Category: Communication
Preparing for Pirates: Communicating Through Conflict
Each September, “Talk Like a Pirate Day” celebrates the light-hearted side of piracy—the rolling letter “rrrr’s,” the merry drinks and the adventures of life at sea. In real life, though, we occasionally run into the more traditional pirate–the one that is ready to board your boat and take your treasure…
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“Ahoy, me hearties!” Communicating with Pirates
While not likely on your official work calendar, September 19th is “Talk Like a Pirate Day,” so let’s get ready to celebrate! The holiday is whimsical and informal, celebrating a positive pop-culture vision of pirates and their unique language conventions and practices. The holiday also reminds us that to get…
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Communication Tips in a COVID World
As of this writing, COVID cases have emerged across the country, and many of us are working to communicate through shifting “new normal” conditions. Here are some quick reminder tips for planning for face-to-face communications, and for engaging in virtual interactions in these uncertain times. When planning for face-to-face communications:…
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The ABC’s of Active Listening
Let’s face it, listening is hard. We have ideas we want to share. We’ve thought this through and we know what to do. New ideas will slow us down. We need to end this meeting! And yet, most communication and leadership classes include active listening as an essential skill for…
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Become a Stronger Active Listener
Active listening is among the most sought-after skills in today’s business marketplace. Active listeners forge stronger relationships, inspire more trust and formulate better solutions than their less-engaged counterparts. Unfortunately, active listening is a skill that many claim, but few possess. The problem is that we spend so much time listening…
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Resolve Conflict with Improved Communication and Increased Emotional Intelligence
Have you ever had a disagreement at work? At one time or another, you may have had workplace conflict. Honestly, who hasn’t? Everyone has specific preferences, communication styles and differing levels of emotional intelligence. Few institutions exist where everyone gets along. Leaders need to acknowledge that organizational conflict occurs and…
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Conflict Management Best Practices
Conflict often involves both emotional and intellectual content – personal feelings, interpersonal relationships, problems to solve and decisions to be made. Here are some best practices for navigating and negotiating conflicts: Know your values. We generally engage in conflict about the things we care about. Understanding your own core values…
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Don’t Let Your Conflict Management Skills Become Extinct
Have you ever walked into the office and felt like you were walking into a dinosaur den? Roaring, grumbling, screeching personalities surrounding you and you’re just trying to stay cool and calm as the difficult people test your patience. We’ve all been there and had to deal with one of…
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Gracious Response – How to Receive Performance Feedback
You probably know one or more people who do not take kindly to receiving feedback on what they can do better. Maybe you’re one of those. Take heart—most of us are! Many people do not like the idea of being told what they’re not doing well. It’s like someone saying…
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Break the Barriers to Feedback with Better Feedback Skills
Effectively delivering and receiving performance feedback in the workplace remains one of the greatest challenges facing most managers – but it is also the fastest way to get results. Let’s look at some communication skills that can help both managers and employees maximize the benefits of feedback conversations. Curiosity is…
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