Communication Skills and Training Articles

Yes, you’ve read correctly. I don’t like it. The word “partner” is used very widely by people writing about relationships, including many of our own site contributors. And it’s perfectly understandable. After all, what better term do we have at our disposal to ...

Wind, cast, reel. Repeat. Ahhhh. And relax. Think of the best place you know to fish and what’s usually conjured to mind right alongside the excitement of the catch is the peace and quiet and beauty of your favorite fishing spot. Fishing is a great way to get away from the day-to-day pressures of work and life, and to simply escape responsibility. Ironically, perhaps, it’s also a great time to problem-solve.

Now the smartphone market is heated up with the arrival of the latest OS (Operating system) from Microsoft, Window 7 Phone, shifting the attention from Google Android OS. rnThe latest entrant into the Window 7 Phone war is Samsung’s Omnia II i8000 graciously designed with a killer look. like any other window 7 phone it does have a large screen, a better storage and 1GHz snapdragon processor to run the heavy applications smoothly. The Samsung Omnia II i8000 promises to be on

In the early 19th century, when boxing was quite popular, one who wished to challenge a boxer would throw his hat into the ring. This was probably necessitated by the crowds and noise at such events; you'd be missed if you simply tried to shout out a challenge or push your way through the crowd and into the ring. Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt used it in 1912: "My hat's in the ring", he said, meaning that he had entered the presidential race. www.phrases.org.ukrnr

Scenario A: You’re a man in a room predominantly full of women at a convention. You sell websites and website hosting. As a man, how will you talk with women in a professional, ethical, meaningful way to successfully sell your products and services? Scenario B: You’re a woman ...

Building a company and brand today is very different from building one 50 years ago. It used to be that a couple of executives got together in a board room, wrote some fanciful, aspirational words on a flip chart and Bobs your uncle, the company’s values and brand positioning was decided. Today this strategy flies in the face of creating a sustainable, profitable, engaged company that will survive in the modern world.

The Tsunami of Appreciation Blessing - kick start great blessings in your life with a wave of appreciation that blesses, waters and nurtures you and your surroundings. B: Begin with your surroundings and find one thing you can appreciate and put your appreciative focus upon it: a painting, a flower, something you really like and really focus upon it, increasing your feelings of appreciation for it. L: Life is best played as a Kim’s Game – where you remember every detail of beauty – the jewels in our environment that we can find, remember and appreciate.r

Overcoming shyness is a very important personal development step to make. When you make it, you see almost every area of your live improve. So you might as well make it effectively. Shyness is a common psychological trait for two reasons. The first is that the way many of us get educated and conditioned socially encourages us to become highly self-conscious and feel shy.

It’s easy to tell confident business people when you meet them: Good posture, firm handshakes, direct eye contact and a powerful aura. While confidence is just as important to portray over the phone for business success, it’s done differently and can be more difficult to attain for many people.

As a speaker - and that includes anyone who relies on their voice as a medium in whatever they do – your voice is the first point of contact between you and the people with whom you are communicating - your clients, your students, your customers, your employees, or your audience. Your Voice is ...

Have you ever been in a conversation that seems to be going nowhere, and neither person seems to be able to think of anything to say? This happens a lot, especially when both people don’t really know each other. It can also happen when both people are lacking in conversational skills. They just don’t know how to get the conversation going again. They aren’t good at making small talk and they don’t know how to find topics of mutual interest to discuss. If two people do

You are probably aware of the many difficult people in your life. From your stubborn boss, procrastinating coworker, angry child, intrusive step-parents, or hurtful spouse, these individuals can ruin your sanity. They make you miserable. If you have a difficult person in your life, you may think he or she is impossible to deal with, but the person is not an impenetrable rock. It's human! And humans follow laws of psychology and behavior you can benefit from. This article wi

Learning is a never end process which needs dedication as well as a lot of time. For some people learning one language is not enough, and therefore they look for learning more language than their native language. Learning a foreign language can help people know better about the people of that country as well as may be helpful in migrating to that country and can also help to secure job in that country. Learning is a never end process which needs dedication as well as a lot of

How many times have we seen this scenario in films: A character gathers his/her resources and single-mindedly chases a goal, claims it...only to discover the goal wasn't worth it, or it wasn't what they hoped it would be, etc. This is after they've spent extra-ordinary amounts of time, energy and resources striving for it. Sounds backwards, right? Well, movies aren't life; but they can imitate aspects of it, even teach us something about ourselves and nature.

