Communication works for those who work at it. ~ John Powell

How well do you communicate?

Every contact we make involves communications skills - speaking and listening,  speech patterns, the words we use, the tone of our voice, our body language and even the silences all play a part in how successful our communications are.

Self-awareness can be one of the most effective ways to identify and improve your skills. Take this quick assessment to learn more about how well you currently...

Learning how to bridge conversations is learning how to move someone from where they want the conversation to be to where you want it to go.

Controlling the Conversation

When I travel away from home, I’m reminded that no matter where you, or what the topic of the day is, getting around is all about controlling the conversation to get what you need.

For example, in many southern states, they have the important skill of  “greeting people well” down. If they know your...

The transition to working from home some 18+ months ago was tough. If you are heading back to the office this fall, you may be finding that transition is even harder.

While behavior expectations at work haven’t changed, there may be different assumptions as to what is now acceptable.

According to supervisors interviewed by SHRM*, many workers returning to an office setting are bringing with them inappropriate and disrespectful behavior. This includes an increase in insults, invasive...

If you’re like most people, then you are not as self-aware of your body language, and the unintentional messages you are sending, as you should be.

We often do a pretty good job at noticing other peoples’ unintentional signals but in ourselves, not so much. Consequently, we make some common body language mistakes and often send the wrong message to others without even realizing it.

Why does that matter? Because your body language makes up over half of your total communication...

u shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you really mean it. Then you should say it a lot. People forget that. ~ Jessica, Age 8

Studies have found that practicing appreciation can improve relationships and motivate employees. It can also increase wellness and lessen stress. In short, regular appreciation will not only boost performance and engagement but also improve an employee’s health and well-being.

There are certainly many ways to show appreciation....

I can live one or two months on one good compliment. ~ Mark Twain

Communication Micro-Connects and Appreciation

News flash: We live in a culture that is appreciation deprived. Studies show that up to 70% of workers feel they are not regularly appreciated at work.

But the good news is that studies also show that when you give appreciation to someone on a regular and informal basis, you will see 5x more engagement/productivity. Wow!

A University of Washington study found that:

• Kids at...

You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is no better way to be a change agent in your life and the lives of others than to determine the goals you have and go after them. Here are some goal-getting tips that will help you get there. You can apply these four steps to any goal you have – short term or long term.  They are powerful tools that will help you get to where you want to be.

Step 1: Determine...

An empty stomach will not listen to anything ~ Spanish Proverb

Multitasking:  Let’s be honest. Do you ever get distracted and have no idea what the person talking to you just said?

How many times have you been interrupted, changed your focus for a minute, and then thought, ”Now where was I?” Classic multitasking fail.

Multitasking is a Myth

As technology allows people to complete more tasks at the same time, living the myth that we can multitask...