Behind Every Conversation

 Communication-regenerates-or-depletesThink back to the last conversation you had that left you energised … 

Thought for the Week – Fuel or Fizzle: The Energy Behind Every Conversation

Last time, we explored “Thriving in a Human-Centric Future” and, whilst AI can do many things, it can’t be us. Because in the end, technology may change the tools we use, yet it’s still people who make the difference.

If you missed it, you can catch up here

Have you noticed how some conversations leave you buzzing with energy – while others leave you flat? Same time, same exchange, and yet a very different impact.

That’s because communication is never neutral. It either fuels or fizzles.

Every interaction leaves something behind. It either regenerates, building trust, clarity, and connection – or it depletes, leaving doubt, noise, or confusion.

And here’s the thing: communication that fuels isn’t something we need a qualification for. It’s something we can all develop and practise, every day.

Employers consistently rank communication at the top of skills they need. Yet this isn’t only about the workplace. Whether you’re a parent, a student, a colleague, or a friend, your words carry weight.

Every one of us has the power to spark or stall in daily interactions – whether it’s with a client, a colleague, a family member, a student or even at the kitchen table.

What does regenerative communication look like?

Regenerative communication isn’t just about being clear or polite. It’s about creating connection and energy that multiplies:

  • Clarity instead of noise: Words that create direction, not confusion.
  • Trust instead of doubt: Honest, open exchanges that build confidence and connection.
  • Curiosity instead of closure: Questions that invite discovery, not just endings.
  • Energy: it leaves people empowered, not feeling smaller.

Why it matters now more than ever

In a world overflowing with messages, updates, and notifications, people just don’t need more communication. Less is more.

Communication isn’t simply a “soft skill.” It’s a human one, so we need communication that fuels, and conversations that energise.

A simple experiment for this week

  • Pause before replying – and let listening do the heavy lifting.
  • Ask one well-placed question that opens the conversation instead of closing it.
  • Replace one routine update with a short story that adds meaning.

In a noisy world, communication is not just about transferring information and being understood – it’s about the energy we leave behind in the other person.

The Ripple Effect

When we communicate regeneratively, we don’t just get better outcomes in the moment. We create ripples – trust, confidence and inspiration that continue long after the words have faded.

In a time of change and uncertainty, this is how we make communication not just a skill, but a daily act of renewal.

We know that words alone have just 7% impact in our conversations – it’s all about HOW we say those words through our tone of voice and body language.

So, words, and how we deliver them, don’t just transfer information. They shape futures.

 

“Words can inspire, and words can destroy. Choose yours well.”

– Robin Sharma –

[Canadian writer, best known for his “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” book series]

 

As always, I love hearing your thoughts. If you’d like to have a conversation anytime, I’d be very happy to.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!

Not yet subscribed to Thrive? Join here to receive weekly reflections and prompts: Subscribe to Thrive

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Thought for the Week – Thriving in a Human-Centric Future

human-centric-skillsWhat’s one “human skill” you think will be even more valuable in five years than it is today?

Last time, we explored “Did AI Write This?” and when something is structured and punctuated, nowadays it can be misunderstood as being AI-generated. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Exam results have just landed for many young people, and for some, it’s a celebration; for others, a moment of uncertainty. Yet here’s the thing: we know that the grades on that piece of paper are not the final word on their future.

Because the future of work is changing faster than any curriculum.

The skills that will matter most in the years ahead won’t be measured by a test score.

When we think about it…

  • AI can write, but can it truly listen?
  • AI can analyse, but can it build trust?
  • AI can summarise, but can it inspire action?

Communication, empathy, collaboration – these are the regenerative, human-centric skills that set people apart, and grow stronger the more we use them, like a muscle… and that AI can’t replicate.

AI isn’t the enemy – it’s the amplifier. It’s about leveraging our uniquely human strengths.

The conversation around AI often focuses on replacement: “Will AI take my job?” Yet the real question is: “How will I work alongside AI to add value that only a human can?”

Think of AI as a tool that can handle the heavy lifting – drafting a first version, crunching the numbers, organising the data. This frees you up to do the things only you can do:

  • Spot the emotional nuance in a client’s response.
  • Frame an idea so it inspires action, not just understanding.
  • Build trust that lasts longer than any transaction.

The Enduring Human Edge

Here’s what won’t get automated anytime soon:

  • Empathy: Understanding feelings, not just facts.
  • Storytelling: Turning ideas into experiences that people connect with
  • Collaboration: Blending skills, perspectives, and yes, even AI contributions.
  • Adaptability: Navigating change with creativity, rather than fear.

