Corporate culture has changed over the past few decades, where buttoned down shirts and suits once signified the commitment to work in an office, casual attire and a relaxed attitude toward social interactions with superiors and subordinates is now commonplace in the workplace. Having recognized that happy employees are more productive in a positive, uplifting environment many organizations have adopted a standard of connectivity with their employees within their corporate structure. more >>
Most supervisors know the difference between an open and a closed question. An open-ended question is one that encourages the relation of information. A closed question can be simply answered with in the negative or affirmative, or with some other one-word response. more >>
Are your employees engaged in their work? That is, are they committed to doing their best, motivated to performing with excellence? Employee engagement is an important business concept cited by a variety of sources and backed up by research performed over the past several decades. more >>
What does a great communicator do? They translate the vision to the team in everything they say and do. This means everyone understand the big picture all the time. more >>
Haptics is the study of contact cues. How frequently we touch, the intensity of the touch, the type of touch and who we touch, sends a distinct message. With communication being 93% non-verbal, touching can speak volumes in the way we present ourselves. So what exactly are we communicating when we touch another? more >>
Does your team make a lot of costly mistakes that are due to communication misunderstandings? The problem may not be with the staff but the directions you're giving them. more >>
We now have five generations in the workplace and every generation has unique traits that they bring to work. In order to get along, be productive and avoid conflict we need to respect and understand all the generations we spend time at work with. more >>
At our company we issue parking permits to every employee. Our system for giving them out is very simple. As you are hired you are given your first parking permit. Then every 3 months you are issued a new parking permit. We have found that our new hires especially appreciate our parking permits... more >>
Certain qualities distinguish good, valuable information from that which is misleading, worthless or just plain bad. These qualities ensure that transformed data is valid, reliable and properly communicated. However, some aspects of information are more critical than others are. Accuracy, completeness, relevance, timeliness and clarity are significant components of good information - regardless of who the user is or the purpose of the information. more >>
When Management committees decide to embrace policies, make changes to their Trade Mark or adopt System Application and Products worldwide, the value of the intercultural communication depends entirely upon the buy-in and commitment on the part of the employees entrusted to implement the decisions on their behalf, making expert Intercultural Communication imperative. more >>
Most workplaces carry a certain amount of stress with them where tempers can sometimes flair and feelings can sometimes be hurt but that is only one type of workplace verbal abuse and usually only happens Sporadically. This is being written about a consistent form of workplace verbal abuse that is used as a measured type of bullying and harassment that goes on to undermine a person's confidence and reliability at work. more >>
About 10 years ago a man walked into my living room and plonked a dirty black briefcase onto the middle of a pristine white sofa that I had just bought. Since he was not looking in my direction he missed my wincing and probably did not even note the tightness in my voice as I invited him to take a seat beside his briefcase. more >>
The office space that you work in can have a profound effect on the standard of work produced. From allowing employees to thrive, to negatively effecting efficiency, it is vital to provide an area that promotes productivity. more >>
When someone announces a meeting, most people want to escape. Every day in the U.S. there are over 11 million business meetings held. That is, 11 million-plus attempts to convey an idea face-to-face to more than two people. more >>
How comfortable are you being open and direct with others? Many people avoid telling others things that they might not like to hear. Do you minimise or soften your message to make it more pleasant? Have you considered the high cost of being indirect? Assertiveness is not a 'soft skill' that you can take lightly. more >>
Expressing your words of praise, love, and encouragement as retirement sentiments can mean the world to a new retiree who is about to embark on a new lifestyle with no work component. Let that special retiree know how you feel and how proud you are of all his or her accomplishments. This article offers tips for how to share your feelings about this person at this important time of his or her life. more >>
Business letters are one of the ways for any business to communicate with all of its stake holders. These stake holders may include customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, management, government and the public in general. Business letters are the life blood of communication for any business. more >>
