Browse Communication Skills and Training

"It's not what you say, but the way you say it?" Ever heard that one? Well, my opinion is that both are important. When you ask a friend how they are, and they reply in a down and complaining voice, "Okay, I suppose," how does that make you feel? Think of your own response when someone asks you how you are. Then imagine how your response affects the other person. Because our attitudes not only affect how we feel, they affect everyone around us. So, the question is: How do you

In communication, the single largest difficulty for nearly everyone comes when a critical discussion transforms from the logical "give and take" that I described in my last newsletter into something less productive. Two familiar forms of this are Advocacy and Defensiveness. I will talk about Advocacy today.

Everyone, including corporate firms across Australia, is concerned about the deteriorating environmental condition. Consequently, corporations have pledged to reduce their carbon footprint. However, companies with regional and global presence are finding it difficult to live up to their word with ever-expanding operations, resulting in an increase in travel and carbon emission. In large organizations, offices can be located far from each other. Numerous employees are hired to

“The Talk About Talk” by Amy Remmele Everybody has ideas about what influences good communication in the workplace. Some say it’s that men and women are from different planets. Some say it’s about generational differences. Some even say it’s impossible! After years of counseling couples in my private practice and business owners and employees in my business consulting practice, I say that it comes down to precious metals. Or more specifically, looking at two rules named aft

Small talk, for many people, can be a difficult undertaking, whereas for others it’s as easy as tying their shoes. Of all the conversational styles however, small talk is the most difficult to negotiate. What do I talk about? This is the basic question we ask ourselves when first meeting someone. Another part of the dilemma is that in order to meet someone new we have to engage in small talk with them first, before the interaction can develop into a friendship. So, if you wan

Running a good meeting is really an art. In countless organizations, large and small, meetings are scheduled back-to-back; start late, lose focus, erupt in personal conflict, accomplish little, leave no one accountable, and make people miserable. nnIt is up to you, as a leader, to learn the art of the meeting. Run lousy meetings and you will be judged accordingly. Step up to the meeting leadership role and you have enormous influence and a more productive organization. This a

“I guess I'm just lucky to have a job at the moment.” This is the most common response I hear when I ask friends how things are going at work. With so many redundancies, people feel grateful to still be in gainful employment and relieved that it's their salary rather than savings that will feed the family and pay the school fees for another month.

In my practice I find over and over again that people are afraid of conflict. So much so, that when someone does something that goes up their proverbial nose, they don’t say anything, withdraw, count to ten, get over it, or just ignore what just happened. Of course, conflict that is not ...

One of the most common things we do on a day to day basis is communicate with other people. Good communication can lead to a better understanding of people and perhaps more importantly, allowing others to fully understand us. This is especially important in business.nnCommunication means have changed dramatically over the years, with the introduction of modern telecommunications such as faxes and email, but still the most widely used communication tool is the telephone. The t

Over the years, software development, business process management and outsourcing services have gained prominent position in developing an economy of a country. The world cannot deny the advantages and also the disadvantages associated with each of these services. But on a positive note, the advantages are in numerous and thus the shortcomings can be overlooked. Outsourcing software development services area that has picked up pace and is projected as hottest technology area

How can we hire the best with today’s job market? We all know that unemployment is at its highest. What does that mean to the employers? When I wrote the book on Strategic Interviewing (which, by the way, you can buy for a huge bargain used right now) nine years ago, there were more people ...

The fear of talking in front of people is common, and you may be one of them. But as the maid of honor or best man you might be asked to say a few words in the bride or groom’s honor. Being prepared to speak in front of a crowd of people will help ease the tension & allow things to flow more smoothly. First sit down & think about all the things you want people to know about that person. You can include good & funny memories you have with them. How the newlyweds met. Make su

One of the questions I receive most often from my newsletter subscribers is what do I do when I've "blown it?" As one good friend said: "I forgot all the great ways I know to address a conflict. I reprimanded an employee by basically attacking her character. I did apologize, and, thankfully, she ...

It is no secret that many people have paid a lot to get their iPhone 3g only to find out that they were not allowed to use all of the phone's features. This is not right and not fair. Now, there is a way to access those features without having to pay additional high fees and prices. For those who want to jailbreak iphone 3g, listen up. There is a way and it is perfectly legal. There are many sites online today who say they have the answers to how to jailbreak iphone 3g but do

"If you don't like what's happening in your life, change your mind."n--The Dalai Lama There's a new event in the neighborhood. Every day around 3:30 pm, a neighbor with a new drum set begins practicing -- at full volume. The drummer must be on his deck or screened porch, because there doesn't ...

It’s said that you never get a second chance to make a great first impression. That’s why it’s of utmost importance to always be ready to make your mark on the world. In order to do that you need to try to always be your best self. By doing that you can always make a good first impression and really impress the people around you. Here are some great ways to make that possible: Dress To Impress It doesn’t matter what type of style you relate to most. The key to making

Do you make resolutions at the beginning of each year? With the new decade upon us, now is the time to review, renew and reignite your plans for what you want the next year to hold in store. So how can you create results and not just empty resolutions? Simple. Treat the new year as you would any other project and begin with the end in mind. Take a moment to sit quietly and visualize yourself one year from now. What do you want to have accomplished? Who do you want to have become in the process? What kind of relationships do you want have?