When you ask the questio "What is Love?" people will give you many different explanations. Indeed, love is many things for many people. I would like to present the concept of 'Consumate Love' following the 'Triangular Theory of Love' developed by Robert Ste berg. (Find out more about Ste berg ...

Holding a university audience's attention would be tough in any decade, yet doing that in the late 1960s was especially difficult. That was the era when students demanded unprecedented rights and involvement in university decisions. Student movement leaders even held sit-ins for days at a time in administration offices. "Don't trust anyone over 30" became the campus mantra.

More and more individuals are reporting increased stress in their lives. For many, this is because they are putting undue pressures on themselves and are working longer hours. After a certain time, different for everyone, the effort that you are putting into your work becomes counter-productive. ...More and more individuals are reporting increased stress in their lives. For many, this is because they are putting undue pressures on themselves and are working longer hours. After a certain time, different for everyone, the effort that you are putting into your work becomes counter-productive.

Whatever source you use for getting the daily news--local or metro newspaper, radio and TV broadcasts, or online articles--regularly you will come across startling stories about companies that had no head notice a couple of days previously that news professionals would describe their business's calamity to a vast audience. Without warning, your company too can become the center of local, state, national, and in some rare cases international news. Your corporation's unwanted time in the spotlight could result from:rn--embezzlement --CEO firing or resignation --burning buildingr

See the Lightr Rights and Wrongs We grow up as vulnerable kids in this world, not knowing any better, thinking our families, our society will teach us everything we need to know about what is right and what is wrong. Not Knowing Right from Wrong! We think they will teach us everything we need to know about life. They are the ones who we first rely on for guidance, but as we get older, and we start going through so many mistakes, we start to realize that our society, our families, are clearly CONFUSED about what is right and what is wrong! Seeing the Light

Adapted from Effective Communication Skills in the Workplace: How to Use Tiny Words that Pack a Mighty Punch by Joy Hubernn“You’re the one who messed this project up.” “You didn’t turn in the report on time.” “You forgot our 4-year anniversary!”nnI don’t know for certain about you, but these sentences automatically make me want to throw my hands up like, “Whoa, I’m under attack!” and duck and run for cover! Can you imagine if they were also said in a l

In your job search, you know that the interview reigns supreme in the decision making process. Even when your degrees, certifications, accomplishments, and referrals surpass your competitors, your interview time will lead to either “Thanks for your application, and we wish you well in your search for a meaningful position” or “You are the candidate we need and want.”

For the past three decades, I’ve been observing the way people behave in personal and business relationships, with the intent of finding the meaningful patterns of what works and doesn’t work to bring about positive change. Here are the top ten lessons I’ve learned about how to click with people. #1 Make Useful Assumptionsr Assumptions determine behavior. Behavior produces experiences. Experiences reinforce initial assumptions. Whatever you assume to be true, you act like it’s true and look for proof. This is the loop of self-fulfilling prophecy.

The current state of Marketing is such that the need for change and “New Models” are desperately needed. The trouble is the “New Models” will not prove to be financially sustainable without substantially changing the way advertising and media services are organised. The first thing we must do to start to tackle the problem is to embrace our lack of knowledge about the process of communication. We must allow outside organisations to question the fundamental ideas that shape current advertising. We must allow them to innovate and keep the money saved through innovation.

There is a name for what advertising agencies do – rubbish – and our predecessors appreciated much better than us its ultimate destination: ruin! Almost all of what advertising agencies do is best summed up in one word – parasitical. By creating advertising out of thin air we have reduced the purchasing power of more deserving members of society.

• Write letters to loved ones telling them how much they mean to you, before it's too late: Avoid the regret many feel in losing a loved one by writing Loving Letters to loved ones who have had a significant positive impact in your life. This single act will ensure you the peace of mind that ...

What is the value of Facebook over Twitter? Is there a difference? When do you use one or the other or both? In writing our book, The New Handshake: Sales Meets Social Media, Barb Giamanco and I discovered that some businesses prefer Facebook; some prefer Twitter and some use neither. We decided to take a look at the two platforms to help you distinguish which is best for you. As we’ve stated many times in the book, the ultimate decision about which social network to use lies with your company culture, goals and customer.