If you have been manipulated all your life in the work place, maybe it is time that you should be in control and impress your boss. Take these simple tips on how to act like you are in control. Do not worry; these tips are subtle yet powerful gestures that anybody can practice. more >>
Choosing the correct business telephone system for your small business is more difficult than ever. Making the smart decision means finding a manufacturer that you can trust. You will need a system that you can depend on to meet any changes and lastly, you will need a reliable vendor to make sure the work is done right and promptly. Take this short Quiz to see if your phone system measures up as being professional. more >>
Every strategic plan should emulate the shape of a martini glass. This is a great methodology for carrying out the plan. But then it dawned on me...why can't we do the same in our communication? more >>
Do you realize you speak to people without even talking" Well you do with Body Language. Actions do speak louder then words. The expression the eyes are the window to the soul is so TRUE! more >>
Often people complain that their boss is not good. He takes them for granted. He doesn't appreciate their true efforts. He has no heart and is only a number crunching robot. more >>
In the workplace environment, as managers and executives we often find that our best business tool is an understanding of people; how they operate, how they respond, what drives and influences them. However, the sheer unpredictability of individuals can lead to frustration when their motivations and preferences are in conflict with our own. more >>
Dealing with Difficult People actually means trying to communicate with them. This is true when you are dealing with difficult people at work or in your personal life. The most powerful piece of advice for you in communicating with these people is to listen both with your ears and with your eyes. more >>
When something goes wrong with your product or service, it may take on crisis proportions, leaving you feeling between a rock and a hard place in deciding what to do. For example, VanCliff Cosmetics had become one of the great business success stories of all time with its product, "24K Glow": a high-priced, gold-infused liquid makeup. That was until a game show personality who used it discovered permanent green facial blotches. more >>
Managing your email involves creating and using mailboxes, and that means more than an In and an Out box! I've used both the following systems and both worked well. Check them out and use the one that works best for you. more >>
In this world of email and text messaging, are your messages being read and do they really have value? What is the emotional feeling the reader has when they receive your message? Here are the 4 C's of making your message matter. more >>
This article, which teaches you how to leverage your Personal Communication Style to your advantage in your business or work, is especially for people with high standards and/or who expect a lot from themselves. Which of the three styles best describes you? more >>
Text Messaging is your businesses #1 Double Edged sword. It can make your workforce more efficient and convey messages easily and efficiently. It can also waste hours of you and your employee's time every week. more >>
Have you ever been to a meeting that has spiraled out of control? You had an agenda. You defined a meeting leader and a scribe to take the minutes. You even had donuts (always a powerful draw to get people there). And yet, the meeting did not accomplish its intended objective. more >>
The good news for us normal people is that there are things we can do to get people to pay attention to us, to follow our example, to join us in a team effort. But we often waste time on useless leadership activity that just creates noise - endless meetings, group email announcements and one-off team away days. What should we be doing to really make an impact with our people? more >>
Communication is the essence of effective management. Sometimes we seem to get on well with some people - at others times it's more of a challenge. more >>
About a month ago, I was listening to a report on the causes and impact of people in the public eye "ducking the question": either failing to give a direct response, failing to give any response at all, or diverting the topic onto something else completely, as quickly as possible. Obviously, the prime targets for this investigation was were politicians, and they are pretty easy targets to hit. more >>
One of the most important concepts to get over when attempting to build lasting and fruitful relationships is that it's not about you. Relationships are built quickly when you are sufficiently in control of your own behaviors and reactions, to understand this critical principle. more >>
Communicating with your project team, sponsors and stakeholders is a very important aspect of project management. At times, effective team communication can be one of the most difficult parts of a project as tasks can become complex and more pressing issues take center stage. more >>
Many companies are now resorting to hire mediation managers as a way to resolve workplace conflicts between the boss and employees, or between employees. These managers are responsible for mediating and ensuring that peace and harmony returns to the workplace. more >>
In my previous article response handling I gave hints and tips on how to get the most out your call centre and how to choose the correct one for you. In this article I shall now talk about the inner workings of the communications centre and how its best to run it. more >>
