There’s no getting around it: America is more divided than ever. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that if we ever have a hope of finding our way back to each other as Americans, we need to start talking - and listening - to one another again. I have made it something of a personal mission to put this to practice. From long conversations with family, friends, and … [Read more...]
You Only Get One Chance to Recognize a Good First Impression
I recently read an article indicating that using emoticons in professional correspondence might make a wrong first impression. The author shared a recent study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science: Effects of Smiling Emoticons on Virtual First Impressions. The results indicate that including the adorable smiley in your work email might be … [Read more...]
How to Avoid Political Wars at Work
You just watched the political debate. After hours of news headlines and social media posts focused on the discussion, you still haven’t digested the information that was delivered by the candidates on national television. Then you go to work and your opinionated co-worker pops the big question, “So, what did you think about the debate last night?” You wish you had time … [Read more...]
Communication Skills Are Important: Just Watch the Presidential Debate
In the words of presidential candidate Hilary Clinton, “Words matter when you run for President.” They also matter when you are a woman in business seeking to make your mark on the world. If you question the impact that communication skills can have on your professional future, do yourself a favor and watch the presidential debate. Presidential debates prove this: your … [Read more...]
Is Your Smartphone Killing Your Relationship?
The truth is, like it or not, most of us are slaves to our smartphones. In a digital age where we’re constantly connected, we’re so used to having access to everything instantly at the tap of a tactile screen that the very idea of leaving the house without them is about as appalling a prospect as leaving the baby behind. Maybe worse. We use smartphones to scan the news, … [Read more...]
A Dog’s Advice: Listening Matters
When Beretta, my Great Dane therapy dog, and I visit a hospital on one of our weekly visits, he knows the routine. He walks into the nurse’s station and meets the recreational therapist who works with us. She accompanies us on our rounds. By now, Beretta knows what to expect. He visits patients in about twenty rooms. The hallways are always bustling with activity, but the … [Read more...]
Why Compassionate Objectivity is Important
Have you noticed leaders who have mastered the art of compassionate objectivity? Do they stand out in your mind? What is it about their style of leadership that proves so very effective? When dealing with people, employees or customers, they seem to have the ability to understand things from another person’s perspective while they also have the ability to stay detached … [Read more...]
3 Strategies for Effectively Communicating with Your Customers
When you look at large corporations, it can sometimes feel like you will never have the success they have. They have more manpower and bigger advertising budgets as well as brand recognition. Does that mean that a small business doesn’t have a chance? There are a lot of “mom and pop” businesses that started out in their kitchens or garages and then grew. Some of these … [Read more...]
Top Communication Products Your Business Needs Now
Sponsored by Com2: Effective and efficient communication is a must for every business, and there are a great number of products out there that can help you improve your business communications. However, because there are so many to choose from, you should think about what types of products would be most suitable for your particular business. Communication specialists like … [Read more...]
Tips to be an Effective Team Leader: Lessons from West Point
In today’s work force, being an effective team leader is essential, but making certain that teams produce high quality results can be tricky. There is no one recipe for creating highly productive teams, but I have advice to offer based on what I have learned from my two sons who attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. At this institution, the corps of … [Read more...]