Better Communication

Business Writing, Presentation Skills Training Brings Out the Effective Communication Thinker in Us

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:46:00 +0000

Writing: An Opportunity, Not A Chore

"I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means." Joan Didion, author

The lady's right on the money. I drive the point home in all my business communication (writing skills and presentation skills) training: Writing is thinking. Don't view it as a frustrating technical exercise in grammar, a series of hurdles to trip over as you dump your jumbled thoughts on a blank legal pad or screen, hoping that they'll eventually come together in some loose confederation.

Writing allows you to think -- really think over time -- about what you know and what you might need to find out before you put your thoughts in some logical order. Please indulge me as I offer an example close to home:

I have a 19-year-old son named Will. He's a promising sophomore baseball pitcher at a fine public liberal arts college in Maine. (Fortunately, he's adopted. Had be been our biological child, he'd probably be third-string Chess Club.) Will is a decent student -- nothing exceptional, but shrewd enough to use the English language in ways that satisfy his professors.

When he was in high school, we used to talk back and forth about his pitching tactics, which I found riveting because baseball is far and away my favorite sport. But talk is usually spontaneous and anecdotal, and doesn't always frame itself into a context that takes in precedents and projects future behavior.

Now our contact is mostly by email, which turns Will into a practical (non-academic) writer who knows that the usual abbreviated electronic lingo young people pass back and forth won't work for someone of my generation. So now when I ask him how baseball practice is going, he has to think, which led last spring to the best "conversation" we've ever had about pitching. Here's what he wrote after I inquired about a practice session:

"I was receiving a lot of advice and help from older guys, so I needed to filter the stuff that was going to help me and the stuff I could fix another time...I just kept the fastball knee-high, outside corner, which has got me here. I have also gained enough confidence to throw inside...I messed around with some grips, so now I have a tailing fastball and a running fastball, sort of like a cutter/forkball...My changeup sucked yesterday...I need to work on the grip and [get] more practice spotting it.

"So to answer your question, the last guys I started with curves or outside or inside fastballs. Then worked a harder fastball up in the zone or maybe another curve outside. Then I would just blow one by or maybe throw a deuce [curve] that would fall in for a strike. They were all strike three-looking, so they watched the fastball or then watched the curve."

Never before in the six or seven years he's been pitching competitively has Will put so much thought into any discussion we've had on mound tactics -- itself a form of on-the-spot analysis matched in sports only by golf when it comes to creative judgments. (Again, the crucial element is having the time.) The writing challenge allowed him to put it all together and think about where he is and where he wants to be.

Email does the same for all of us. It turns us into writers, an unmatched opportunity to show just how smart we really are.

Stop Yelling At Me

That's right. I'm not looking to buy a used car at unbelievable rock-bottom prices or send in $19.95 for an amazing gadget that'll suck food residue out of the bottom of the dishwasher and double as a self-administered dental hygiene device. Shouting may work (it must work; else why would they keep doing it?) for car pitch men or guys with British accents hawking the latest techno-mop on cable TV, but that doesn't mean you have to yell.

No, when it comes to presentation or public speaking skills, what I teach in seminars is straightforward: Be yourself.

I recently sat through a breakfast meeting presentation by a renowned local motivational speaker who irritated the stuffing out of me. So excited was he about his secrets of small business success that his voice quickly turned into a hoarse rant well beyond the acoustical limits of a medium-size church hall.

It didn't stop there. As he turned to and from a flip chart in a frenzied rush, he couldn't keep his hands from jerking up in tandem with every point he made. Inside 10 minutes, he was reaching for a handkerchief to wipe perspiration from his face on what was a cool late-summer morning.

As you may have guessed, I was distracted and lost track of his message. The gestures, the pace, the visible results of exertion, they all kept me from listening closely to what were probably valuable lessons about management.

(By the way, I do give him credit for using the flip chart. Had he throttled back on his tone and gestures and kept eye contact around the room, we would have followed him with eyes and ears as he turned to the flip chart to make key points. That's a far cry from PowerPoint, where the lights go down, eye contact fades into the gloom and the speaker stands there, transfixed by the need to keep turning away from us and reading from the huge, domineering screen.)

The key, again, is to be yourself. Not too long ago, I guided a VA hospital CEO in the Midwest through a videotaped "60 Minutes"-type interview, with a few "gotcha" questions thrown in for good measure. Being a quiet, almost bashful professional, she found that she could relax and speak in a normal tone of voice that projected self-assurance and competence. The result pleased her and she came to accept and control her natural nervousness.

Please visit my website at http://www.davegriffithscommunications.com, where you'll find that I've worked with a variety of government, nonprofit and private-sector clients on business communication skills -- from effective writing to presentation skills to media relations.
I travel widely to do writing and media and presentation skills training for clients ranging from the U.S. Coast Guard to the Red Cross to the Department of Homeland Security to the Veterans Administration to the National Nuclear Security Administration to Navy SEALs to senior executives at a variety of federal agencies to businesses that need help with technical writing and written sales proposals.
My professional background is journalism, having reported for the Kansas City Star and covered national security for several publications, including Business Week magazine. After leaving Washington, I was a member of the Penn State journalism faculty for six years. I have a degree in English from the University of Virginia and a masters in journalism from the University of Missouri, and served as a U.S. Army field artillery officer in Germany and Vietnam.
I live with my wife and two sons in a small town in Maine, where I publish a municipal newsletter and chair a school board.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Griffiths

Simple Business Communication Tips For Wedding Services

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:48:00 +0000

Many businesses compete to captivate customer's attention everyday, making it hard for you to communicate your messages effectively. Like all other businesses, your wedding services need to reach out to as many people as possible. This can be done by promoting your services through various communication channels like television, radio, and print. The key to achieving effective communication is by keeping all things simplified, straightforward, and concise.

• Answer questions. Aside from promoting your services, your marketing medium should also provide answers to make it beneficial and valuable for customers. Instead of keeping clients guessing, provide answers to their questions. Whether you are inviting clients to attend your bridal fair or to try your wedding services, you must supply all essential information so as not to mislead them.

• Engage your readers. Engaging your clients to read your marketing copy is as important as attracting their attention. Once you captivate their attention, you must motivate them to continue reading on. Make your message friendly and conversational instead of trying to sound like a serious and boring business professional. Photos work wonders to any marketing medium, so use wedding photos that sell. Give your clients a clear picture of what your wedding services can offer them to pique their interest.

• Create distinction for your business. In this crowded business industry, you must learn how to differentiate yourself. Come up with an innovative marketing campaign and send your message in a unique and memorable way. Focus on the features of your business that other wedding services do not offer. For instance, you can put emphasis on your out-of-the-box wedding invitation designs. Provide clients with samples of your unique work as proof of the quality service you offer. Opt for online printers that provide quality wedding envelope printing and postcard invitations. Professional printers print wedding envelopes and postcard invitations perfect for presenting your sample designs to clients.

Communicating with your clients comes easy if you are armed with the appropriate marketing tools and are able to send your message to the right people. Remember that simplified communication works better than long and complicated marketing message. Always think of yourself as a client so you'll know what communication strategy works for them.

More topics on Wedding Envelope Printing can be found at Print Wedding Envelopes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gina_Nuqui

Can Business VoIP Handle Corporate Communications?

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:49:00 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol is making a rapid entry into society. Vonage, well known the world over, is at the forefront pushing VoIP as an alternative to traditional home telephone services offered by companies like AT&T and Verizon. There are even devices on the market that will connect your phone to your computer, allowing you to make phone calls via your high-speed Internet connection. With VoIP being touted as the future of communications, can it really make the transition into the corporate environment?

A business communications system is a much larger and more complex entity than a home phone network. Businesses require separate extensions, dial-by-name directories, the ability to transfer calls to other users and numerous other features not needed in a home environment. Up until now, companies needed to purchase their own pricy PBX unit from a telephone hardware vendor and contract with expensive phone system specialists to deploy it and keep it running. Can VoIP providers handle the complexity of all of these extra features?

Business VoIP providers have tailored their product to work just as well as the PBXes offered by the established telephone giants. These VoIP providers offer separate extensions, voicemail features and call transferability, among other things. They even provide for advanced features such as an auto-attendant to answer incoming calls, ACD queues to manage multiple calls at the same time and conference bridges that allow multiple people to talk with each other on the same call. Most providers even have or are developing E911 abilities.

And what's more, companies that use a hosted business VoIP product for their telephone system enjoy the added advantage of not having to take care of bulky, complicated telecom equipment! The hosted PBX provider handles that- and reputable providers have dedicated and knowledgeable staff members to look after the equipment on a daily basis. By not having a PBX in your office, you can avoid all of the hassle of making sure the system is working, and all of the stress when something goes wrong.

Furthermore, your business can save bundles of money by not having to purchase a PBX, which can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. By subscribing to a hosted business voip provider, you will only have to pay a low monthly charge (per user or per features enabled, depending on the VoIP provider) to use the service. And there are also savings to be had from the low price per minute for phone calls, averaging 2 to 3 cents per minute. VoIP is incredibly cheaper than traditional telephone calls, essentially due to the fact that VoIP calls 'piggyback' on your company's Internet connection.

VoIP is well-situated to handle business communications. From the features offered, to the savings incurred, a hosted PBX solution is very appealing for any small to medium-sized company. You trust your high-speed data connection to handle your Internet needs, why not trust it to handle your voice communications as well? The only thing you have to lose is the extra telephone equipment!