These skills aren’t static. They’re regenerative – the more we use them, the stronger they get.

Why This Matters Now

Employers worldwide are saying the same thing: they need people who can connect, communicate, and adapt. LinkedIn’s research consistently ranks soft skills – especially communication – at the top of hiring priorities.

And here’s the best part – you don’t need to wait for a new qualification to start building them. You can practise these every day:

  • Ask better questions.
  • Listen without rushing to reply.
  • Turn a dull report into a story people want to hear.

A Regenerative Approach to Skills

AI can store information. Humans can create meaning.

AI can give an answer. Humans can spark a conversation.

If you approach your skills like a living ecosystem – feeding them through experiences, conversations, and curiosity – they’ll keep growing and adapting as the world changes.

 

“Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for human intelligence; it is a tool to support and extend it.”

Fei-Fei Li

[Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence]

 

So, I invite you to try these things this week and see how it changes your conversations…

  • Listen longer than feels comfortable before you reply.
  • Ask one question designed to reveal something new.
  • Tell one story that makes data feel human.

The tech will keep evolving. The question is: will we?

AI can do many things. But it can’t be you. Because in the end, technology may change the tools we use, yet it’s still people who make the difference.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this too and, if you would like to have a conversation, I would be very happy to meet up.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!

Not yet subscribed to Thrive? Join here to receive weekly reflections and prompts: Subscribe to Thrive

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Thought for the Week – Did AI Write This?

did-ai-write-thisWhen did clear, thoughtful writing start sounding “too AI”? 

Last time, we explored “The Words We Don’t Say” – we often think communication is all about what we say. Yet so much is shaped by what we don’t say. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Lately I’ve noticed a growing trend: people are starting to question punctuation. Have you noticed this too?

When something is structured, grammatically sound, and punctuated, these days it’s often met with: “Hmm… this sounds like AI.”

Yet punctuation doesn’t strip our words of humanity – it gives them shape, clarity and emotional tone.

Without it, meaning gets lost:

“Let’s eat, Grandma.”

“Let’s eat Grandma.”

Right! One of those is a dinner invitation. The other is… well, a crime scene!

  • Have you ever sent a message that was misunderstood because of missing punctuation?
  • Have you had a moment where a tiny punctuation choice changed the tone of what you were trying to say – maybe at work, in a leadership role, or in a personal moment?
  • Did someone teach you the power of punctuation in a way that stuck with you?

I have learned that even something as small as a missing full stop can shift the tone – making a message feel rushed or careless, even when it’s not.

We don’t punctuate to impress. We punctuate to be understood.

 

“Punctuation marks are the road signs placed along the highway of our communication – to control speeds, provide directions, and prevent head-on collisions.”

Russell Baker

[American journalist & author]

 

So, here’s some encouragement for this week…

If you like using punctuation and writing with care, keep doing it. Use punctuation. Use pauses. Use your voice. It’s not robotic – it’s respectful.

In a world full of noise, clarity is a gift.

I’d love to hear what you think on this topic!

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!

Not yet subscribed to Thrive? Join here to receive weekly reflections and prompts: Subscribe to Thrive

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Thought for the Week – The Words We Don’t Say

the-words-we-dont-say-imageWhat conversation have you been rehearsing in your head and still haven’t had?

Last time, we explored “The Words We Whisper” – the quiet voice we carry inside. The gentle resilience. The encouragement we can offer ourselves. If you missed it, you can catch up here

This week, I’ve been thinking about another layer to how we communicate – just as quiet and just as powerful:

The words we don’t say.

You know the ones…

  • The kind that linger in the back of your mind during a conversation.
  • The kind you rehearse in the shower, or rewrite in a text you never send.
  • The kind that feel too honest, too messy, too vulnerable – or just too much.

We hold back for all kinds of reasons…

Because we don’t want to make it awkward.

Because we don’t want to rock the boat.

Because it’s easier to pretend we’re fine than to explain why we’re not.

  • The “thank you” we meant to share, but we moved on too fast.
  • The boundary we need yet never voice.
  • The “I miss you” that feels too tender to admit.
  • The apology we think about but aren’t sure how to offer.

Yet unspoken words don’t disappear. They collect. They shape the distance between us.

They become weight we carry quietly – sometimes for days, sometimes for years.

We often think communication is about what we say – yet so much is shaped by what we don’t say.

Sometimes, silence is self-protection. Sometimes, it’s wisdom.

At other times, it’s about fear, or habit, or the weight of not wanting to risk disrupting things.

It’s worth asking yourself:

  • What have I been holding back?
  • What conversation am I avoiding?
  • What part of me is asking to be heard – by someone else?
  • What would I say if I trusted I’d be heard with compassion?