Have you ever had the experience of speaking to someone and, in return, getting either a blank stare or a complete non-sequitur? The easiest explanations are often, “they didn’t hear me”, “they didn’t want to communicate with me”, or “they don’t speak my language.” But in reality, this type of communication disconnect occurs most often between people who have no common perceptual ground in their relationships. The Perceptual Style Theory (PST) describes a sy

You need to understand, not simply sympathize with, another person’s emotions to be successful in most fields. Those who remain aloof from others’ feelings, and those who allow their emotions to take control of their thought processes stand to alienate the very people they need to interact with regularly. If you know someone who falls in either category, you would understand that these people lack in emotional intelligence(EI), sometimes incorrectly called empathy. Empath

I received many responses from July's article on "Negativity in the Workplace" including some great resources for turning negativity around. It started with friend and colleague Barbara Wilson's email quoting Patch Adams: "The most revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be publicly ...

Recently a client told me a wonderful story about how a change of attitude helped her to keep a valued employee. Angry and grumbling about one of the provisions in the company policy, the employee asked for a private meeting with my client, the owner of a small sales company, and began to tell ...

The Samsung Galaxy S2 cell phone may be the latest star from Samsung galaxy phones. The significant options that come with this phone allow it to be among the most popular Mobile phones available in the modern market. The galaxy types of phones have grown to be a popular of numerous people because of the advantage cut features which make them outstanding. This can be a phone which has lightning fast internet connectivity which causes it to be a fast downloader of programs. Th

When you are at a party, or maybe a job interview, there can be points where the conversation wanes and/or falls flat. So, you can use some methods perk things up. Now, the first thing you want to remember is: do not panic! It is common for any conversation to go through peaks and valleys. Step one, be sure to maintain eye contact with the other person. This will help them to feel that you are connected with them. Next, and this is something to keep in mind over the course o

"We hold these truths to be self-evident."n--Thomas Jefferso When we celebrate Independence Day in the U.S., we commemorate our struggle to free ourselves from tyranny, and celebrate victory in the quest for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We remember the freedoms we normally take ...

Where did I put my Rudder? This is Application #2 for Creating Champions in the workplace, part of a series of blog articles with the overall theme of “When your staff succeeds, so do you.” Application #2 -- Develop and Communicate Goals rn"A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder."rn-Thomas Carlyle rnThomas Carlyle, born in 1795, was a Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher. Considered one of the most important social comme

1. Begin to notice your self-talk and how it impacts your communication. 2. Follow the 6 steps to changing your negative self-talk described earlier in the book. They are: • Increase awareness of your self-talkn • Ask yourself, “Whose voice is this?”n • Challenge or dispute these beliefs or ...

Despite what makes logical sense, men and women are with the one they’re with not because of the others’ pedigree or resume or the number of zeros in their bank account, but because of the emotional attachment - the way they FEEL around that person. Valentines Day stirs up a lot ...

Given his reputation within the party, it wasn’t surprising to see Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal selected to give his party’s response to President Obama’s first appearance before a joint session of Congress. What was surprising was Jindal’s delivery which came across as totally disconnected ...

Many Professional Speakers out-perform others in giving speeches or taking their stage. But does their public speaking predict their vocational success? Does it all come down to the power of the voice or possessing the authority over your own convictions, thoughts and opinions? Public speaking might be much more. The key elements to Public speaking success are not just the power of your voice. rnGreat verbal authority, great practical intelligence and a very good social conne

If you are actively looking for a job you are probably aware that one of the things that every potential employer would like to get from you is a letter of recommendation. As a matter of fact, this document is very vital as it determines whether you should get the job or continue with your job search. Writing a letter of recommendation is usually difficult task for many people because they are charged with the responsibility of presenting the person they are recommending to a

Jou aling can be very helpful for sorting out your feelings. A lot of people are overwhelmed by the idea of starting or keeping a jou al. But the fact is, to be its most helpful, jou aling is used in its simplest form. Here are the basics of jou aling:

Everyone wants to shine and be accepted by people. If your goal is to achieve a successful life, personal and career, you will need the help of others. And, to feel accepted and get along well with others, you need to focus on developing your social skills to win more attention. For someone who is just starting to develop his or her social skills, here are some tips to consider: 1. Have a ready smile always A person with an approachable outlook is likely to draw people who

Sometimes a theme will just show up organically, and since last week I was talking about the fabulous power of a good testimonial I thought, why not continue the theme of free (or nearly free) video marketing ideas for your business that you can do right now? Today I want you to share the information that you know like the back of your hand. Pretty easy, huh? I would venture to guess that no matter what your field of expertise, you have the same questions asked of you over and over. Yep, I am referring to the "frequently asked questions."

