Happy end of summer. If you’re planning a little vacay during the next few weeks and are game for a dollop of self-improvement with your relaxation, I’d like to suggest that you prick up your ears. Why? Read on! Active listening is a simple and highly beneficial practice that almost everyone can become better at. […]
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One of the 2020 trends is improved internal communication. The news makes me wonder: is this an amazing trend or just a fantastic goal? My gut tells me it’s a goal (not a reality) for many organizations, thus making it a “trend” . . . because improving internal communications is easier said than done, right? […]
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Trust is the foundation of good leadership and strong teamwork. Being fair and trustworthy is a leader’s first order of business. Squashing attempts by team members to create an unhealthy work environment—an environment of backstabbing, cynicism, cliques, or one-upping—is the second most important order of business. High performing leaders are good at detecting early signs […]
Read MoreDo you ask for what you want? Are you clear about your needs? I have found that if my goal is to prevent communication errors, I must: 1. keep my ego in check; 2. consider the perspective of others; and 3. assume positive intent. The rabbit prevails because he is able to do all […]
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The words we choose when taking to family, friends, co-workers or our boss impact the people around us and shape our future. The power of words cannot be underestimated. Over the last decade, while presenting on the topic of interpersonal communication, I have found seminar attendees and students to be intrigued by the potential of […]
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Last week I gave a short talk about common communication barriers. Although the list I normally present to students in the organizational behavior class I teach contains nine points, I thought it best to narrow my “list” to two when addressing a non-academic group. Interestingly, what really resonated with the audience was my discussion of […]
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It’s not surprising that Jason Headley’s recent video, above, has gone viral. It’s a hilarious take on how difficult communication between two loving people can be. Those of us who are fixers want to fix! Those of us who are talkers want to be heard! We carry our need to be a fixer or a […]
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The importance of a positive company culture is well-documented and is finally getting the attention it deserves – from business magazine articles, academic journals, and employees. The culture of a company impacts not only the organization’s overall health but also its performance. Some say that an organization’s culture is like glue – it holds the […]
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Feedback is a key concept discussed in academics and business because it is critical to the process of improvement. Just to clarify, feedback has two meanings in the world of organizational behavior. This article relates to the more commonly used meaning – feedback to explain how well an employee is meeting goals at work. However, […]
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