Speaking up can feel risky. It might be something simple:

A thank you.

An “I’m still hurt.”

An “I need some space.”

Or even: “I care about this too much not to say something.”

There’s no pressure to say it all at once – maybe there’s one thing you can say. One sentence. One step. One truth.

Even a whisper can make space for healing. It can be a form of release – of reclaiming something inside you.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be dramatic.

 

“We say ‘I’m fine’ because we don’t know how to say, ‘This is hard, and I don’t know how to talk about it yet.”

 Morgan Harper Nichols

[Musician, songwriter, mixed-media artist, and writer, whose work is centred around the question “how can we create connection?”]

 

This week…

  • What have you been meaning to say and haven’t?
  • What could shift if those unsaid words were gently, kindly named?

Sometimes, just a few words can change everything.

Here’s to courage – and to choosing our words, even the quiet ones.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week – The Words We Whisper

learning-and-becomingWhen you make a mistake, what’s the first sentence you say to yourself?

Last time, we explored the idea of giving ourselves credit – recognising the quiet resilience, hard choices, and the ways we’ve grown (even if it didn’t look “perfect”). If you missed it, you can catch up here

Thank you again for the messages you sent in response – it’s a privilege to share your reflections with you.

This week, I’ve been thinking about the voice that we carry with us day to day – the tone, the words, and the internal dialogue that so often goes unnoticed.

That quiet murmur that either lifts us… or slowly wears us down.

It’s worth asking:

  • How am I speaking to myself today?
  • If I heard someone talking to a friend, the way I am speaking to myself… how would I feel?
  • What belief is hiding behind the way I’m narrating my own life right now?

Here’s what I’ve noticed…

We can’t always silence that inner critic – we can learn to meet it with kindness though.

We can gently shift the tone. We can speak back in a positive way.

We can remind ourselves that we are allowed to be a work in progress and a masterpiece in motion – at the same time.

This week… 

  • What if your inner voice was your inner encourager?
  • What if, just for a moment, you spoke to yourself as you would to someone you deeply care about?

It doesn’t have to be loud. It just has to be true.

If your inner voice was your closest ally, what would it say to you today?

Try whispering:

  • “I’m doing better than I think.”
  • “This is hard, yet I’ve done tough things before, and I can again.”
  • “I don’t have to earn my worth. I already have it.”

 

“Talk to yourself like someone you love.”

Brené Brown –

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week – Look How Far You’ve Come!

look-how-far-youve-comeWhat’s something you’ve achieved recently that you haven’t given yourself credit for?

Thought for the Week – Look How Far You’ve Come!

Last time, we reflected on “I Was Still Learning, Growing“; forgiving our past selves – the younger, less-experienced versions of ourselves while we were still learning, still working it all out. If you missed it, you can catch up here

I received some lovely emails this week sharing how this resonated with you – I feel honoured that you shared this with me, thank you.

Here’s something else I have been thinking about lately:

  • We’re often quick to criticise who we used to be while being far too slow to acknowledge how far we’ve come.
  • We minimise our growth because we are focussing on the work ahead that’s yet to do.
  • We downplay our progress because it doesn’t look ‘perfect’.
  • We forget to acknowledge and celebrate the quiet resilience it took us to get here.

And yet – that version of you who made it through tough challenges…

Who kept going no matter what…

Who chose to change, even when it was uncomfortable…

They deserve some credit!

So, this week, instead of only noticing where you want to improve, I invite you to pause and also recognise this:

  • You’ve come a long way.
  • You’ve grown in ways you once believed impossible.
  • You’ve made hard choices. You’ve softened. You’ve stretched.
  • And you’re still becoming your most magnificent self.

 That counts.

 

“You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

–  Louise Hay –

[Founder of Hay House, American motivational author and professional speaker]

 

Here’s a question to carry into the week:

What do you want to give yourself credit for? (Even if it feels small. Even if no one else saw it.)

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week – I Was Still Learning, Still Becoming

still-learning-and-growingLast time, we explored “Let Them Adjust” about allowing for those around us to adjust when we grow or change. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Yes, there are moments from my past – choices I made, ways I showed up – that I now look back on and wince. Sometimes, people remember us for who we were, not who we’ve become.

And that stings.

Now, here’s what I’ve come to understand:

I was still learning.

Still growing.

Still figuring it all out.

I still am.

We all have chapters that we would write differently today. Yet those chapters shaped us, are part of our growth, our story – and often, our greatest lessons. Not something to be erased.