Relationships in the workplace are vital. Managers need them and so do their employees. By having effective working relationships, all sides gain value that cannot be gained anyplace else. Let's be clear what this means, because sometimes it can be hard to recognize just what the point of working closely really can be. more >>
The pressures of production goals, deadlines and everyday workplace issues often influence how we communicate with others. There are certain guidelines that we as leaders can adopt so that our communication process with first generation Hispanics in the workplace is delivered with greater accuracy. more >>
When I used to work in the retail world I would attempt to log onto Facebook, and other social networks, and instantly get a red flashing banner that said FORBIDDEN, or ACCESS DENIED. Now granted I did want to check my FB status, I did want to stalk a few people, but I also did have the intention of "networking." I wanted to find a non formal way to communicate with my clients and build a relationship with them. more >>
Emotional Intelligence refers to how effectively people interact with others, specifically in the workplace. It is important to understand your emotional competencies and learn how you can improve them, in order to be a successful business leader. more >>
It is widely cited that verbal communication makes up only 7% of a total message during a conversation. That is, 93% percent of the meaning within the conversation comes from outside the words that we use. more >>
Working with difficult people can be an absolute nightmare. Just how do you remain calm in dealing with difficult people at work who are rude and interrupt you all the time? more >>
Setting clear expectations and communicating them effectively allows us to develop trusting relationships with those around us. Be concise, be open and be accountable. more >>
Your non-verbal communication is more powerful than your words when the two are not aligned. If you want your words to be more influential, to carry more weight and authority then you must make certain your non-verbal message is congruent with your verbal message. more >>
Is it just me or do some managers have a special knack for looking the other way when it comes to bad behavior and conflict on the job? Managing people isn't easy for a whole host of reasons but when we as employees bring our little red wagons to work chock full of "issues" from the past and don't play well with others it can be overwhelming for some bosses. more >>
It takes all types to make the world go round, and dealing with them all can be a challenging task, particularly when dealing with difficult people. This is one area where using your Personal Power of Influence can be most effective. Not all difficult people were born that way. more >>
There are three challenges business executives need to understand and sort as they refocus their organizations. 2008 was the year trust evaporated. more >>
We've all seen them, those little cliques at work that a few of the "in crowd" of people you work with are allowed in to. These groups are relatively harmless but when a bully gets on the inside and stirs things up against one of their co-workers, all heck can break loose on him or her. This is known as workplace mobbing and can turn into a very nasty situation for the target. more >>
Learning to hold your tongue is something that many people cannot do very easily. Everyone has the need to gossip about what someone else is doing. Whether it being at work or around their neighborhood and some people just cannot stay out of someone else's business no matter how hard they try. more >>
Do you have any negative people in your life? Are you ready to figuratively "close the door" on them? Try using straightforward and clear language. more >>
Have you ever thought about how much your accent is costing you? If you thought your accent didn't matter because you were so good at what you do, think again. more >>
Have you ever experienced that it is not easy to say "no" in your workplace? Then you are not alone. There are many people out there that feel the same thing. Especially to the person that has higher position than us in the workplace or the person who is respected. more >>
Telecommuting or telework is simply a home-based job that utilizes technology to deliver work. Since this is just an alternative work arrangement, it still follows the general terms of employment, job responsibilities, and other work policies. Why more professionals prefer this type of work setting is probably because of telecommuting's numerous advantages. more >>
Five challenges were identified at the beginning of this series of articles about encouraging SMEs to use participatory learning activities. To help them: (1) recognize the value of participatory learning activities; (2) become open to the idea of actually using participatory activities... more >>
Many employees, as validated by this same study, attribute much of the conflict they experience to personality clashes and egos. This attribution is echoed in my experience as an OD consultant, mediator and coach. Unlike a research study, however, my work has allowed me to delve deeper into these situations and explore the dynamics. And my experience has shown that most conflict is not caused by personality differences. more >>
