Impromptu speaking in business settings can be the most important and influential verbal communication you will ever undertake. This applies in face-to-face and virtual discussions; and internally as well as externally. However, I have seen people botch this too often. They either don't prepare sufficiently for the meeting (especially internally), or they may not speak up. It is all-too-easy to fall into the trap of thinking the agenda doesn't involve you directly, but the ...
Read moreMaintaining friendships at work boosts happiness and productivity. Cultivating these close relationships is even more important now as lockdowns and isolation have caused workplace burnout across America and around the world to reach an all-time high. [The World Health Organisation defines burnout as “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed," and which has three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one's job, or negative/cynical feelings related to ...
Read moreSome people have the happy knack of persuasion – of getting others to do what they want. They seem to do it instinctively while most of us struggle to sway others to our way of thinking. But psychological research has shown that persuasion is more than instinct – you can use it in predictable ways by appealing to a limited set of deeply rooted human drives and needs. Persuasion is governed by basic principles ...
Read morePeople like those who like them and who are like them Some people have the happy knack of persuasion – of getting others to do what they want. They seem to do it instinctively while most of us struggle to sway others to our way of thinking. But psychological research has shown that persuasion is more than instinct – you can use it by appealing to a limited set of deeply rooted human drives ...
Read moreOne of the biggest issues facing us as communication professionals is how to gain greater influence within our own organization. Our work is largely intangible, based on strengthening organizational communication links and working relationships at all levels, and so we are often vulnerable to the subjective views of corporate decision makers about our effectiveness. The question is how do we increase our standing within the organization? People can have good potential or may already ...
Read moreMuch of the focus in the business world is about technological advances. Imagine the shock in the Google high-tech environment when internal research made senior management realize 'soft' skills are more important qualities in the firm's top employees than tech skills. An article in the Washington Post quoted a post by eminent Professor Cathy Davidson discussing the Google findings. Davidson noted that in its first 15 years after being founded in 1998, Google sought ...
Read moreOnce someone takes a stand on something or goes on record in favor of a position, they prefer to stick to it. When someone makes a choice actively – a choice that’s spoken out loud or written down or otherwise made explicit – it is considerably more likely to shape that person’s future actions than the same choice left unspoken. Psychology experiments bear this out, according to Professor Robert Cialdini in his best-selling book, ...
Read moreCEOs often think of marketing and PR in similar terms. So it is in your interest as a public relations professional to strengthen your relationship with marketers in your organization and establish a solid combined front. Firstly, you can jointly analyze your organization’s priorities as expressed in the organizational mission statement and strategic goals, and ensure your activities directly and measurably support them. Look especially at the organizational business strategies that have the most ...
Read more'Managing upwards' is the systematic process of working with your boss to obtain the best possible results for you, your boss and your organization. When you manage upwards, you show leadership on your own part. Most people know the importance of managing their relationships with the people who report to them, but you would be surprised at the number of people who forget to manage their most important working relationship – the one with ...
Read moreWe all know when there is a need to confront others, but many of us are afraid to do it. We may not have done it well in the past or we don’t like head-to-head confrontations. It is a disturbing thing to do. It takes us out of our comfort zone. It is always an emotional experience. However, if we don’t act, the problem could magnify; it could put our job in jeopardy; or ...
Read moreBad timing is the single biggest reason journalists reject media pitches. A total of 25% of journalists participating in the
Your organization’s employer brand is a major reason why new employees join rather than going to another employer. Astute employers
Effective teams are the key to the success of every organization. The right teams of professionals give organizations a higher
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