Communication

Use This Conversational Tool to Keep From Being Swamped at Work

April 2, 2019

Do you ever feel like you should say “no” to a request at work, but the “correct” answer is “yes”? For example, let’s say you’re at a team meeting, brainstorming ideas for a new marketing campaign. And some of the ideas are great ideas. . .but all of them fall in your area of responsibility. […]

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New to Your Company? 5 Things that Will Help Sell Your Ideas

December 17, 2018

Imagine this scenario: About two months ago, you landed a new gig as a leader at a respected company. You’ve done all the right things to set yourself up for success by priming the pump with these activities before Day One on the job. For the first month, you listened, networked, took copious notes and […]

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Resources to Counteract Mean and Nasty in the Workplace

November 27, 2017

In November, people observe World Kindness Day, which was started in 1998 by an international coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that wanted to shine a spotlight on the positive power of being kind. There are many corners of the world right now that are just plain mean and nasty. Incivility has always been part of […]

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The Career Development Gap – Why Employees Think There’s No Growth Opportunity

March 30, 2017

When it comes to advancing their careers, employees aren’t feeling the love. That’s a key finding from a recent white paper produced by TINYPulse, a firm that specializes in gathering data on employee engagement and satisfaction. Only 26% of employees surveyed felt they had adequate opportunities for career growth. The managers of these same employees […]

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Improve Your Decision Making By Doing These Three Things

February 20, 2017

Strappy heels or comfy flats? Ivy League or state college? At first glance, one choice is relatively simple, the other more fraught with complex decision-making. Look more closely, and you’ll see that sometimes even the “easy” choices are difficult. If you’ve ever struggled with what seems an obvious choice — say, “fruit cup or chocolate […]

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6 Phrases to Get a Derailed Conversation Back on Track

February 13, 2017

My mother always said that the true test of marriage was if a couple could successfully hang wallpaper together. Mr. People Equation and I have that handled. No problem. But engaging in a task that requires me to follow Mr. People Equation’s directions, such as moving furniture or positioning a picture on a wall for […]

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Three Sentences that Cost Your Business Time, Money, and Grief

January 30, 2017

“You can’t change horses in mid-stream.” “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” “This time is different.” How many times have you heard these (or similar) sayings tossed out at the conference table when you’re making an important business decision? These sentences are short-hand for cautionary tales when it comes to decision-making.  Rather […]

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Why Silence at Work is a Good Thing—For Introverts and Extroverts Alike

October 17, 2016

I am the offspring of two very different personality types: a gregarious extrovert and a studious introvert. My youth was shaped by my mother’s extroverted style. She had a positive, upbeat energy and effortless charm in social situations. From her, I learned how to thrive outside the safety of my home. But in my heart […]

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Are Unspoken Issues Creating Mischief on Your Team?

September 29, 2016

When the results of Google’s research on team effectiveness (called “Project Aristotle”) were revealed earlier this year, the conclusion was surprising: the best teams have just one thing in common. Factors such as clear goal-setting and team member dependability are certainly important, but they’re not what definitively sets great teams apart from their average counterparts. […]

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Avoid Snappy Comebacks with Snarky People

July 12, 2016

Someone Googled “come back for want some cheese with that whine” and Google returned my post Want Some Cheese with That Whine? The person viewing the search was most likely disappointed, as the post was about how Human Resources deal with whiny employees.  However, it does raise an interesting question about workplace communication:  what would […]

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