BLOG ARTICLES BY AMY
Never bring these things up at the holiday dinner table
This week, I’m posting my blog early because with Thanksgiving just two days away, we’re officially starting the holiday season- including the stress of family gatherings. Family holiday gatherings should be a time to reconnect, enjoy great food and drinks, and most of all, to celebrate the “reason for the season.” However, for many families, Thanksgiving dinner and other […]
How to talk about money without starting a conflict
The money taboo is nothing new. For most of us, how much we have, how we choose to spend it, and whether we’re having financial difficulties, are all very personal. Revealing this information can make us feel vulnerable to other people’s judgment and can affect our self-esteem. Additionally, no matter our age, most of us […]
What the pool guy taught me about being courteous
15 years ago, when we put a pool in our backyard, I had the unfortunate honor of being the only person home when they “turned over” the pool to us. That means I was the one who was taught how to clean the pool, backwash the filter, empty the skimmer baskets, etc. So for the […]
How to End a Friendship (Or Keep One From Starting)
In a post a few years ago, I advocated “Getting Rid of Dead Weight Once and For All.” However, for many people, it’s one thing to know you need to dump some dead weight from your life, it’s another thing to actually take the appropriate steps to end a friendship or other relationship. Making the decision to end […]
5 Tips for Using Silence to Your Advantage
Not many people realize that silence is a very powerful communication tool—sometimes even more powerful than nonverbal communication or words. Doubt it? Try this. Look a person in the eye, ask him or her a question, and then wait for a response. Remain silent and simply maintain eye contact and provide your undivided attention. What […]
Why a Crisis is the Best Test of Your Communication and the Worst Time to Find Out It’s Not Working
While the entire Texas coast is still trying to recover from Hurricane Harvey, many of my clients who were affected by the storm are calling to say they need help in the area of communication. Even though budgets are tight and many have been hit by expenses that couldn’t have been foreseen when budgets were […]
6 simple steps to the perfect voicemail greeting
One of my personal pet peeves is bad voicemail greetings. I can’t stand calling someone’s home and hearing a four year old giving a voicemail greeting. Having the whole family on the line drives me crazy, too. In the workplace, it’s voicemail greetings like the ones below that make me want to hang up and call someone […]
Crush Every Problem Discussion in Four Simple Steps
Most people would rather get a root canal than initiate a conflict or problem discussion with a coworker, employee or family member. Unfortunately, most problems don’t just go away or get better on their own. In fact, they usually get worse. If you have an issue you need to discuss with someone else, it’s important […]
How to get people to STOP resisting your requests
When it comes to things they don’t want to do, people generally don’t go quietly. They passively or actively resist, question, argue, and sometimes get angry. Even if they never open their mouths, they’re likely thinking, “I don’t have to do anything! Just watch me!” Whether speaking to a customer, an employee, or to a child, beginning with, “You’ll […]