It seems like just another day as you saunter from the car park towards the entrance of your office. The sun is shining, and you're considering the tasks for the day ahead, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a camera and microphone are thrust towards your face and a reporter barks, "What's your comment on the allegations about your company?" more >>
During my time in business development, in that space between pure research and practical application, I observed that the reason the majority of collaborations failed had little to do with the technology, lack of due diligence or even the appropriateness of the selected partner. The real reason for failure could inevitably be traced back to 'people issues', whether outright conflict or a more subtle incompatibility resulting in company research personnel refusing to work with the government scientific staff. more >>
Good communication skills lay the foundation for your effectiveness with others and were identified as highly desirable by the majority of engineering and environmental consulting firms interviewed by the Author. Eliminate the 12 communication blocks identified in this article to quickly enhance your ability to communicate more effectively and improve your opportunities for career advancement. more >>
It isn't how old you are, but what you have to say! In this article, we show how it's the content and professionalism that counts, not gray hair! more >>
"Paradigm shift." "Value-add." "Win-win." "Customer-centric." "Outside-the-box." "Leverage our core competencies." Clichéd terms like these buzz around the office like flies at a hot summer picnic... and they're just as annoying. Language is alive, and when it's not, it's time to liven things up. more >>
Communication is a key for the success of any sales person or leader. How you keep your customers, colleagues and staff informed will determine how easily you get things done. Communication comes in many ways. I just had a call with a colleague and he said: It was interesting what was said at our meeting and more interesting what wasn't said. We communicate by what we say (or don't say), the way we say things, the body language displayed, and how we communicate the written word. more >>
Conflict management strategies are crucial to running a business effectively. Learn conflict management strategies that will help your business. more >>
There are many benefits of working at home-including the truth that the dress code at home is normally a lot more casual; but there are a lot of significant matters you will need to look at like office noise prior to arranging your home as a base for your business. If your home business is made up of no more than a desk and a computer in a back room, it's probable that no one will even acknowledge that you are even alive, much less a viable business. more >>
Though it could be said that each workplace is unique, over the years I've discovered that there are some fairly common ways people cause problems with co-workers that they later come to regret. Of course, few purposely set out to create conflict and many would like to blame anyone but themselves when troubles on the job occur, but rest assured there are certain behaviors that are more apt to cause problems than others. Avoid landing in hot water by steering clear of these common mistakes... more >>
For any business to be successful some of the key pointers in achieving this is greater customer service and a range of staff that offers full support to the clients at any given time. In addition to this, the company has to ensure that it creates a good name for itself. more >>
Be careful of that raunchy joke that gets all the laughs. As funny as folks at work may find it, it has an edge that can cut out some of the enjoyment at work - even for those who are engaging in it. more >>
Professionalism in the workplace must always be obtained. Whether you have been with the company from the beginning of its existence or you are a new hire, it is essential that you stay focused on your duties and goals. Avoiding conflict will ultimately earn you much more respect and help you to avoid conflicted related write-ups or even termination. more >>
February 1 is designated as the number one day for staff absence. As increasingly staff morale is falling, how do we keep our work force enthusiastic and keen? Let us look at ways to improve this situation. more >>
When prospects do not hire you right away, do not despair. They have embers that you can keep alive with good communication and an ezine. Your objective is to stay cool and collected and provide the prospect with continuing useful tips and information about their problem area and how you have solved that problem for others successfully. Keeping the embers warm allows you time to fan the flames for new clients. more >>
When you're looking at different ways to grow your business, communication is a key element. Having a strategic Communication Plan will help you keep in touch with your market and stay 'front of mind' with your contacts. The bottom line? Don't just think 'marketing', think 'communication'. more >>
Are your co-workers not as friendly with you as they used to be? Do you feel you are suddenly being left out of conversation at work? Sometimes we forget that work is our profession and home is personal. Your co-workers are not your friends and work is not the place to be discussing your home life. more >>
There are many great conflict resolution models and theories but most of them take a bit of cognitive capacity to remember in the heat of conflict. During times like these, if we use a model at all, it needs to be very simple and memorable. Here's a simple, easy to remember strategy for dealing with conflict. more >>