OnSIP Hosted PBX is a complete business VoIP service delivered over the Internet. In use by thousands of businesses today, you can sign up and receive a 30 Day FREE trial of the hosted voip service!

Joseph DeBari
Junction Networks

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_DeBari

Business Communication - The Latest 5 Big Secrets to Energize Your Workplace Communication

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:17:00 +0000

Would you like your business communications to become more attention-grabbing and to sound more impacting? Here's what you need to do:

1. Set your goals. Before you even start tapping on your key board, determine your goals for writing a specific business communication first. Would you like to inform? Would you like to urge people to act? Would you like to remind everyone about an existing business policy? Would you like to motivate your employees? Knowing what you would like to achieve beforehand is very important as your goal can help you determine the information you need to include and the elements that you are going to use to achieve desired results.

2. Create a draft. Create a bullet list of all the things that you would like to communicate. It's not really important to pay attention to your grammar and spelling at this point. The idea here is to capture everything that you want to say. You can edit later.

3. Use simple terms. Take into consideration the level of comprehension of your intended audience and the words that they can easily relate with. Use these words and their language when writing your business communications to promote easy understanding.

4. Proofread. Aside from running your business communications on your grammar and spell checkers, I recommend that you also manually proofread them to make sure that they are free from grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling errors.

5. Solicit feedback. Before you make your business communication available to your intended audience, show it first to a couple of third party who can give you unbiased feedback. Ask these people if your messages are easy to understand.

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Sean Mize teaches coaches, consultants, and small business owners how to package their knowledge and sell it in high priced coaching, consulting, and online class packages, and is an expert at using articles like this to drive traffic to his website, and has taught hundreds of clients his secrets. Sean says "If you have an existing marketable service or skill that you can teach others, I can teach you to package it into a high-priced class or coaching program, guaranteed"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize

Effective Communication in Relation to Business Management

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:16:00 +0000

Effective leadership is where one efficiently relates to the people he/she is leading. Dealing with people calls for good communication skills. Relaying of information is therefore vital in ensuring sound management especially in a business setting.

An organization can be more efficient depending on the systems it uses to inform its members of what is expected of them. Communication will assist reinforce cohesiveness and create a momentum towards business goal attainment.

From the managerial perspective, communication is important because it's a means by which managers in an organization collect and disseminates information. It is also a way of achieving co-ordination and co-operation.

Relaying of information is the foundation of ensuring a successful business organization. It is vital for the working of an organization just as the way blood is in the human body. The success of any managerial function depends on effective modes of relaying or transmitting information. Communication aids in unifying and managing activities. This way behavior is modified, change is effected and goals are accomplished. Therefore, proper transmission of information, ideas and decisions is a basic necessity for management.

It is advisable to have cost effectiveness when it comes to communication. Any management seeking to succeed should also have different approaches to relaying information. Installing of systems like the intranet will greatly assist in relaying information within an organization.

In order for a manager to perform the functions of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling, he will require perfect communication systems to be put in place. Even when it comes to handling suppliers and customers an excellent manager must find ways to guarantee effective communication.

Belsheba is a business management expert. She researches and studies on big and small business strategies. Website: Business Management Solutions for efficient business operation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Belsheba_Nyabwa

Effective Communication Skills in the Business World

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:17:00 +0000

Communication is the key that unlocks the potential of all people undertaking businesses. Two can never walk together unless they agree. Communication is the sure way of keeping in touch in the business world.

At the work place, bosses can give instruction to their juniors even when they are out of the office. But it is important to know how to clearly communicate to your juniors to ensure duties are performed effectively.

Lack of clear protocol at times leads to mismanagement. Sometime junior staffs fail to understand their tasks due to lack of clear guidelines of how to perform their duties. Big companies have a way of assembling their workers to brief them over daily or weekly duties to be undertaken. Failures to offer good leadership through communication, businesses tend to bend on either side of making profits or losing. All this can be blamed to lack of clear communication skills.

Some juniors especially, lack motivation to perform their duties because of being mishandled by their equal colleagues as they take up their respective responsibilities.

Business people should make every effort to embrace sound communication skills in their business. For example, advertise your products or services through affordable means like using small brochures, radios and banners. Talk constantly about the products you are offering, keep advertising over and over again until when people think of any product close to what you are offering, they will run to you. Efficient marketing strategy calls for an entrepreneur to relay relevant information clearly to the target audience.

All in all, communicating to your staffs, suppliers and customers will ensure a smooth flow of business operations. Successful businesses worldwide have embraced effective communication skills that have ensured that they stay afloat in the current competitive market.

Stephen is a Business expert. He researches and studies on small business strategies . Website: Business Management Tips for sound business operations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Kavita

Business Communication - 3 Ways to Do It

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:20:00 +0000

What if you discovered how easy it is to communicate with your clients and boost your trust, relationship and expertise in their eyes?

Here are 3 simple steps to get you started...

Step 1 - Communicate via email using autoresponder.

Step 2 - Use the massive power of telephone through teleseminars.

Step 3 - Setup a highly powerful webinar and provide them an audio visual presentation.

Here are step by step details that you can apply quickly and easily...

Step 1 - Communicate via email using autoresponder.

Auto responder is the most powerful marketing tool to help you to setup your e-mail marketing campaign. It is also a very powerful tool that will help you to communicate with your subscribers on a regular basis and helps them provide quality information through e-mail. This will help you to build solid relationship with them.

You can also use the power of telephone to communicate with your clients and boost your relationship with them...

Step 2 - Use the massive power of telephone through teleseminars.

There are many services that will help you to conduct a simple seminar where you can present powerful content and information to your clients using telephone and interact with all of them using a simple centralized conference system.

This will easily help you to boost your trust factor with your clients and boost your relationship with them as well as provide them quality content and help them out to solve their problems.

You can also conduct an audiovisual presentation to explain your clients some complicated concepts...

Step 3 - Setup a highly powerful webinar and provide them an audio visual presentation.

Webinar is a powerful online presentation where your clients can watch your computer screen as well as hear your voice. They can actually see live as to what you are doing on your computer and this can help you to easily explain them some technical topics very easily.

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Sean Mize teaches coaches, consultants, and small business owners how to package their knowledge and sell it in high priced coaching, consulting, and online class packages. Sean says "If you have an existing marketable service or skill that you can teach others, I can teach you to package it into a high-priced class or coaching program, guaranteed"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize

Top 5 Trends in Business Computing

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:22:00 +0000

Technology moves fast, but it changes faster. You use technology to keep up with your co-workers, and ultimately to keep up with your competitors. All this speed can make a person dizzy if you are not out ahead of the curve. Understanding trends in technology can mean the difference between increasing revenue on the one hand and a failed business model on the other. In this article, I will help put you out in front of the curve by showing you what is on the horizon in business computing. Some of the trends I discuss are already here, but they are in the beginning stages of implementation. Either way, in understanding these trends, you will be light years ahead of your competitors who don't.

Trend #1: Cloud Computing is the wave of the future

Centralizing your data and applications on the internet, or cloud computing, is probably the single most important paradigm shift going on today. Instead of operating a LAN (local area network), with all of its connected workstations and security concerns, you do everything on a hosted internet solution. Gone are the old security problems of connecting a network to the internet, since your whole operation is already on the internet. Users interface with the data using what is called thin-client technology, or what are essentially dummy machines. These new age workstations don't store anything on the hard drive, they just interact with the data and applications which are already online.

Trend #2: Mobile Computing is here to stay

If you can't answer emails on your smartphone, you need to catch up with today's technology. The trend of computing using portable smart devices like BlackBerry and iPhone is here. In the future, there will be greater and greater functionality offered in these mobile devices as the number of available applications explodes. Your business will be done on the go, in real time, without the need for later synchronization. Business communication has gone portable and it's time you join the trend!

Trend #3: Social Networking is the new paradigm of business communication

Does your business have marketing tools which utilize sites like Facebook and Twitter? Open sharing and transparency of data are the new trend in communication. A number of companies including Best Buy have ad campaigns which utilize Twitter. At the heart of this trend is the inherent power of a set of socially networked individuals, whatever the platform. Businesses will be creating environments like this on their intranets for their employees, to share ideas and solve problems like never before.

Trend #4: Trendy new products include the Netbook

You may have seen them around. A small (10 inches!) laptop computer designed for wireless communication and internet access. A number of manufacturers are hot on this trend trying to produce the perfect mobile internet device. This product has synergy with the cloud, as it is well suited for remotely accessing web based applications. This type of product will be developed further as the future in the cloud looms.

Trend #5: It's a virtual new world

Virtualization of servers, sort of like one server impersonating 5 servers, and pulling it off, is the new world of network computing. It's virtual reality for business. Which would you rather do, spend $100,000 on 4 new servers, or install software that creates 5 servers in 1? This cost effective way of handling the deluge of data in business today is just another trend with which you must contend.

Do you need someone to help you manage these trends in your business? Contact us at, http://www.multipointnetwork.com. We can help you understand and profit at the speed of technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_Johnson

Assertive Communication - 6 Tips For Effective Use

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:25:00 +0000

What IS assertive communication?

Assertive communication is the ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest and direct way. It recognises our rights whilst still respecting the rights of others. It allows us to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions without judging or blaming other people. And it allows us to constructively confront and find a mutually satisfying solution where conflict exists.

So why use assertive communication?