So, if you’re holding onto regret about your past self, I want you to know that growth isn’t a straight line. It can be messy, unpredictable, and profoundly human.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself feeling embarrassed or ashamed of an earlier version of you, I invite you to pause and remember:

You were doing the best you could with what you had – and you’re not standing still.

And look at you now – you’re not stuck. You’re moving, learning and evolving!

Here’s a question for you to consider over the next week:

What have you learned to forgive yourself for? Or maybe you’re still working on it?

 

“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”

–   Maya Angelou

 

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week – Let Them Adjust

let-others-adjust-to-the-new-youHave you started saying “no” more and noticed who doesn’t like it?

Last time, we explored “The Invisible Communicator”. This was about how many professionals can feel unseen, unheard, even when they’re saying all the right things. Often, the issue isn’t about you, it’s how others have been conditioned to hear (or ‘unhear’) your voice. If you missed it, you can catch up here

As we constantly develop and evolve, here are some of the shifts we have to navigate along the way:

  • What happens when you start showing up differently?
  • You start saying “no” to things that no longer fit or overstretch you.
  • You say what you mean.
  • You drop the ‘qualifiers’, the ‘softeners’, the over-explaining.

And suddenly, the dynamic changes. You might notice:

– Raised eyebrows
– Subtle resistance
– Silence or guilt trips
– Or even your own moment of self-doubt

It can feel unsettling – it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong though.

People get used to a version of you that makes them comfortable – not necessarily the version that reflects who you are now.

If you’ve always been the reliable yes-sayer, the fixer, the one who keeps the peace – then becoming more direct and having firmer boundaries will feel unfamiliar to them. And maybe even to you.

Here’s what’s important to remember:

That’s their adjustment to make. Not yours.

Yes, if we have been conditioned not to upset anyone, then this will feel uncomfortable – at first. Here’s the thing …

Clarity creates discomfort – before it creates respect.

So, if you’ve recently started owning your voice more clearly – and things feel a bit off – it might just mean that you’re disrupting old dynamics and narratives.

You’re not losing your voice – you are using it! You have discovered that it is much easier and less stressful using it in an authentic way.

A few reflections for this week:

I invite you to ask yourself:

  • Who am I showing up differently for – and how can I reintroduce myself?
  • Where am I being pulled to shrink back into old roles for the sake of harmony?
  • Can I hold my ground while others adjust?

You’ve done enough adapting – you are choosing to remain calm, respectful and assertive in all of your conversations. Let them adjust.

 

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”

– Wayne Dyer –

 

With quiet strength and warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week – The Invisible Communicator

invisibleEver feel like you’re being overlooked – even when you’re speaking up?

Last time, we explored “Are We Really Having a Conversation?” This was how, when we shift from broadcasting to connecting, we change the dynamic of relationships – at work, at home, and in ourselves.

If you missed it, you can catch up here

You prepare, contribute, show up with ideas… and yet it feels like you’re invisible.

Many professionals feel this, and yet rarely articulate the subtle, frustrating experience of not being taken seriously, even when they’re saying the right things.

It’s not just frustrating. It’s demoralising.

And you start to question yourself:

“Am I unclear?”
“Am I lacking confidence?”
“Is it because I’m not senior enough?”

Here’s the hard truth:

It’s not always what you’re saying – it’s how others have already decided to hear you.

Possible Reasons:

Somewhere along the way, professionals were taught to:

– Shrink their voice to sound “non-threatening”
– Add softeners to avoid sounding “too confident”
– Wait for space instead of taking it

We don’t always notice how we’ve been trained to disappear.

Could some of the following invisible habits be undermining your credibility:

– Are you using softeners and filler words such as: “like”, “actually”, “just,” “maybe,” “kind of” etc?
– Are you speaking in an apologetic tone in some way without realising it?
– Are you over-explaining things?
– Could your body language be saying something different to your message?

Feeling invisible isn’t a personal failure. It’s often the result of invisible dynamics – and learned and habitual communication patterns.

If this is happening to you, I invite you to ask yourself:

“What do I unconsciously do that might make my voice smaller than it really is?”

If you are a leader and you want to encourage others to speak up more, you could ask them that question.

And a gentle reminder…

Being overlooked doesn’t mean you’re not worth listening to. Sometimes it just means it’s time to reclaim your voice.

Now, here’s the thing …

It is not about turning up the volume or quickening your pace! It is not the loudest person in the room who is being taken seriously either.

It is all about how you influence others i.e., by actively listening, asking relevant and powerful questions, remaining calm and assertive and owning your own views as you present them.

“You can influence people without being the loudest voice in the room.”

– Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Peace Prize Winner) –

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training
– Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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