Today, you have to make sure that your business is doing well in its overall performance, especially when it comes to your workers. In a business, the workers' performance is the indicator of the company's growth. If the workers are productive and are performing well, then your company is most likely doing well. And if the employees' performance is poor, then the company's performance is also poor. more >>
Sometimes it is difficult to decipher the rules of business correspondence, especially for more formal letters and emails. This article clearly and simply lists the guidelines for business correspondence success. more >>
Most of us know that assertiveness will get you further in life than being passive or aggressive. But few of us were actually taught how to be assertive. Here are some helpful tips. more >>
How we communicate in business is vital for the success of our company and our career. This article shows you the email etiquette for continuing success. more >>
It is the employees that translate your vision, the simple plan from paper to reality. How well it is translated will determine whether your business succeeds or fails. more >>
People lie to each other everyday. In fact, people lie in one fourth of their daily social interactions. Many of these lies are harmless, but when you are doing business with someone it is important to know when they are lying to you. more >>
How effective is your "effective communication"? At one time we thought good communication at work was simply a matter of listening and turn-taking speaking skills. Today we know that is not the whole story, not by a long shot. Awareness and understanding of emotions and perceived gender tendencies can make or break your communication effectiveness. more >>
It does not serve anyone well to get upset, irritated or yell at the Drama Queen (or King). You would only be enabling the 'Drama-Queen (or King)-ness'. You would need to start by trying to understand. Perhaps, and most likely, this individual is insecure, has low self-esteem and needs constant validation. more >>
Effective communication is a must before someone purchases your product or decides to join your primary business. Referring to your primary personalities as Gems, may help you to better distinguish your strengths and weaknesses. We are all Gems in our own way. more >>
Our clients are the best and most impressive group of contributing humans and leaders that anyone could have the privilege to work with and know. Here is a sample of the questions they ask during our coaching and consulting together that keep us on our toes. more >>
There are many ways to build relationships with those working in your team. Many managers are very effective with this skill and others, well, less so. For those finding it a challenge, here are three quick tips... more >>
As managers, it's vital that we demonstrate that there are mutual benefits when we build relationships with our employees. This sets a stake in the ground for what you will deliver for them and, in turn, what they can expect to get from you (as long as you are prepared to deliver consistently). more >>
Most people are reluctant to address problems they are having with an employee, co-worker or even their boss. Yet, pretending everything is fine certainly won't improve the situation. Here are some tips on how to confront without conflict. more >>
While it's impossible to teach a person to be an effective communicator in the two minutes it will take you to read this article, there are certain commonalities that effective communicators possess. Do you think strategically about the following 10 question sets before you communicate? more >>
Organisations are increasingly waking up to the power of listening to help them change for the better. Here are some top tips for improving your listening skills. more >>
What do you do when your boss does something that negatively affects you and you have no idea why it happened or what it means? You can feel angry and intimated or you can figure out how to approach the problem and seek clarification from the boss. It may be part of a CIA plot or something as simple as a miscommunication. more >>
Negative people have a profoundly negative effect in the workplace. They are very hard to manage successfully. Every suggestion for improvement or change is met with a negative response. Everything you propose, "won't work." The people, "refuse to change." more >>
Most of us get to deal with difficult people on an everyday basis. It can be a parent, sibling, coworker, or a boss. This experience does not only stress one out, it also makes some things less enjoyable that one would actually begin to dread it. Here are a few tips on how to cope. more >>
While humor can change negative moods and put things into perspective, humor is not a guaranteed panacea. In fact, part of the usefulness of humor depends on the type of humor and how closely related in time it is to a crisis and the degree of emotional involvement there is. Hitting the right chord at the right time, humor can help with strengthening coping and energizing the other person or yourself. more >>
Over the past few months companies large and small have had to make changes to stay in the game in difficult economic times. These can leave some pretty negative feelings amongst those who remain which has to be overcome in order for the concern to survive. more >>