All of us use assertive behaviour at times... quite often when we feel vulnerable or unsure of ourselves we may resort to submissive, manipulative or aggressive behaviour.

Yet being trained in assertive communication actually increases the appropriate use of this sort of behaviour. It enables us to swap old behaviour patterns for a more positive approach to life. I've found that changing my response to others (be they work colleagues, clients or even my own family) can be exciting and stimulating.

The advantages of assertive communication

There are many advantages of assertive communication, most notably these:

It helps us feel good about ourselves and others
It leads to the development of mutual respect with others
It increases our self-esteem
It helps us achieve our goals
It minimises hurting and alienating other people
It reduces anxiety
It protects us from being taken advantage of by others
It enables us to make decisions and free choices in life
It enables us to express, both verbally and non-verbally, a wide range of feelings and thoughts, both positive and negative

There are, of course, disadvantages...

Disadvantages of assertive communication

Others may not approve of this style of communication, or may not approve of the views you express. Also, having a healthy regard for another person's rights means that you won't always get what YOU want. You may also find out that you were wrong about a viewpoint that you held. But most importantly, as mentioned earlier, it involves the risk that others may not understand and therefore not accept this style of communication.

What assertive communication is not...

Assertive communication is definately NOT a lifestyle! It's NOT a guarantee that you will get what you want. It's definately NOT an acceptable style of communication with everyone, but at least it's NOT being aggressive.

But it IS about choice

Four behavioural choices

There are, as I see it, four choices you can make about which style of communication you can employ. These types are:

direct aggression: bossy, arrogant, bulldozing, intolerant, opinionated, and overbearing
indirect aggression: sarcastic, deceiving, ambiguous, insinuating, manipulative, and guilt-inducing
submissive: wailing, moaning, helpless, passive, indecisive, and apologetic
assertive: direct, honest, accepting, responsible, and spontaneous

Characteristics of assertive communication

There are six main characteristics of assertive communication. These are:

eye contact: demonstrates interest, shows sincerity
body posture: congruent body language will improve the significance of the message
gestures: appropriate gestures help to add emphasis
voice: a level, well modulated tone is more convincing and acceptable, and is not intimidating
timing: use your judgement to maximise receptivity and impact
content: how, where and when you choose to comment is probably more important than WHAT you say

The importance of "I" statements

Part of being assertive involves the ability to appropriately express your needs and feelings. You can accomplish this by using "I" statements. These indicate ownership, do not attribute blame, focuses on behaviour, identifies the effect of behaviour, is direcdt and honest, and contributes to the growth of your relationship with each other.

Strong "I" statements have three specific elements:

Behaviour
Feeling
Tangible effect (consequence to you)

Example: "I feel frustrated when you are late for meetings. I don't like having to repeat information."

Six techniques for assertive communication

There are six assertive techniques - let's look at each of them in turn.

1. Behaviour Rehearsal: which is literally practising how you want to look and sound. It is a very useful technique when you first want to use "I" statements, as it helps dissipate any emotion associated with an experience and allows you to accurately identify the behaviour you wish to confront.

2. Repeated Assertion (the 'broken record'): this technique allows you to feel comfortable by ignoring manipulative verbal side traps, argumentative baiting and irrelevant logic while sticking to your point. To most effectively use this technique use calm repetition, and say what you want and stay focused on the issue. You'll find that there is no need to rehearse this technique, and no need to 'hype yourself up' to deal with others.

Example:
"I would like to show you some of our products"
"No thank you, I'm not interested"
"I really have a great range to offer you"
"That may be true, but I'm not interested at the moment"
"Is there someone else here who would be interested?"
"I don't want any of these products"
"Okay, would you take this brochure and think about it?"
"Yes, I will take a brochure"
"Thank you"
"You're welcome"

3. Fogging: this technique allows you to receive criticism comfortably, without getting anxious or defensive, and without rewarding manipulative criticism. To do this you need to acknowledge the criticism, agree that there may be some truth to what they say, but remain the judge of your choice of action. An example of this could be, "I agree that there are probably times when I don't give you answers to your questions.

4. Negative enquiry: this technique seeks out criticism about yourself in close relationships by prompting the expression of honest, negative feelings to improve communication. To use if effectively you need to listen for critical comments, clarify your understanding of those criticisms, use the information if it will be helpful or ignore the information if it is manipulative. An example of this technique would be, "So you think/believe that I am not interested?"

5. Negative assertion: this technique lets you look more comfortably at negatives in your own behaviour or personality without feeling defensive or anxious, this also reduces your critics' hostility. You should accept your errors or faults, but not apologise. Instead, tentatively and sympathetically agree with hostile criticism of your negative qualities. An example would be, "Yes, you're right. I don't always listen closely to what you have to say."

6. Workable compromise: when you feel that your self-respect is not in question, consider a workable compromise with the other person. You can always bargain for your material goals unless the compromise affects your personal feelings of self-respect. However, if the end goal involves a matter of your self-worth and self-respect, THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE. An example of this technique would be, "I understand that you have a need to talk and I need to finish what I'm doing. So what about meeting in half an hour?"

Conclusion

Assertiveness is a useful communication tool. It's application is contextual and it's not appropriate to be assertive in all situations. Remember, your sudden use of assertiveness may be perceived as an act of aggression by others.

There's also no guarantee of success, even when you use assertive communication styles appropriately.

"Nothing on earth can stop the individual with the right mental attitude from achieving their goal; nothing on earth can help the individual with the wrong mental attitude" W.W. Ziege

When you match consumer psychology with effective communication styles you get a powerful combination. Lee Hopkins can show you how to communicate better for better business results. At Hopkins-Business-Communication-Training.com you can find the secrets to communication success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins

6 Tips on Dealing With Conflict at Work

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:03:00 +0000

Every organization has a staff with a diverse set of personalities, backgrounds and experiences. Conflict is inevitable in organizational settings when people who are extremely different work together on a daily basis. Whether it is a clash of personalities, a misunderstanding, or disagreement in the work itself, there are constructive ways to approach these situations. Conflict is often seen as a negative occurrence, which is not necessarily true. It can be an opportunity to open the door for communication, to learn something new about another individual, or find a more effective way of working. Here are some tips that may help you in the next confrontation.

#1 Do not use verbal aggression
If someone were to physically assault you, your first instinct is to defend yourself. It is no different when being verbally assaulted. If a co-worker accuses or blames you, you instinctively guard yourself from the attack. Retaliation or responding with a verbal attack is common. If you believe you are not at fault, be sure to communicate that without the use of personal attacks or defensiveness. This may be difficult in the moment, especially if you are being accused of something you know is not true, or if you are blatantly insulted. However you are more likely to get the point across if the other person does not feel threatened. Maintain your maturity and professionalism, no matter the outcome, instigation will not help the situation.

#2 Be open
Misunderstandings are often the cause of these conflicts. If a message involves a line of communication involving many people, information can be lost, or messages can be misinterpreted. Be open to the fact that there may be something you do not know, or that the other person may have a point although you may be right. Be open to creating a discussion about fixing the problem, instead of pointing the finger. This is when conflict can be useful. By listening, understanding, and if possible, sympathizing with the other person, the argument can become a discussion. This is an opportunity to create a flow of new ideas, which can not only solve the problem at hand, but prevent future disagreements, and strengthen your work relationship.

#3 Focus on the problem
It is very easy to point the finger or play the blame game when trouble arises. As easy as it is, it is not useful or productive. The main concern is to find a solution to the problem, not to determine who was wrong. If it pertains to the issue it hand, stating who did what may clarify the problem as a whole. If the problem is related to the work itself, keep the conversation focused on exactly what is wrong, and what can be done to fix it. If conversation leans towards accusations, lead it back to a safe space where both parties are focused on ideas. If the problem is regarding the work relationship, do not focus on the person's faults. Talk about what can be done to effectively work together. If you must tell someone you think they are at fault, do not use insults, and explain how it is affecting the work.

#4 Stay cool
In heated situations, we have a tendency to speak first and think after. This results in aggression which aggravate the conflict. Instead, pause before you speak, think about what the person has said to you, and respond appropriately. By giving yourself this time to think, you cool down, and you are less likely to speak with anger. A lot of the time, the other person wants to argue for the sake of arguing. When you stay calm, they will see their tactics are not useful, and will either give up or choose to talk as calmly as you are. You will also be able to come up with a more insightful reply that can lead the argument into a discussion.

#5 Find a common ground
If people have a common ground, working together to reach it can be less troublesome. Determine what you really want, and try to determine what the other person is looking for. Use this information to align your desired outcome with theirs. It is easier to open up to someone and share your true thoughts and ideas, if you know that they want what you want.

#6 Tell a supervisor
If all else fails, telling a manager or supervisor may be the best option. If this is the course you choose, be sure to explain how you tried to fix the problem before approaching them. They want to know you can work independently and at least made an effort. Be sure to show them how the resolution of this conflict will ultimately help them. They do not need to know who was at fault in the situation, but if the work is being affected, and you can prove this, they are going to step in and help change it. Explain the problem clearly, and the benefits for the manager or the company as a whole if the problem is worked out.

Most of the time, when conflict arises, there is no way to avoid it. The result is based on how we approach it. Once you accept that conflict is unavoidable, it no longer is a problem. Instead, it becomes chance to change an inefficiency or strengthen a relationship. By keeping communication open, being aware of the present situation, and not concentrating on winning, coming to a resolution that benefits both parties can be achieved.