My good friend and colleague, Thomas Crum, taught me a lot of what I know about having hard conversations. A method he uses with children - the BLT - is so simple and easy to remember, I often use it with adults, too. Breathe, Learn, Talk. So when a mom asked me about how to help her 10-year-old daughter Becky solve a problem with her teasing friend, Tom's BLT method was a perfect solution. Becky's friend was making jokes at her expense, and Becky wanted her to stop. Conflict Resolution for Kids: Breathe, Learn, Talkr Dear Becky,r

"You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins." - Jim StovallnnEncouragement is one of the easiest ways we can help out our friends. Just by noticing and positively acknowledging what it is they're doing boosts their self-esteem and self-confidence. You'll notice that the more you encourage others, the more they'll want to be around you beca

You may not FEEL a physical spanking but you can feel a disconnect: things are not okay. A singe not to pray, an avoidance and yes…you may begin to live a noisy life so that you cannot hear God. Admit it: Your on the “outs” with God. When your in trouble with God you know it. You feel a disconnect you cannot necessarily explain. Take practical steps toward healing your relationship with God, whether its been one day or several years. ~~~~~ A.

How to Keep Answers Short and Effective Did you know that not only can long-winded answers be hard for the audience to follow, but they can actually cause your interview to go off track? Concise answers can keep you in control, and THAT’S where you want to be! Brevity is the key word here. Think of the quotes and sound bites you would like to have associated with your image and try to incorporate them as your answers when appropriate.

So, there I was alone in a hotel room in Poughkeepsie, NY, instead of attending my college reunion festivities. I’d been looking forward to meeting up with past classmates, going to lectures and, most of all, walking the campus. The Vassar campus is unbelievably beautiful in June. Trees are centuries old, architecture is varied and grand, gardens abundant; and walking the well-known paths is a silent meditation. But the first thing I did after breakfast was to fall and sprain my ankle. It took approximately ten minutes to blow up like a balloon, and it hurt – a lot.

How many times a day do you check your email? Have you ever stopped mid conversation while speaking with someone to check and see who just sent you a message on your Blackberry? Not only is this rude, but it may be making you stupid. The average person checks their email 5-6 times a day. Opinion polls have indicated that many Blackberry users cannot go more tha 5 minutes without checking their email. The 2006 New World College dictionary word of the year, “Crackberry“, rightf

A client was struggling with how to manage her stress level during the Q&A period after a presentation when she doesn't have an immediate answer. The simple solution might be to say, "I don't know." But it's not that simple. Sometimes she does know the answer but can't come up with it, because ...

Web designs that make your business grow rapidly A perfect website design company leaves no stone unturned in shaping your ideas into reality with its innovative and cutting edge methodologies. Being a leading company for website design solutions, we offer affordable and resulted-oriented services to our clients with a team of professionally-trained hardcore professionals. We don’t just accomplish web designs for you, we find out exclusive methods also that help you achieve

HTC Sensation White is the incredible handset designed by the Taiwan based firm. The phone boasts of the great design together with features which are exciting! With so many smartphones available in the market including the likes of Samsung Galaxy S2 and LG Optimus 2X the competition in the market is very fierce. HTC is one such company which has been continuously applauded for its range of smartphones which are not only loaded with features but also boasts of perfect build.

For every professional and personal relationship to flourish, effective communication is important and utterly necessary. Your expressions and gestures help in re-enforcing the words you speak. Expressions provide meaning to your words. Communication is thus, one of the most important tools of handling customers and other stake-holders of a business. Communication has to be strategically designed and executed through proper channels and gestures. Expressions in Communication

When you are engaged in a conversation with one or more people, you have to essentially take turns at speaking. If one person is doing all the talking, that is a lecture, not a chat. So, one very common mistake people will make is that they monopolize the conversation and end up doing all of the talking. People will often get very tired of just being talked to; so try to avoid that. Next, stay on subject. If everyone is talking about how much they loved the latest production

The United States has always been a nation of immigrants and with the global economy, many of us deal with more non-native speakers of English than ever before. These relationships are valuable and to make them work we need not only good communication skills but also mutual respect.nn1. CULTIVATE RAPPORTnI have lived abroad and know how difficult it can be to express yourself in a language other than your own. Non-native speakers may be sensitive about their accent. They may

nDid you ever do something that everyone says is excellent, except for one person? But you find yourself focusing on that one negative response?nnIt’s like this large white paper with a small black dot on it. 99%of the paper is clean and this 1% is what you focus on. nnWe’ve been teaching executive speaking for many years. People leave with usable skills and good feelings of a shared team-building, learning experience.nnRecently, we facilitated a workshop with 18

Samsung galaxy II is one of the most successful Smartphone of the Galaxy series. It is soon going to be available in the market in a very novel look. The handset is ready to come up in full white color. This brand new Samsung Galaxy II is listed on Expansys as EU model and by some other website as Clove, as UK model. The contender apple will face a rugged competition as the white galaxy phone S II can overtake over their iPhone market. Already iPhone have several issues for b

Your boss is pressing you to meet a challenging deadline. You have a presentation to give that you haven’t had time to prepare. Your finances have taken a dive and you don’t have enough to pay the mortgage. Your partner is threatening to leave you because you spend too much time at work. In case these pressures aren’t enough, the one person you depend on for support at work has just gone off sick. If this was your situation, do you think you might feel stressed? Most would, some wouldn’t.