Communication Tip of the Day: Nix the Negative Signals.
If you disagree with someone or doubt what she’s saying, consider voicing your opinion tactfully at the appropriate time rather than screaming the message with negative body language. Be cautious about...
View ArticleCommunication Tip of the Day: Avoid Typing Your Personality With Your Voice.
If you were participating in a corporate skit, how would you play the part of a complainer? (Whiny, nasal voice?) How would you play the part of a crook? (Raspy, harsh tone?) How would you play the...
View ArticleIs Writing In Bullet Points A Brainless Activity?
“All your people write long narratives that we have to wade through! We’d have our writing problems licked if we could just get them to jot things down simply in bullet points,” the president snapped...
View Article5 Ways to Measure the Impact of Your Personal Influence
Do you know how much your personal influence is worth? How much does your organization value your contributions? Can you communicate that value to your organization? Can you use that value as a...
View ArticleCommunication Skills: How to Stop a Boss From Micro-Managing You
In the more than 10 years I’ve been blogging on communication issues, no one has ever asked about the important topic Rahul emailed about recently on LinkedIn: “I have a team lead who has...
View ArticleCommunication Skills: The 5 Best Things to Say As a Salesperson
As a seasoned sales pro, you’re not likely to put your foot in your mouth when you call on customers. But do you intentionally choose phrases that could put dollars in your pocket? Consider these five...
View Article3 Stupid Things Leaders Shouldn’t Say
“Don’t take this personally.” “Don’t come to me with a problem—unless you have the answer.” “We need to talk about that sometime.” If you’ve ever uttered these comments, reconsider: “Don’t take this...
View ArticleImproving Your Business Writing: Kick the “To Be” Habit
The assignment still gives me sweaty palms: Mrs. McCullough, 7th grade English teacher, made our class write an entire 5-page essay without any form of the verb “to be.” That’s right, no is, are, was,...
View Article5 Tips to Increase the Likeability Factor as a Leader
Although your primary goal may not be to gain approval, as a leader you understand that likeability increases your ability to influence others. With that in mind, consider the tangibles involved: Put...
View ArticleAre These Communication Breakdowns Driving Your Customers Away? (Part 2)
If you missed the first post last week about how internal communication glitches are driving customers away, you may want to go back and read those first messages customers may not be telling you...
View ArticleAre These Communication Breakdowns Driving Your Customers Away? (Part 1)
Where there’s silence, there’s a reason. A few years ago, several large organizations (IBM, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, American Management Association) reported their results from surveys and interviews...
View Article4 Tips to Make Your Message Memorable
Messages in the business world and workplace—and even in the general population via social media—catch on primarily for three reasons: emotional appeal, simplicity, the right timing. If you want to...
View ArticleGet Personal! Why Face-to-Face Beats Digital Communication – By Laura Stack
Have you ever been involved in an email volley that goes back and forth and back and forth and thought, “If we just would have picked up the phone, we could have resolved this in two minutes”? With the...
View ArticleDoes Your Voice Create the Impression You Intend?
Your voice print is as unique as your fingerprint—and much more limiting. That is, no one will likely find your thumb print on the copier and label you a loser. But they may hear your screech in the...
View ArticleCan Leaders Be Too Powerful and Confident When Presenting?
For decades, leadership experts, managers, and life coaches have focused on projecting an image of competence, power, and poise under pressure. In past blogs and books, I too have written about...
View ArticleCommunication Tip of the Day: Challenge Questions Based on Misinformation or...
Example question: “Given the huge sums of money we’ve spent on market and trend studies in recent years, why haven’t our earnings matched those of other investors in local real estate?” That question...
View ArticleHandling Technical Problems With Poise During A Talk
You probably don’t want to consider famous movie director Michael Bay’s reaction to technical difficulties at the CES Samsung Conference as your model. In case you missed the news clips or Twitter...
View ArticleWriting a Winning Sales Proposal Is Like Building a Grand House
Like any good sales consultant worth a paycheck, you’re responsive, right? So when a client says, “Get me a proposal and let’s see if we can do business,” you’re ready to pull a document together and...
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3 Easy Steps to Solid Prep for a Dynamic Presentation
Has late-night cramming for the old college exam turned into a lifelong habit? Do you find yourself tweaking a client presentation an hour before you’re due to deliver it? Are you still racking your...
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6 Reasons Small Talk Can Be a Big Deal for Your Career
If you’d rather run a 10K than chat two hours at a holiday party, you’re not alone. In fact, dread of what many refer to as schmoozing knows no bounds; it can make CEOs as well systems analysts sweat....
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