Adam is a human resources professional who provides communication coaching and consulting services to individuals and organizations to help them achieve success by improving their interpersonal skills, increasing their confidence in social situations, and becoming highly effective communicators. With his experience and education in training, recruiting, and communication, he has acquired a great understanding of social interaction, and uses this knowledge to help others build their skills. Visit his weblog at http://www.coachadamyoung.com

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5 Reasons Why Your Boss Hates You

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:01:00 +0000

I was with a group of recently appointed IT managers and we struck the conversation thread of our relationships with our boss. I just love it when people begin to talk about the subjects that matter to them.

The group shared their thoughts on how they have suffered from a bad relationships with their boss, and more to the point, how their relationships turned sour in the first place. It was such an interesting (and enlightening) conversation that I am sharing with you what I learned.

I distilled the conversations down to 5 reasons why your boss might hate you (although there maybe more, these are the biggies)

You are a Threat
If your boss believes you pose a threat to their job then they could turn nasty. If you walk around with a halo on your head (put there by your peers, or even your manager's peers or superiors) then this could be perceived as dangerous to your boss.

This goes beyond the belief of your boss that you are after their job. By building up a strong profile inside your organization, which I fully recommend, it is likely that you a pedestal is also being built underneath you. If your profile creates support and sponsorship by senior members of your organization, then the likelihood of being knocked off is reduced, but there always remains the potential of being sniped off by a jealous boss.

If you suspect that this is the case, then you have a choice - continue as you are and live with the glory and the threat, or share your halo with your boss by ensuring that they always get 10% of the credit. (Number is arbitrary!). You do this by always mentioning their support and guidance as you achieve greatness.

You are Too Political
Politics is a banner of many behaviors, but roughly I am suggesting that your manager may get pissed off with you if you don't consistently align with the truth and behave like 'all things to all people'. Politics has its place, but over-emphasis on truth-economies can create distrust between you and your manager. Think about it: if they see you as a skilful player with your peers, then what do they read into your relationship?

If you're in a politically charged environment (despite best will, this does happen) then it's always best to disclose your political game plan with your boss. Even if they don't play too, at least they know what you're trying to achieve. Create a version of the truth that you both align to and will work together to achieve. Personally, I prefer work without politics, but if you must engage in politics then it's important to have the support of your manager.

You are Not Political Enough
The flipside to the above, and probably a more likely situation. The higher you climb the pole, the greasier it gets.

Your manager may be playing many angles and operating in grey-areas to achieve an outcome... only for you to come along with an honest and transparent communication to destroy their game-plan.

My feelings towards this are clear - this is your manager's fault and if they don't involve you in the game (or at least tell you where the goal-posts are) then that is their problem. Nevertheless, your lack of awareness, or refusal to play, can build up bad feelings which are likely not to be expressed. Your boss's hatred of you will seem irrational and may be sensed but not directly manifested.

There isn't much you can do in these situations. Sometimes, a direct challenge might work but the same political behaviour will be applied in your manager's response.

Lack of Rapport
Rapport is the X-factor in a relationship. When two people have rapport, they get along very well and the relationship flourishes. This happens when you and your manager perceive situations, and people, in similar ways and you make similar decisions and judgments based on that perception. Communication is effective. There is cohesion. It's a foundation of trust.

What about the lack of rapport? The opposite of the above is true. Relationships die at the point of inception when two people can't communicate effectively or agree on anything. When two people have two parametrically opposite personality traits, then building rapport is almost impossible. If you are a positive person, but your boss is negative, then it will be tough. If you are introvert, but your manager is extrovert, then it will be tough. Get the picture?

I don't recommend trying to be a person you are not, in order to overcome this. You will come unstuck at some point, and to be frank, you will be miserable and stressed. The best way forward, when faced with this problem, is to just keep working at it. A lack of rapport will diminish over time providing that you and your manager are trying to achieve the same thing. It will be a bumpy road - so expect that - but eventually it will smooth out.

You Don't Do What Your Manager Expects You To Do
Have you become upset when a mechanic didn't fix the problem with your car? How about when your credit card company didn't switch off payment protection, even when you ticked the option? It's the same when you don't do what you said you would do. Your manager gets pissed.

In modern organizations, strategic goals are cascaded from the most senior executives to junior employees. Your manager's objectives are dependent on you achieving your objectives... and so on. If you don't achieve your goals, your manager doesn't too.

Worse still, your manager's reputation can be drawn through the mud. Your failure could be a direct hit on your boss's credibility. If this failure is caused by forgetfulness, or bad judgment, or incompetence then you can expect your manager to be upset with you. Persistent failure like this can lead to total hatred!

A more dangerous ground to tread on is when you're going hell for leather for a goal that is different to the one your manager expects. It's dangerous because the point of realization that your expectations are different is towards the end of the project or assignment. You might get into this situation if you and your boss haven't built rapport.

This situation may be a deliberate coup by your manager if they're playing political games or if they perceive you as a threat. Unless your objectives are clearly understood in the same way between you, your manager has a ticket to call foul at any point.

Truth is, managers rarely resort to these shenanigans, but much more common is a surprise moment a long way into an assignment when both of you realize your mistake of a difference in expectation. This is why it's vital that you and your manager agree specifics, with little (or no) room for different interpretation. Especially so if your performance management, and your bonus, depends upon it.

I believe that total alignment of expectations is the only way to avoid pissing off your boss, and indeed achieving what they expect from you. I recommend you take a look at your current assignments now and check with your manager that your intended output is what he or she expects.

The author of this article Simon Stapleton is a coach helping Information Technology professionals with their Career Development, Commercial Development and Personal Development. He has 15 years in the IT Industry and shares his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.simonstapleton.com You can sign up for his free newsletter to enjoy Development too.

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Creating Community Discourse - Moving From Debate to Dialogue

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Building a new bandstand that is handicapped accessible
Locating a new homeless shelter
Developing plans for rural land use
Widening a street to allow for more bicycle traffic
Creating a new governance charter for a municipality
Constructing a new school and/or renovating an existing one
Determining whether or not a proposed construction project fits within the architectural character of the neighborhood

What do all these community projects have in common? Each one is undertaken with the intent to create a better future and expanded opportunities for the given community, and each one will face challenges to moving forward successfully. Undoubtedly, there will be someone for each of these projects who will raise questions and concerns about the appropriateness and/or intent of the project. It is at this point that progress is typically stymied.

We often hear that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts, so why is it that we struggle so hard in our communities to move forward? Shouldn't we be able to reap the benefit of so many creative minds coming together to solve a problem? What is it that prevents us from moving forward constructively?

For starters, most of us are held hostage to a traditional, linear approach to problem solving - the idea that there is one right solution. Often a well-intentioned board or committee has toiled diligently to come up with such a solution. That "solution" is then presented to the public for feedback, and, more often than not, the public perceives it as a done deal. As a result, they fight back. The whole situation deteriorates into a win-lose debate or sometimes a lose-lose debate. As Meg Wheatley so succinctly put it in Leadership and the New Science, "People support what they create... No one is successful if they merely present a plan in finished form to others. It doesn't matter how brilliant or correct the plan is. It simply doesn't work to ask people to sign on when they haven't been involved in the planning process."

To be sure, involving community members in the planning process can be both frustrating and intimidating. Most of the people we want at the table often don't show up for a variety of reasons; those who do are often the same faces we see over and over again. I have heard many a board lament the fact that no one attends board meetings to provide public comment, and yet they continue to engage with the public is the same old way. What we need is to strike a balance between encouraging public participation and taking civic responsibility more seriously, and we need to do it more creatively.

Rather than using approaches that create debate, communities need to focus on fostering dialogue. Techniques such as Café Conversations, Study Circles, Open Space Technology, Future Search Conference, and Appreciative Inquiry are just a few of the methods designed to create space for dialogue in communities. The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation can provide a comprehensive list of these techniques. The technique, however, is less important than the environment. Each of these techniques has the following characteristics in common:

Using inquiry rather than advocacy: The most effective method for creating productive and constructive dialogue is to ask about another's perspective before explaining your own. Most of us are accustomed to entering into a discussion with our defenses securely in place. What this means is that we often do not hear what others are saying. By balancing advocacy with inquiry, we take as much time to understand the points of view of others as we do in explaining our own point of view.

Testing assumptions: Assumptions about people's intent or what is going on often create reinforcing patterns of behavior that can hinder us from reaching the most effective solutions. In fact, they can be downright destructive. When people engage in dialogue that puts a human face on the issue, it becomes easier to recognize our assumptions and challenge them. In doing so, we begin to shift our thinking. Even the slightest shift opens up new possibilities, avoiding the "one perfect solution" trap.

Looking for common ground: Many of the issues communities deal with are highly emotional, so finding areas of agreement are critical to keeping a sense of forward progress. At times when it seems like there is a giant chasm between perspectives, the common ground that can be established becomes a ray of hope and the foundation upon which to build a sustainable solution. As the thinking begins to shift, the size of the common ground grows. It is critical to focus on agreements rather than on disagreements.

Focusing on outcomes: Success in any community dialogue effort means committing the time and resources to developing a sustainable solution, not an easy task in today's climate. It is all too easy to jump to the quick fix without clearly defining long term outcomes. However, communities must resist that sense of urgency and place their emphasis on the integrity of the process.