Have you ever noticed how your perceptions and those of others often don't match? It is said that we all hold “a piece of the pie.” This is why collaboration is necessary and usually advantageous at work: to gain access to unfamiliar territory and the new resources that live in other people. Indeed, to get things done, learn, and improve, your colleagues, yes, even your boss, it could come in handy from time to time. Collaboration is more than just working together cooperat

Cool Passionr There is a case for arranged marriages says Rehana Matri. “Arranged marriages, even if the couples get engaged and get to know each other, are not marriages of the heart but of the brain. And so they are missing that fire that love marriages bring with them from day one. Some fires that were really huge burn out very quickly after marriage. Arranged marriages often remain cool and without passion, but remain in good working order and without complication,” believes German-bo Rehana Matri.

How do you tell someone what not to wear? When it comes to looking professional, many factors come into play. We all recognize the need to be clean and pressed (right?), but what about our hair or our nails or the scuffs on our shoes? I remember years ago interviewing candidates for a CEO ...

The South has a lot to say about doing business the right way. Just what do I base my assertion on? Having spent my first 17 years living below the Mason-Dixon Line--my grandparents are all Southerners--and having lived a year in Atlanta as a professional, I come by this business advice quite honestly. For those of you from other parts of the country, let me share some phrases that have served me well throughout my career, especially during the three years since I started my company. I'll start with my all-time favorite:

There's no better way to improve the quality of information you receive from a potential customer than by asking short questions. We all can recall far too many times when we've sat across the table from a customer we're trying to help – and we know we can help, if they would just provide us information about their needs and goals. The problem is that no matter what question we ask, we get the same response: a big fat "I don't know" (or something along that line). Then, alm

It is a common problem; you are at a party or maybe some sort of formal or informal gathering, and you do not know what to say. People chat and carry on all manner of conversations; yet you seem to be left on the and are little more than an audience to others. Well, there are some ways to get over that issue and get to play a part in the conversation. If it is a dinner you are in, there is always the old joke of just asking people to pass you things. Of course, that is not m

MODERN MINDSET Do you have a questioning mind? Most people have heard of the adage that curiosity killed the cat. This means if you question too much it could lead to bad results. WHEN CURIOSITY IS GOOD However, it is good to have a reasonable level of curiosity because one of the meanings of this word is eager to learn and we need to be eager to learn if we want to develop more. NEW DEFINITION Curiosity killed the cat is a proverb that has been around for over 500 years, but in the IT and Information age needs to be modified to suit the contemporary world. OUT WITH THE OLDr

UP YOUR OPTIMISM QUOTIENT B: Benefit from being an optimist. Benefits and blessings are yours when you see the benefits and blessings that flow from a particular situation. Better outcomes are yours when you choose to look for all the benefits and blessings in each situation. L: Look on the bright side, the sunny side, the feeling that the future is rosy and you can make it rosy. May you reflect upon how you can up your levels of optimism. Language is powerful. Practice making it a positive force in your life by using the most optimistic language you can muser.

Self-preservation or the greatest respect for othersr I live by the words of Shakespeare – that nothing is good or bad except thinking makes it so. I also believe we need to assess a situation from all angles and not jump to conclusions, or if we do take the time to reflect upon those conclusions. We need to let anger subside before we come to a conclusion. MANY MOTIVATIONS We may act for self-preservation and we may act out of fear or we may act out of respect. THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLDr

Are you are a political prattler? Most people discuss politics in ineffective, counterproductive and illogical ways. How about you? Here’s a quick test to find out if you’re a political prattler. You’re at a party, and someone makes a stupid political comment. Do you… 1) Call them an idiot and blame them for all the e

It is common to be irritated by disruptive behavior. Whether or not the annoyance is intentional, the real problem arises when you must confront the person. Informing someone of their annoying behavior can be uncomfortable for many, and possibly insulting to the receiving party. Many avoid the situation completely, only escalating the frustration. Approaching someone delicately about their behavior is very feasible, using the right tactics. #1 Describe the Situation, Not What You Think When you address the situation, do your best not to judge it.

