How can you speak up in meetings without being intimidated by loud talkers who dominate the discussion? Even in this age of technology, face-to-face meetings are still a vital and inevitable part of work life, so you need to make a good contribution in these settings - especially if your manager is present. Loud talkers tend to dominate meetings even when they are not the smartest in the room. They may be the ...
Read moreMaking a good impression on others immediately is crucial in business because research shows that others size you up within seconds of meeting you – and good relationships are vital. Despite the overwhelming focus on social media and digital technology around us these days, the most important interactions in business still take place in person, face-to-face. Everything else is just a substitute. Social commentator and observer Gretchen Rubin offers valuable suggestions on how to ...
Read moreEveryone wants to feel they are valued, to see themselves in a positive light. This is a fundamental human motivation proven by research. People are prepared to contribute more if they feel they are achieving something worthwhile. Eight magic phrases are music to our ears! You don’t have to be a manager or supervisor to say them; you can show leadership as a fellow worker. (Some people say employers exploit this type of motivation ...
Read moreMany people hate office politics. But staying out of office politics may hold back your career. You can see what happens when someone doesn’t play the game sufficiently – they lose influence and credibility. Probably you know people who have made that mistake. As a communicator, especially if you are a communication manager, you are responsible for building productive relationships throughout the office so you can influence people beyond your formal area of authority ...
Read moreThese thoughts on developing a brilliant ‘elevator pitch’ have been adapted from advice offered by Liz DiAlto, who provides a lot of useful career feedback to clients. Here are some top tips for a more effective elevator pitch – the important words you say to people who ask the key question: “What do you do?” DON’T just give your job title This is a cop out. There are no 2-3 word descriptions that do ...
Read moreAn elevator pitch is the brief summary or pitch relating to your organization, your product or yourself that can be made in about 30 seconds, ie the time it takes to ride in the typical elevator and tell someone your story. Elevator pitches are valuable to senior executives to use in business and sales presentations, speeches and interviews. They are also valuable for interesting someone important to you. For many people, without even realizing ...
Read moreResearch on non-verbal communication has found that mirroring a person’s words and body language increases rapport dramatically. This finding confirms the results of previous research, especially in the field of social psychology: copying the words and gestures of the person you are meeting will increase goodwill between you. Photo: not so sure about this body language - looks like a defensive posture being mirrored. Mirroring is behavior that copies someone else during communication with ...
Read moreWhether you are a communication staffer or external consultant, the relationship model advocated by Susan Scott, top US executive coach and author of Fierce Conversations, creates great results. It is a very effective tool to connect with clients and management to achieve deeper mutual understanding. It involves listening, building trust and creating rapport that will develop top relationships between you and your internal and external stakeholders. Identify the issue First step in this model ...
Read moreMost managers communicate poorly with their employees. Managerial communication is extremely important, but Gallup consultants report that few managers have the talent to achieve excellence: "Gallup's research reveals that about one in 10 people possess the talent to manage." Although many people have some of the necessary traits, few have the unique combination of talent needed to help a team achieve excellence in a way that significantly improves a company's performance." The firm's research ...
Read morePhoto by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash. In your workplace and at home you are inevitably tempted to lay the blame on someone for an action or inaction that is unsatisfactory. Laying blame is easy to do and difficult to avoid, especially if you tend to be judgmental. In the communication profession we are making judgments all the time; we belong to an extremely judgmental profession because almost everything we do is subjective – ...
Read moreBias may seem a vague concept for business, but people's biases cause massive errors in business decisions, including communication decisions.
Testimonials are a classic way to create perceptions of authentic value to customers and clients. Sample testimonial: Other thoughts for
Presenting to senior executives is a daunting proposition. They are extremely busy and have to make many decisions under