Is this an easy task? No. Does it take a lot of time and effort? Yes. Is it worth it? The community will have to answer that question. It appears, however, that the current approaches are taking their toll, so why not try something new? A community's ability to focus on the long-term and to engage their citizens in a constructive, open, and respectful process will enable them to reap benefits for years to come. Now that's a balancing act worth achieving!

Marty Jacobs, president of Systems In Sync, has been teaching and consulting for almost twenty years, applying a systems thinking approach to organizations. She currently provides strategic planning and policy governance expertise for the Vermont School Boards Association and has worked with several school districts to engage them in community conversations. In the nonprofit sector, Marty provides strategic planning, board leadership training, Policy Governance implementation, community engagement facilitation, and staff development. Additionally, Marty has served on a variety of nonprofit, professional, and school boards over the past twenty years. Marty has also written articles for Vermont Business Magazine and the American School Board Journal on topics related to organizational learning, systems thinking, and community engagement. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Marty received her M.S. in Organization and Management from Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, NH.

http://www.systemsinsync.com/

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Culture and Business Communication

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:52:00 +0000

In business the most valuable thing would be information and for it to be transferred from one body to the other, communication is the vital element that drives such process. But when the communication comes to certain influenced by culture, it is a whole new chapter to be understood.

International businesses are facing a new dilemma whereby cross-cultural communication is introduced due to the major reforms brought about through internationalization, merging and joint ventures. This would make culture an important aspect when it comes to business communication.

Lack of understanding or investment in cross-cultural training would lead to major business problems. Such as loss of clients, poor staff motivation, lack of team building, internal conflicts, and poor productivity. These are all only the icing of the by-products of poor cross-cultural communication.

International companies with highly diverse workforce in terms of nationality and cultural background all face the same problem when conflict arises from the difference of culture, language, value, belief, business ethic, behavior, and cultural etiquettes.

Such conflict could prove to be a negative impact on the business mainly in team cohesion and staff productivity. Cross-cultural communication problems can manifest into the downfalls of big international companies when taken lightly. That is why more and more companies have realized such dilemma and are upgrading intercultural communication skills within its organization.

Cross-cultural consultants and intercultural team builders are summoned to deal with such dilemma as technology and science is improving by the second. Communication within companies is now more efficient and fast phones, fax and various other means of communication tools are invented closing in on the barriers of distance but introduces cross-cultural communication awareness.

Other than the differences of culture in the company, the company's working culture is also important as the company's culture projects the company's managerial abilities. Company's culture depends on how it views its staff and departments; does it see it as a close or open system? For example when one works in the engineering department and one works in the HR department, is there cross communications of synergy between the two departments?? If there isn't this means lack of communication is at present and team building is vital in improving such situations.

Such situations are usually endorsed by joint ventures and mergers of two separate cross-cultural companies whereby co-operation is required for their commitment to an open system. Without a doubt, most companies are form or merged in the expectations of better financial and strategic managements without realizing the consequences of intercultural communication mishaps.

As more and more companies realize that their business problems are not just mere financial flaws made by lack of education in their staff's but to the cross-cultural environment in which their staff's work in. The need for understanding communication between cultures and managing intercultural business management has rocketed ever since the discovery of such events during the globalization era.

The main reason for most failed ventures or cross-cultural business is mostly due to the underestimation of the effects of culture in a working environment especially in communication. Seeking expertise help on such situation would prove to be better investments once the differentiation is been straighten out.

Neil Payne is Managing Director at the London based consultancy Kwintessential. For more information on their services please visit Translation Services

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Minding Your PDA P's and Q's

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:28:00 +0000

I'd venture to say that PDAs are more commonly carried than pens, or even combs, in the pockets and purses of most urbanites. Every week, I receive questions for BlackBerry etiquette or iPhone protocols. Social networking is a part of daily life and often provides a wake-up call with the first tweet of the day.

We have become a nation of archivists - meticulously recording even the smallest of details. Although the accent is on "social," some would say there's a dark side to all this documentation. And that's exactly what prompted a group of New York City's avant-garde writers to host twice monthly, off the record salons, or parties, where PDAs and photos are strictly verboten. Kind of a party hearty atmosphere - with no fear of recrimination. But an over the top, Bacchanalian fête is not the intent. Rather, the point is to cease and desist from chronicling every nanosecond. (One could argue that the hosts have, indeed, made a clever PR move.)

In complete contrast to this kind of affair is the upcoming book launch for The Won Thing by my close friend Peggy McColl. Peggy is a New York Times best selling author and an internationally recognized expert in the area of destiny achievement. I anticipate her invitation could read something like this:

You are cordially invited to attend the launch of The Won Thing
September 22nd, 2009
An
on the record,
tweeting, blogging, photos
Party

Admittedly, there's a big difference between a private party at home and a book launch. The whole point of the launch is publicity.

Another friend of mine, a TV show host who shall remain nameless, twittered: Tweet no.1: Making my way to the Hall where Clinton & Bush will be speaking. Tweet no. 2: Oh no! Security check: will we have to leave our PDAs with security? Tweet no. 3: Sitting row 30 or so - with PDA! Tweet no. 4: Clinton says... For over an hour, I followed some of the best twittering ever!

It's important to know when, where and what to twitter. Ever thought about asking guests to refrain from chronicling every moment at your next party? Please let us know your thoughts.

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Diane Craig
Image and Etiquette Expert

Diane Craig, President of Corporate Class Inc., is a leading image and etiquette consultant. For over 20 years she has provided corporate consultations, helping hundreds of men and women realize their professional and personal goals. She is a sought after speaker at national business meetings, regularly gives comprehensive workshops to corporate groups, and offers private consultations on business etiquette, dress and dining.

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Communication - Watch Weasel Words

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:07:00 +0000

One of my heroes is Alexander Kuzmin. Never heard of him? Well, not surprising, since Mr. Kuzmin is the mayor of Megion, an oil town in Siberia. Yep. The mayor of a small town about 1,500 miles north of Moscow is one of my champions.

Here's why. A tiny little AP story tucked in the corner of my newspaper a couple years ago revealed that Mayor Kuzmin has ordered his bureaucrats to stop using expressions such as "I don't know" and "I can't." Or else they can look for another job. He was apparently tired of his staff making excuses and as good as admitting they were too lazy to do the work. According to a statement by the good mayor, "Town officials must figure out how to solve and remove problems, not to avoid them."

The Mayor put some meat behind the ban by stating that "the use of these expressions by city administration officials while speaking to the head of the city will speed their departure."

Wow. Can you imagine? According to some of the mayor's staff, they now come to meetings armed with several proposals on how to handle a problem. No excuses are allowed. The result is: solutions.

Here are some of his 25 banned expressions:

-I don't know.

-I can't.

-It's not my job.

-It's impossible.

-There's no money.

-I was away/sick/on vacation.

-What am I supposed to do?

-I'm not dealing with this.

-Somebody else has the documents.

I'd add a few more to my own "banned expressions" list, including: "I'll see what I can do," "I'll try," "Yes, but..." and "You don't understand."

Do you see what all of these have in common? I call them "weasel words" because using such phrases is a way of weaseling out of responsibility. When colleagues, or heaven forbid, customers, are looking for you to answer questions, solve problems, or resolve sticky issues, they don't expect or want you to duck responsibility and leave them adrift in helpless confusion, frustration, or anger.

Consider this. Suppose you asked a colleague to handle something for you, and he replied, "I'll see what I can do." Or "I'll try." How convinced are you that he'll really get it done? Suppose, instead, he said, "I'll take care of it." Doesn't that confident commitment instill your trust in him?

Here are some positive talk phrases:

-I'll find out.

-I'll take care of it.

-It's a challenge I'm up to.

-I'll be glad to...

-Let's brainstorm some ideas.

-What would you like me to do?

Roger Dawson, famous speaker and negotiator, once said, "There is a place in heaven for anyone who says, 'I'll take care of it.'" Amen.

Barbara Busey, president of the training firm Presentation Dynamics, has been a professional speaker, trainer and author since 1990. She does training and speaking on the "dynamics" of how people "present" themselves, is the author of the book, "Stand Out When You Stand Up," and is the creator of The Compelling Speaker, a unique presentation skills training program that combines advance audio CD instruction with a hands-on, ultra participative workshop. She now offers the Compelling Speaker Certification, a turnkey system -- complete with training content & technique, business strategies, and marketing guidelines -- that positions communicators to make a living training other business professionals to become more compelling speakers. Go to Compelling Speaker Certification to see her video, listen to her audio, and learn when the next Certification training is.

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A KISS To Remember

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:24:00 +0000

For the past 3 days, I have been trying to pick out a paint color for the bedroom. So, once again I stopped by the paint store the other day, and picked a clor - the color looked light green, a color I would call "Seafoam." The paint supplier called it "Reef." My friend said it looked gray as we painted it, and in the bedroom lighting, I just stepped back and called it "Yuck." Still a work in progress...

So what does this have to do with anything? Well, it just pointed out to me once again that we all see and understand things differently... How many times do we describe something and know exactly what we mean, but the person we are attempting to communicate with takes what we said an entirely different way?

I like to think of myself as not that old, yet I remember letters to the editors of printed newspapers and magazines as how we used to express ourselves and we were lucky to get it printed. Now with the Internet there is an explosion of expressible communications between people, who never before would have been able to talk to each other, yet what is really being said... With just a few keystrokes we can read more information and opinions and contribute our own views just as easily, yet, we are so often misunderstood.

