7 Handshake Rules You Shouldn’t Break
An assertive, professional, business handshake helps create a great first impression. Here are some tips for achieving handshake success!
Top 10 Communication Resolutions for 2015
Every year, many people resolve to make the coming year their “best ever” by making resolutions for better behavior. The most common resolutions include losing weight, exercising, stopping bad habits (smoking, sugar, etc.), getting a better job, etc. As this is a communication blog, over the past few weeks I’ve been collecting reader-submitted suggestions for […]
Three Tips for Responding to Unsolicited Advice
Last week, I targeted advice givers and provided tips for offering advice in a way that makes it more palatable to the receiver. However, I know that not every advice giver reads my blog and even those who do will struggle to keep their opinions to themselves. Therefore, I thought I should follow-up this week […]
Five Steps to Improving Your Communication Skills
I just completed a 30-day video series called, “Communication Skills for Career Success.” Over the 30 days, people who watch the daily 2-3 minute videos receive tips, techniques, inspiration, and goals for building upon their set of communication skills; from listening, word choice, and nonverbal communication, to making the decision whether to confront someone in […]
5 Ways to Shut Down Stage Hogs
We all know at least one. It’s that guy who only asks how you’re doing so he can jump in and tell you how he’s doing. It’s that gal who has to let you know all about the great things her son is doing, but never asks about even ONE of your kids. I call […]
Break Down Your Listening Barriers in Five Easy Steps
A few years ago I worked with a man named Martin. He was a condescending know-it-all and I avoided him whenever I could. As soon as I saw him walking toward me, I could feel myself getting annoyed. Any time he spoke to me, all I could think was, “Who does he think he is […]
Five Things You Should Never Tell Your Boss
I’m all about building rapport, communicating, and creating great relationships with people at work, including your boss. However, there are some things you should just keep to yourself if you want to continue to be successful, and climb the ladder, in your career. Yes, I realize when you read some of these items, some of […]
You’re Not the Person I Hired! Five Reasons Your Employment Interview Process Fails
I was facilitating an employment interviewing workshop the other day and as we were discussing why people were taking the course, one participant said, “I want to learn why the person I hired isn’t the person who shows up on the first day of work?” It’s all too common to have the prince or princess […]
50 things that life’s too short to (or not to) do
“Life’s too short to drink bad coffee.” The comment came from my Bestie Bev, who was pretty much appalled that I would reheat a cup of old coffee so as not to waste it. Although it was just a brief and not particularly profound moment in life, that statement is one I think of (and […]
Happiness isn’t Happenstance, It’s a Choice
I woke up feeling happy this morning. Yes, it was partly because my first conscious thought was, “I have the day off today!” However, it was also because I chose to be happy– despite the fact that my cat woke me up sharpening her dagger claws on my hip, despite the puppy pee I had […]