Let’s face it, the world is a critical place. Television shows’ “humor” is based on personal attacks and put-downs. Most reality television is based on people being rejected on every level from love to singing talent. Even in our homes and workplaces, the ratio of negative feedback we receive from others (and give to others) to positive feedback is incredibly disproportionate. […]
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. — Ralph Waldo Emerson On the morning of the presidential inauguration, as I was getting my first cup of coffee, my phone rang. It was my daughter. The first thing I noticed was that she was awfully chipper for a college student who was up at 7:30 a.m. […]
In last week’s post concerning office holiday party behavior, one of the recommendations was to engage at the party– to put yourself out there and get to know some new people. However, many people hesitate to do this because they just don’t know how to start a conversation. Here are some tips for striking up a conversation with […]
This isn’t going to be one of those well-thought-out lists of profound things for which we all should be grateful. I wanted to find out, when put under time pressure, what really comes to my mind when I ask myself, “What am I thankful for?” So here goes… 1. Friends I can count on 2. […]
Any time management article will suggest that you “prioritize,” but many of us don’t really know how to do that. It seems everything is a priority. We try the “A,B,C,1,2,3,” method, but everything seems to be A1, leaving us right back where we started. Here are three simple steps to prioritize your daily activities (your […]
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 […]
If you’re shocked, appalled, or offended, please read last week’s blog post… again. We’ll be back next week!
I’m one of those people who fought getting a smartphone for a long time. My excuse? I didn’t want to be THAT connected or accessible. I already feel like I’m a slave to my laptop. Although I have an office, my laptop and phone live on my kitchen table. It’s difficult to walk by and see emails […]
When I teach workshops on communication, I always mention that it seems most people use their best communication skills with strangers and and their worst communication skills with those they love. There are many reasons, but it mostly happens because we feel it’s “safe” to do so. My boss might fire me for telling him he’s […]
If traditional networking leaves you feeling like a circling vulture, or the roadkill being circled, here’s a different approach that helps achieve the same, or even better, outcome.