An important rule to always remember in communication is the KISS--Keep It Simple and Short. So many times, I find I can get caught up in my industry's jargon or slang, I know what I'm saying, so do coworkers, but when that glazed look comes over your client's eyes, I know it's time to stop, rewind, simplify and try again.

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." ~Anais Nin. Writer and diarist 1903-1977 ~

Join Communication Coach Sharon Sayler Tuesday's at 10am Pacific for "Beyond Lip Service" on Blog Talk Radio for useful strategies on relationships, communication and success within your "inner-game."

Sharon MBA, business consultant, writer and non-verbal presentation coach, she teaches you how to speak and present to be remembered by making your body language say the same message as your mouth. She is counsel and coach to authors, speakers and executives who want to be more than "just a competent presenter." http://www.sharonsayler.com

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Develop Your Communication and Interpersonal Skills

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:04:00 +0000

The American Management Association offers three day seminars in cities like Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and New York to aid those entering the labor market to develop their communication and interpersonal skills. The seminars are geared to IT or Information Technologies people and technical professionals. Actually what this means is that these seminars are geared for those individuals working professionals in computer and other technologies whose professional skills have been developed but whose relationship skills may lack in people skills or the mindset to interact with people who may not have similar IT or technological training.

The cost for these seminars depends on whether you are a member of The American Management Association. The seminar costs 2, 195 dollars for non-members and 1,995 dollars for members. One of the benefits is that you can use the seminar to get continuing education university credits.

The seminar focuses on developing skills identification with the other person, active rather than passive listening skills and skills necessary to get your own message across to the other person. These seminars are for the professional in technology who has needed to develop the art of understanding other people's needs and their perspective which may or may not be technology based. To debate with people of other disciplines and to come out the winner would be a key point focus for these seminars.

The seminar is also available online. These seminars are called virtual seminars and are available for on-site delivery to your organization.

We all need to develop our communication and interpersonal skills, but this is even more vital when coming out of an intensive training program in our respective discipline. This will lead to greater customer satisfaction in any line of work.

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Secrets of a Successful Corporate Party

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:55:00 +0000

Tips on how to make everyone enjoy corporate parties:

Bellow, we offer you some valuable tips on how to turn a corporate party into an unforgettable event for everyone:

1. For Winter Holidays, organize everything, to the smallest details, in order to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit: have Santa hats for all the attendants and make sure that everything from decorations items like scene setters, garland, light to plates, cups, napkins has Christmas patterns. Steal a smile from everybody by having even toilet paper with Santas drawn on it. It will be something that all the guests will recall, for sure.

2. Choose a theme, if the occasion is any other besides Winter Holidays. It can be a Luau party, a Western one, Mardi Grass or any other.

3. Organize everything according to the chosen theme. Install appropriate Wall Murals. For a Luau theme corporate party you can go for a Tropical Wall Mural. Also customize banners in accordance with the chosen party theme.

4. Use items with colors related to corporate identity.

5. Add some glamour to the party regardless the chosen theme. Have your guests arrive in Hollywood style with a red carpet runner and use glow cups and light-up glasses.

6. Organize tombolas and offer prizes like: trinkets boxes, pocket or sports watches, cosmetic cases, and photo boxes customized with your brand's name.

7. Use small give aways to remind people of your event. It could be a custom alien clock or a mug beer (for a launching event for example) or a holiday greetings pen (for Xmas parties).

8. Use customized banners. If you are organizing a farewell or retirement party, it would be nice to have a customized banner wearing that person's name, with spaces where the attendants can write messages.

9. Give small presents to the guests. This is a good idea especially for a retirement/farewell party. The present could be a frame with his/her photo and a nice message.

10. Fun is the main ingredient of a successful corporate party. For a guaranteed wonderful time provide the attendants with a set of inflatable instruments. Or get a dance floor kit. It will rock their world.

Corporate parties' purpose goes beyond a simple celebration. They are ways of showing appreciation to the employees and reinforce the team spirit. That's why the success of such an event is measured in the quality of the time spent by employees together and the amount of good common memories the event generates.

Hope you have enjoyed these simple tips. Feel free to browse around and let hostMYparty.com help you.

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People Skills - True Or You, Amiss Or Me?

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:54:00 +0000

Questions and comments from people are great and makes me think - helping people pleases me and offers many lessons too. Keep your questions and comments coming!

This came from someone who wanted advice on etiquette or maybe just to clarify her feelings: "We were all standing in a group chatting and feeling great. Then Julie from downstairs ambled up right in the middle of Corey's story. I intended to introduce Julie however before I could say anything, Heather went ahead and did it. I couldn't believe she just jumped right in like that, it made me mad and I felt foolish. I think Heather is rude and controlling don't you agree?"

The real question is: who is this person really mad at? Is it Heather for introducing Julie or herself for not doing the introduction? I suspect it would be more truthful to suggest she's mad at herself though it's easier to blame Heather.

Whenever you find yourself upset about a social interaction ask a deeper question: was there a seed of truth in what happened or is it you?

Another question I use a lot: Is something amiss or is it me? It pains me to note how often it's me - though the more aware I become the less that's true.

This has happened to all of us. We neglect to do something that should have been obvious. Like make an introduction, or toasting the guest, or commenting on how nice someone looks. Then someone else steps in and does it for us. This can leave us feeling perplexed and foolish which in turn makes us strike out at the other person.

"I can't believe they just jumped in like that and introduced themselves!" I've heard people say "I was just about ready to do it!" or "I don't know where his or her manners are" spoken to a friend at a wedding, "everyone knows the best man is the first to toast." Or even, "I intended to tell her how great the new look was and then Jennifer stole my chance."

I always wonder why people bother to put others down when they are obviously doing something nice. I think it's because the person who is criticizing may be upset they didn't do it first, or didn't react well. Either way it's not rude behavior on anyone's part but the critic.

My mother, and no doubt your mother, used to say, "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all" and this is still good advice!

Criticism, especially in public and particularly in this instance - is less than gracious and usually makes the one doing the criticizing not only look bad, it puts any one that hears it in an uncomfortable position.

So here's the solution:
Be quick to comment, compliment, introduce and all those other social niceties that make the world work. If you do that you will have no one to blame but yourself for all the good will, great relationships and wonderful feelings that pour towards you.

If you get criticism for being such a quick to the point goodwill provider, simply smile - Because criticism, even if you think it's true, is a poor reflection on you!

If you want to attract more prospects, multiply loyal customers, and boost sales, this Schuh is a fit! Shawna Schuh is an extraordinary storyteller, who works with corporations and associations to develop environments that help people bring their best selves to the work they do. Shawna addresses any and all issues relating to people skills. Her presentations are humorous, overflowing with energy and packed with practical results driven information that will positively maximize profits. Take an action that will help you succeed and improve your people skills visit: http://shawnaschuh.com/DailySocialSignup2.php.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawna_Schuh

Improving Employee Communication

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:08:00 +0000

One of the best ways to initiate employee communication is to compose an employee communication survey that can be filled out anonymously. This way, each worker can express their honest opinions about things that are going on in the office without feeling as though they are 'telling' on other employees. It may be best to send the employee communication survey via email, so that employees can type their answers and send the survey directly the HR head. You should include questions about how employees feel about their current position - ask about whether they feel appreciated, and inquire about whether they feel overwhelmed by the assignments that are given to them. You should also ask employees about how they feel about working with the other men and women in their department, and include questions that will let you know whether or not employees feel discriminated against due to race, gender, age, or skill level.

A variety of cutting-edge corporate communications is also a great way to improve internal communications. Composing an employee newsletter for your company is a great way to make sure that each department gets the opportunity to make announcements or ask for assistance from other departments to complete company projects. You can include things in the newsletter like birthdays of employees, or make announcements that will let the company know about employees that may be getting married or welcoming a new baby. An employee newsletter is a great way to make your workplace feel more like a team environment. You can distribute it to employees via email, or print it out monthly to hand out at company meetings.

Speaking of meetings, this is another great way to facilitate effective employee communication strategies. Making sure that your company meetings are a place where workers feel comfortable is another great method for making employee communication an important forum. Set aside a time in the meeting after you've made announcements or explained new company policies for employees to ask questions. Do your workers need to know about changes in company benefits? Are certain departments in your company concerned about finishing a big project on time? Do you have interns or entry level employees that are not sure about their duties? No matter what position employees hold in your company, everyone should have their voices heard. Keeping up a great email system to have online meetings, or establishing programs that will allow employees to log in and make internal announcements is also a great way to make sure the employee communication is positive in your company.

Of course, you can always ask your employees which methods would be best in the future; this direct approach may work best for some, and you can use your meetings or a short email message to get everyone's opinion.

For more information on corporate communications and internal employee communication tools, please visit our website at CutThroughCommunications.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Wright

Employee Communication Via Social Media - Overcoming Internal Resistance

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:12:00 +0000

'Digital natives' and 'digital immigrants'

What differentiates the 'digital native' generation, who grew up with the Internet from those who didn't?

Typically, many older workers, or 'digital immigrants', talk about their comfort zone. They find comfort in a hierarchical, command and control management structure. They are good communicators, who like to think, plan and do - in that order. They favour a top-down approach and generally like to play safe. Many of our senior managers fit into the digital immigrant generation.

Digital natives, on the other hand, prefer a guiding and nurturing environment. They do not want instructions handed down from on-high. They are great communicators and great networkers. But they do it differently. Digital tools and social media are like extensions of themselves. This emerging generation thinks acts and communicates quickly. They like engagement and like to try things out. They harness their team's collective experience and skills in order to find solutions. It's all about communicating. Many of the people now joining the workforce are digital natives.

