Life has a way of presenting us with unexpected challenges. It sometimes makes us feel like we’re being pushed off a cliff rather than taking a deliberate leap. As the saying goes, we must learn to grow wings on the way down. In a recent interview, I shared my story of deciding to take the leap into my own speaking…
“People do business with those they know, like and trust,” according to the popular expression. As such, it benefits us to know how to use communication skills to make more meaningful conversations. I recently quoted those wise words when I was interviewed by Reader’s Digest Magazine for a communication article: How to Talk to Pretty Much Anyone. I also shared…
Sadly, it seems that the ability to disagree without destroying the relationship is a lost art. People seem to have forgotten how to constructively express their differences of opinion without digressing into a name-calling free-for-all. Interactions on social media are an exasperating example of our society’s loss of civility—especially during these unprecedented times. Certainly, there are times when the other…
In the words of Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist “How people treat others is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves.” As such, finding ways to feel good about ourselves helps us to be better able to interact more positively with others. What do you do that gives you that all-is-well-in-the-universe feeling and makes you feel good…
You’ve probably heard the expression “There is no “I” in Team.” That refers to the fact that the word TEAM does not have an I in it, but more to the point, it stresses that we can work together better when we focus on we, the team, rather than just focusing on what I want. As a twist on that…
“You have a bad attitude!” Even though we know people who could benefit from that negative feedback, that ugly wording is not the best way to share it. There are two reasons that saying “you have a bad attitude” is not the best way to get results: Those harsh words are likely to get a defensive response. It provides…
“Flight cancelled!” That email notification popped up just as I was heading to bed the night before a recent early morning flight. This situation and other travel travails have become all too common in this post-pandemic world. But there are some easy-to-implement ideas that can make travel less stressful. I’ve provided below seven tried and true travel strategies I’ve learned—some…
“People hearing without listening” is one of the lines in the iconic song The Sound of Silence which I recently ran across on YouTube. The listening challenge, however, is when you’re interacting with someone who is “talking without speaking.” They may be talking but not saying what they really mean. Or their non-verbal actions convey that they have something more…
This was shared with me by a friend and I thought it was the perfect hi-touch-meets-hi-tech take on LOVE. Enjoy! Technical Support: Yes, how can I help you? Customer: Well, after much consideration, I’ve decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process? Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed? Customer: Well, I’m…
One of the best things a supervisor can do to build trust is to openly listen to an employee’s feedback—and give an honest reply about what will happen to their suggestion. Then act on it! In my first book If You Can’t Say Something Nice What DO You Say, I share the following sample replies: “Thanks for your input. Although…