Everyone has a communication style when interacting with others. It is their primary, “go to” approach to dealing with situations. It’s the main tool in their communication tool box that they reach for instinctively in a difficult situation. Some people are passive, letting others take the lead or win arguments. Some people are aggressive, viewing everything […]
Conversation Dominators. We all know at least one. It’s the woman at work who only asks how you’re doing so she can jump in and tell you how she’s doing. It’s that guy next door who has to let you know all about his son’s great accomplishments in sports, but never asks about even ONE […]
In today’s competitive employment environment, it’s increasingly important to do everything you can to get and stay relevant in your organization and your area of expertise, and to be able to communicate that relevance to others. From job knowledge and the latest trends, to technological savvy, employers have increasingly higher expectations that their employees will do their […]
Several times over the last few months I’ve been asked by those new in business whether they should bother to get business cards. “Can’t I just tell people my web address? All my info is there,” asked one person. Another insisted she wasn’t getting business cards because they were old fashioned. So what’s the answer? […]
Would you fly on a plane knowing that the maintenance crew and pilots were “sort of” trained, didn’t use checklists, and were allowed to do things whatever way they wanted? Would you want a surgeon operating on you who was “told” how to operate by someone a few years back, but didn’t have a clear […]
How many times have you sat through meetings where discussions got off track, tempers flared, and the meeting ran longer than scheduled? These are just some of the frustrations meeting participants feel about a poorly run meeting. That’s why the second reason your meetings suck the life out of everyone is poor facilitation. Last week […]
“Hey, I’m having a meeting this afternoon, do you want to come?” “Yes! HOORAY! Thanks so much for asking!” Said no one ever. Millions of meetings occur in the U.S. every day and most professionals find that they lose approximately 31 hours a month to ineffective meetings. Why, you ask? Because most people who conduct […]
“So . . . how’s it going?” “Fine.” Most leaders know how important it is to regularly check in with their employees to see how things are going, but many of them don’t know WHAT to ask to get more than just a monosyllabic response. Below are some great questions you should be asking […]
“Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.”- Nathaniel Hawthorne Many people underestimate the power of words to create their reality and to impact the reality of others. Think about […]
Thanksgiving is the kick-off to the holiday season. It’s often the first chance for family and friends to gather in large groups and enjoy each other’s company. Unfortunately, holiday gatherings can also be a communication challenge for many families. Trying to do and say the “right” thing, meet others’ expectations, and deal with family members lack […]