The old way and the new?

The old way uses intranets or websites as static sites. Staff can search and find, but have limited ability to contribute. The new way is interactive and collaborative and uses social media such as Social networks (e.g. Facebook), Blogs, Discussion Forums and Wikis.
Social media tools definitely add value to employee communications. They can help build relationships, increase collaboration, improve productivity, reduce silos, and build engagement. They also offer an excellent means to share ideas and gather qualitative feedback.
So why is social media sometimes so hard to implement as an internal communications tool?
Communicators understand the power of social media but their senior managers, who are often digital immigrants, remain wary and unconvinced. Are these the arguments that you are hearing?

'It's not a priority"

A CIO magazine's study,Top Technology Priorities found that even IT professionals don't consider Web 2.0 a priority. They're focused on network consolidation, outsourcing, CRM, and security. This would seem to back up management's assertion that Intranet 2.0 needs to take a back seat.

The response

Point out that Web 2.0 tools are already commonplace. Innovative companies are already leveraging the power of these tools. Many social media tools are easy and relatively cheap to implement. They don't need to compete with major IT plans.

Don't make sweeping claims when you are proposing social media tools. Managers don't want to hear about social media democratizing the organization. They want to know how business goals will be supported. So use language the CEO will understand and focus on concrete goals where possible.

Spot opportunities and start with small simple projects. Provide evidence of success before proposing a wider implementation.

Do your homework. Support your proposal for a wider implementation with case studies. IBM, Sun Microsystems and the hundreds of other Fortune 500 companies are already successfully wielding these tools.

Tips

Choose web 2.0 channels that have been specifically designed for employee communication. Use low cost communications channels that are quick and easy to implement and manage.
Use a platform that is easy for IT to implement and has little need for ongoing IT support.
Choose a platform that allows access rights to be targeted to specific staff groups.
Ensure centralised reporting allows you to easily quantify the value of the web 2.0 channels and demonstrate their strategic communications value to senior managers.

Try a free trial or low cost pilot to test concepts out prior to a more comprehensive commitment to social media as an internal communications channel.

"We don't have the time, money or resources"

Management quite rightly recognizes that communicators are already overworked. They might also voice concerns about the cost of the tools and the lack of support resources.

The response

Explain tools that assist internal communications assist you.
As for the tools being hungry on money and resources, explain that generally these tools are relatively inexpensive and require little time to set up. Rather then worrying about the return on investment in financial terms the focus should be on what can be gained from making them available.
To keep costs down, lease a Web 2.0 solution. This allows you to leverage developments based on learning from other organisations.
Study less and do more:

* Start the dialogue and keep listening to the comments
* Spot opportunities in the business where social media could provide a good fit
* Start small and simple and use an iterative process
* Predict concerns and solve problems early
* Create an army of evangelists

Tips

Choose web 2.0 channels that have been built only for employee communications purposes, they are not a 'one size fits all' solution with a confusing array of set-up options.

Use a solution that is authenticated back to employees computers which means it is very secure but staff also do not need to remember a user name and password. Just one click and staff are able to participate.

Select a user friendly, intuitive solution that allows staff to participate with little or no training.
Use a low cost solution that can fit within existing employee communications budgets.
Utilise free trials to test out small deployments and evolve the use of staff social media channels based on staff feedback and learning.
Increases in productivity facilitated by improved information flow can easily cost justify the use of social media for employee communications. For example, an interactive Helpdesk channel provides effective real time support channels for staff by allowing them to ask questions in interactive online helpdesks. This means that answers can be made available almost immediately and become part of an evolving searchable repository of knowledge.
It doesn't suit our culture

"These tools aren't a fit with our culture. It's not the way we do business..."

The response

Do you have a young, tech-savvy workforce in an organisation with a flat structure, or is the structure hierarchical with predominantly older workers who may feel uncomfortable with new technology.

It is important to recognise your culture, and to work out what will work and what won't. It is true social media fits better where the culture is democratic and open, rather than hierarchical and paternal. However, even conservative companies are finding increasing numbers of digital natives joining their ranks. Collaboration and team work are here to stay. Knowledge-sharing enables the whole company to benefit from an individual's expertise, and ensures that this knowledge doesn't exit the organisation when the individual leaves.

Explain that providing additional channels for sharing information does not equate to loss of control or a decline in standards. It should lead to increased productivity and innovation.
It may be helpful to encourage knowledge-sharing and collaboration by assisting executives to lead by example. You could also workout a system of rewards for champion bloggers and networkers.

Tips

Select a platform with a range of moderation options. Simply select the setting required for a specific employee blog, staff discussion forum or online helpdesk. Even the most risk adverse managers should feel comfortable with a communications channel that requires every post and comment moderated.

If possible set up moderators to receive desktop alerts notifying them of the need to approve content so that approval (or not) can be fast and seamless.

In time, as managers become more comfortable with the social media as an employee communications tool, it may be appropriate to reset the moderation level to only anonymous posts and comments or even to switch moderation off altogether.

For organizations that are really adverse to social media, why not consider an electronic magazine fomat that permits 'user generated' content.

This will enable you to distribute 'safe discussion' directly to the employee's computer screen.

"It will open a can of worms"

"Employees will say inappropriate things. People will complain, or insult management. Bad language will appear on comments..."

Management may express concerns that the 'rumour mill' will take over, or that staff will spend all day complaining. Management may also be concerned that knowledge-sharing via staff forums or blogs sets a dangerous precedent. This informant is 'unofficial' as no-one has authorised it.

The response

Gossip and staff complaints were around long before Web 2.0 came on the scene. If social media channels do throw up unpleasant surprises, you have at least identified that there are issues which you can address, rather than having a seething undercurrent. Where engagement is low and/or guidelines and policy are not stated, staff may not know how else to communicate worries or causes of dissatisfaction.

Define what social media tools can be used for as part of your strategy and communicate the policy. For example, some companies allow comments to go live without being filtered, whereas others insist that comments go through the editor. Some organizations allow anonymous posts while others don't. Some even have a forum entitled 'Rumour Mill' to flush concerns and gossip out into the open to be addressed.

Not all information needs to be official. Tacit knowledge is still shared around the water cooler, or sent via a memo or email. It may never be captured in a form that can be shared. Management agree that this is a huge disadvantage when knowledgeable staff leave, taking their 'unofficial' knowledge with them. Online tools, on the other hand, capture this know-how. Your staff will easily recognize the distinction between opinion and authoritative content.

Tips

Specify a 'Code of Conduct' clearly at the top of each page view.
Implement a range of moderation levels which allow you to monitor and approve posts if required. For example, moderators could be set to receive a desktop alert when an anonymous post or comment is made.

Use multiple interactive channels. Setting up a specific, moderated helpdesk, for example, around an organisational change, can help keep inappropriate content out of other staff discussion forums. 'Risky' discussions, where sentiment might be negative, can be targeted securely to only those affected. This means that negativity does not need to 'infect' the rest of the organisation.

"It's too risky, too uncontrolled"

Management may equate loss of formality with a decline in standards. The idea that staff can write what they want runs counter to the command-and-control structure of many organisations.
Considerable time, effort, and money go into crafting a strong brand image. CEOs may fear that the company's image will suffer if they make it easy for staff to say anything they want about the organization or their colleagues and managers. They may also worry about leaks to outside world.

The response

Just because communication is taking place online doesn't mean that professionalism and respect will be forgotten. Most staff already know that inappropriate use of email is not acceptable, and will transfer this knowledge automatically to social media tools.

Don't forget that Management have legitimate concerns about the need to keep some information confidential. You can offset Management's fear of losing control by implementing appropriate security measures and guidelines for these channels, just as you do with email and Internet use.
There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to setting the policy. You know your organisation and whatever works best for your organisation is the best way to go. IBM's solution was to create a wiki and to get its staff to create the policy themselves.

The fact that blogs and online discussion are visible is more likely to deter inappropriate comments.

Tips

Choose social media channels that have been built specifically for secure employee communication. Use a solution with a Client applet that resides on staff computers. Only staff who have the applet and have been targeted with access rights can view these channels. This means that the risk of leaks to the outside world is dramatically reduced.

Code of conduct and moderation options mean that if it possible to keep a close eye on conversations that are considered high risk.

Desktop alerts can inform moderators when new content is added to blogs, forums, Q&A spots and staff helpdesks. This can allow moderators to check that information is correct and amend posts if necessary.

Sarah Perry is a Director of Snap Communications, a company which provides specialist Internal Communications Channels and Solutions. Her specific area of expertise is the use of new technologies in the field of Employee Communications but she has a broad knowledge from strategic communications planning through cross cultural communications to measuring communications effectiveness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Perry

Innovative Ideas For Employee Communication

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:18:00 +0000

With so much information saturating the corporate culture, employers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to get information to their employees by way of corporate communications. After all, even email has become a somewhat old-fashioned way of communicating, as more people use Blackberries and Web conferencing to give out information and pass messages to their employees. There are a number of innovative new ways that you can communicate with your employees. Two great ways include:

• Instant messaging: Almost every Web browser out there has an instant messaging feature these days and this can be a faster method of communicating than even email. Because the instant message alert pops up on the screen each time there is a message, this can be a quick way to communicate with employees working in the office as well as remotely. Beware of this option however: your employees may use it to chat about personal matters when they should be working.