Have you ever received a memo and felt the sender really wasn't thinking about what you needed to know or hear? Maybe you have attended corporate presentations that have simply left you cold? Communication is something we do reflexively -- like breathing. We talk to our spouses, kids and friends without giving much thought to how we're doing it. There is not one "right" way to communicate, but you should be aware of what is appropriate and when. Your chosen method of communic

Picture this happening to you. Recently you made a major purchase, one that you hope to make only every few years because of the high price involved. During the time you talked with the sales professional, he made you feel very special. In fact, he greeted your spouse enthusiastically, and told her what a cute puppy she was holding. He asked: “Tell me all about this fur ball in your arms. I’ll bet she is the queen of your house.”

Have you ever noticed the thoughts that run through your mind the minute you wake up and the moment before you fall asleep? Unless you make mindfulness a daily practice, chances are probably not. Despite the fact that we live in an abundant world our usual daily reflections are those of lack, what we don't have and what we don't get enough of. Think about it. How many times have you woken up, pushed snooze on the alarm and your first thought is "I didn't get enough sleep." Interesting.

What is the very most important thing that I can say about your voice and about singing? Perhaps it is that, your voice is your birthright. Voice is the primary way that we relay information to others. As we speak, however, only a small percentage of what we actually “say” is in our words. There are worlds of meaning and expression contained in the actual sound of our voices – its pitch, timbre, speed, volume, variety and how it originates in our bodies. As babies we all have natural voices. When was a baby ever conce ed about how their voice sounded?

In 1993, I was in the prime of my singing/performance career as a featured soloist with Symphony Pops Orchestras. While performing in a Tribute to Irving Berlin with the St. Louis Symphony, I noticed that the last two notes in my upper register could only be sung when I moved to one side the lump on the right side of my neck. Upon my return home, I told my voice coach about the problem and he suggested I see his ENT (ear, nose & throat doctor) ASAP.

A popular assumption implies that a speaker should start his or her speech by telling a joke, to get listeners in an upbeat mood and grab attention instantly. Like many widespread assumptions, this one is wrong. Here are five good reasons not to start your speech by telling a joke. FIRST: Your joke could offend the audience. After all, don’t most jokes have a “fall guy,” who becomes the brunt of your ridicule? Often the fall guy is a group—geographic, ethnic, gender, or age related.

Identify and nurture the select group of people, the most valuable players (MVPs), who will breathe life into an initiative. They are culled from both the internal and exte al core constituencies who must be on board for an initiative to succeed. There are several MVP categories, including political leaders, policymakers, alliances, suppliers, competitors, and detractors. To reach them, hang out where they hang out, publish in their favorite news media, send word through their social networks, and whenever possible extend direct invitations, preferably face-to-face.

Pillars of Successr Action, right direction and creation are the drivers underpinning many of the entrepreneurial success stories. For Rehan Allahwalla and Muhammad Nasurallah, vision, passion, garnering experience and service have been the main supports of their entrepreneurial adventures. Hitting the markr

Want to quickly qualify your target audience? Get inside their mind by writing the way your target thinks. It’s easy to do with practice. When you write copy this way, you quickly connect with qualified prospects. Look at the keywords people type into a search engine box. Those words represent terms and phrases your prospects think. Write copy that sounds like your prospects. It quickly connects you to them in a good way. Men and Women Are Hardwired to Think Differently About The Same Subjectr

As coaches, we spend a lot of time helping people understand the distinctions between the six different Perceptual Styles. Why? Because these distinctions are essential to understanding conflicts that arise in the workplace (and everywhere else, too). A classic example is a corporate client we had that was in serious danger of bankruptcy. They hired a “turn-around” specialist who had the Goals Perceptual Style. His initial plan involved some severe “reductions in forceâ

Many businesses make the mistake of trying to be "all things to all people". And the Truth is that unless your a fortune 100 company with multiple divisions... you can't! You're better off choosing the markets you want to target and then focus exclusively on serving these segments better than anyone else. Learn the keys of niche marketing and targeting your prospects. The more closely you can define and pinpoint your target market, the more success you're likely to enjoy. Many businesses make the mistake of trying to be "all things to all people".

“Loosen the reins up, don’t hold her so tight!” yells my instructor across the arena. “You are absolutely nuts,” the frustrated voice in my head yells back. It takes more than a leap of faith to loosen the grip on the fantastically energetic quarter horse as I am watching the fence posts clip by at such a pace that they seem to become a solid wall of white. “She’ll only take off faster if I let go!” but I do as instructed and … bingo: she speeds up. “Isn’t this nice?