Communication

Reassure the crowd

July 1, 2008
Within 30 seconds of opening your presentation, your listeners have reached a verdict. They decide to either pay attention or daydream.

Can you separate owls from ducks?

July 1, 2008
Persuasive speakers bend their personality muscles to appeal to a wide range of audiences. They adjust how they speak—their tone, manner and word choice—to woo a particular individual or group.

Pick your battles–and win

July 1, 2008
If you’re a naturally argumentative person, restrain yourself at work. Even if you’re smarter than your peers, your penchant for picking verbal battles can leave you alone and ostracized.

Let go of little slights

July 1, 2008
“The whole world is a door of liberation, but people are unwilling to enter it,” wrote an ancient Chinese Buddhist philosopher. He was on to something.

Speech tics that tick me off

June 1, 2008
Essentially, I’m a patient guy. But nothing makes me lose patience more than people who say, “Essentially.”

Kill rumors before they spread

June 1, 2008
To shut down the rumor mill, you must do more than demand that your staff stop gossiping. You also have to give them something more fruitful to talk about.

The hidden truth of ‘I promise’

June 1, 2008
Any seasoned manager knows it’s unwise to accept what employees say at face value. The real test of their honesty is whether they deliver on their promises.

Sloppy habits can torpedo your tense conversations

May 1, 2008
During delicate conversations when you address sensitive issues, it’s the subtle things that count. The line between a sincere look of sympathy and an antagonizing smirk is incredibly thin.

Set the stage so people open up to you

May 1, 2008
Your success as a manager depends on whether your staff and peers feel comfortable confiding in you. If they don’t, you can play guessing games trying to lift morale.

A legacy built on the 80/20 rule

May 1, 2008
Everyone can cite some version of the 80/20 rule. We can thank Joseph Juran for the advent of the 80/20 rule. He concluded that 80 percent of effects flow from 20 percent of causes.