• Snap Comm tools: One of the more unique methods of employer/employee communication on the market today, Snap Comm tools feature six distinct features that allow employers to get their message out to their employees without having to send a slew of individual messages. For example, the six Snap Comm channels include:

• Snap Poll: Want to know exactly what your employees think on a variety of issues? Let them take this quick and easy on-screen quiz that boasts an improved response rate because of its ease of use.

• Snap Ticker: Similar to what you see on CNN, these scrolling tickers will give your employees critical updates and disseminate important company information with the click of a button.

• Snap Quiz: On-screen quiz features will help you get an idea of where your employees might be weak in terms of company policy. There is an automated scoring option that takes the work out of getting all of the results.

• Snap Mag: A replacement for your company newsletter, this electronic version can help reduce the amount of group emails you have to send to virtually nothing.

• Snap Alert: These desktop alerts pop up on the screen as soon as you send out information that has to get to your employees NOW! This is the best way to ensure that your messages take priority over all of the other virtual clutter on your employee's computer.

• Snap Shots: These screensavers act as billboards, broadcasting your message and ensuring that it is being reinforced every time your employee is forced to view it. A great way to get some core company concepts across.

Effective employee communication is the key to good management and communication between employers and their employees. Both of these methods will ensure that you are keeping up with changes in technology that allow you to communicate more easily with your employees and continue to strive for professional excellence and communication in your place of business.

You can get to know more about corporate communications and Effective employee communication using Snap Comms at our website Cut Through Communications.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Wright

Workplace Communication = Money!

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:21:00 +0000

Train your staff and survive the hard times

Thousands of businesses are failing each year, and millions of people are losing their jobs. Therefore, a serious look at your company and its ability to survive is called for. Every business needs that extra edge to rise head and shoulders above the competition. If your company does not develop that extra edge, there is a very good chance it will fail and you'll be another casualty of this fragile economy. This is a demanding market and prospective clients require excellent service - and they want it with a smile. They expect courteous treatment and, if they don't receive it, they will look elsewhere. To avoid this situation, every person in your company should put forth extra effort to make the company look top notch, and worth doing business with. Your must train each member of the company in effective workplace communication by training them in communication and negotiation skills, corporate communication, and employee communication.

For example, ask yourself these questions: Who answers the phone for your company? Who greets clients when they come into your place of business? If you don't, do you know who does and how qualified that employee is? How do staff members communicate with each other? Has your company had a continual turnover of employees or a problem with workplace productivity? Does your company promote productive employee communication? These are extremely important questions to ask and answer. The future of your company could be at stake.

Pretend for a minute that I am a prospective client (a medical doctor) who wants to spend $150,000 on either a product or a service at your company. I call your business to make an appointment and am faced with a surly receptionist, smacking her gum and talking to her co-worker while answering the phone. What are the chances that I will make an appointment? And even if I do, who greets me at the door when I arrive at your place of business? Is it someone with an "attitude", or someone who is too busy talking to a colleague to bother with me? Or, is it someone who has difficulty with the English language? Or, someone who looks and dresses like a street walker? Now what are the chances your business will get my business? However, let's say I ignore all this and make arrangements to use email because going into your place of business dismays me. Now, I receive email from one of your employees who failed to use spell-check before sending the email to me, plus the subject line is empty. Also, I am addressed by my first name instead of by my title and last name. Do you honestly believe that I will still want to do business with you?

In view of the above scenario it is apparent that appropriate and effective communication between client and staff is incredibly important, as is effective communication between staff members. Remember, the client in today's marketplace is looking for prompt and outstanding service. If that client can get a bargain along with the right degree of respect and effective communication from staff members, the chances are you will get a client who will do business.

Cast your mind back, to either going to a business office, or to a local burger joint; were you greeted with a smile? Did the greeting employee even look at you when taking your order? Did you get the feeling that you were important? More than likely not! However, if these employees had been trained in effective communication, your experience would have been quite different. Let your company benefit from a communication coach. It would greatly enhance your employee/ client communication, your interoffice communication which all points to the bottom line; your business's profit margin. Interactive communication workshops will benefit your staff and give your company a leg-up in the business community. Thus, failing to train staff to be effective communicators and thereby losing a prospective $150,000 client is just bad business.

Peter Lett Communications - Peter Lett is a published author and expert on Communications & Negotiations and specializes in communication workshops, seminars and business coaching http://www.peterlett.com

Peter Lett is a published author and expert on Communications & Negotiations. Mr. Lett specializes in communication workshops, seminars, and business coaching.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Lett

Internal Communication: 12 Essential Elements

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:32:00 +0000

There are 12 essential elements of a successful internal communications strategy:

1. Effective employee-directed communications must be led from the top

Effective communications require the active commitment and endorsement of senior managers. It is not enough simply to develop a 'vision statement' or formulate in general terms the values by which the company lives. Behaviour is what counts. Managers must be seen to behave in a manner that is consistent with the ethos they are promoting.

2. The essence of good communications is consistency

At all costs, avoid following fashion and tinkering. If you try to improve communications and then fail—because your messages are inconsistent or are ‘good news only'—things will not quietly settle back into the way they used to be. You will inevitably have created expectations, and may have to live with the consequences of having disappointed those expectations.

3. Successful employee communications owe as much to consistency, careful planning and attention to detail as they do to charisma or natural gifts

We might not all be another Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins or Bill Clinton. But even such communication ‘giants' slip up if they fail to plan, fail to pay attention to detail and fail to project a consistent message.

4. Communication via the line manager is most effective

‘ Line Manager to employee' communication is an opportunity for people to ask questions and check that they have understood the issues correctly. However, be aware that business urgency and reality may dictate the need, on many occasions, to inform employees directly rather than relying entirely on the cascade process. (Though managers will still need to answer people's questions and listen to their views.)

5. Employee communications are not optional extras, they are part of business as usual and should be planned and budgeted for as such

An employee communications plan—key themes, targets, objectives and resources—provides a context in which to deliver initiatives that arise at short notice.

6. There must be integration between internal and external communications

There must be a fit between what you are telling your people and what you are telling your customers, shareholders and public. (By the same token, there must be a fit between what you are telling your people, and what the external media are telling them.)

7. Timing is critical

However clearly expressed and well-presented your message may be, if it arrives at the wrong time you might as well not have bothered. Old news is often worse than no news. Consequently, it is important to ensure that the channels you use can really deliver at the time you need them to.

8. Tone is important

Expressing overly-gushing enthusiasm about a technical change of little real significance to your staff or public at large is scarcely calculated to make people take your message to heart. If they don't take that message to heart, why would they take the rest of what you say to their bosoms?

9. Never lose sight of the ‘what's in it for me?' factor

We are self-interested creatures. I may have invented the most amazing gadget ever, but unless I get you emotionally involved you are never likely to listen to my message about it. But if I can show you how my gadget will revolutionise your life, add dollars to your wallet, free up your time, fix your smelly feet, wash your car for you, stop your kids arguing with you, bring peace with your spouse, bring world peace…

10. Communication is a two-way process

Employee communications are NOT a one-way information dump. Capturing feedback is of critical importance, and if you are not seen to be listening and acting on what you are told, why should people bother telling you?

11. A single key theme or a couple of key themes is a means of giving coherence to a range of diverse employee communications initiatives

In recent years, the overriding theme of many corporate employee communications has been the impact on the business of competition, regulation and economic forces. Many messages and initiatives can therefore be evaluated according to the light they shed on one or more of these key themes.

12. Set your standards and stick to them

Determine which channels should be mandatory and which should be optional; establish quality standards for all channels and review these at least annually.

When you match consumer psychology with effective communication styles you get a powerful combination. Lee Hopkins can show you how to communicate better for better business results. At Hopkins-Business-Communication-Training.com you can find the secrets to communication success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins

Communication Skills - How to Improve

donkmarch@gmail.com (don) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:43:00 +0000

It's safe to say that communication skills, among other issues, played a big role in the recent U.S. Presidential election. Opportunities are gained and lost due to speaking and listening skills. We can all be better at this. Here are 5 Cool Ideas for better communication.

1. No comment is a good thing.
Okay, pay attention people. It's okay to say, "I don't know," once in a while.

2. Keep non-verbal signals within the "normal" range.
Behavioral psychologists suggest that the average length of a smile should be about 1.5 seconds, but in the U.S. Presidential campaign, Mitt Romney had a habit of smiling for up to 10 seconds at a time.

3. It's okay not to say everything that comes to mind.
A recent Miss Teen USA contestant was asked to comment on Americans who can't locate their own country on a map. She said, "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our education like, such as, in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere, such as . . ." and then I stopped listening.

4. Adjust your e-mail to communicate better 50 times a day.
The signature file is the chunk of text that is "automatically" added to the bottom of your e-mail. It's surprisingly common to see smart people not include their area code, physical address and other identifiers here.

5. Pause before speaking.
Wait about two seconds before responding to people in person and on the phone. The extra time will help others believe that you're really listening to them and help you formulate a more intelligent response.

Michael Angelo Caruso has delivered over 2,000 keynote speeches and presentations on the subject of communication. He is President of the Edison House, a Detroit-based consulting and publishing company. Mr. Caruso is author of the 5 Cool Ideas books and the FastLearnerAudio series, which can help you become an even better person.

To receive Michael's free, bi-monthly 5 Cool Ideas newsletter, simply send an e-mail to 5CoolIdeas@EdisonHouse.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Angelo_Caruso