How can I work to maintain appropriate conversational or physical distance in conversations?
You probably know that people have a comfort zone regarding how close they like another person to be when they are talking to him or her. It’s so universal that the show Seinfeld had an episode that comically dealt with…
Using Argyris’ Ladder of Inference” for better communication
Better communication – better understanding The ladder of inference is a concept developed by C. Argyris to explain common thinking and communication processes and to help us become more aware of how we interpret the world around us, and improve…
What Are Mirror Questions (Dyadic Communication)
What Are Mirror Questions? Mirror questions – non-directive techniques to encourage others to speak Mirror questions are non-directive in nature, which means they are intended to encourage another person to continue to add detail to what they have said without…
What are leading questions and are they “bad”?
What Are Leading Questions? Leading Questions – Sometimes Bad, Sometimes Good If you watch courtroom dramas, or read courtroom thrillers, you are probably familiar with the term “leading question”. A leading question “leads”, or pushes the person being asked in…
What are probing questions (dyadic interactions)
What Are Probing Questions? Probing Questions Ask More Information or Clarification Probing questions are, in essence, followup questions that ask for additional information, request the person expand on what she has said, or ask the person to go deeper. Using…
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using open ended questions?
Like most communication techniques open ended questions work in some contexts, and are counter-productive in others. Open ended questions are good in situations where both parties want to understand each other, share control of the conversation, listen to each other,…
What is “responsiveness” and why is it so important in communication?
Responsiveness In Management And Leadership Responsiveness may be THE essential leadership skill. Being responsive in communication has a very specific, but obvious meaning once you know what it is, and responsiveness is absolutely critical for creating better relationships, trust, and…
Eight bad habits that impede listening – part II
Ineffective Habits – Barriers To Listening …continued. View part I of Eight Bad Habits That Impede Listening Listening Only For Facts Effective communication is based on understanding both the factual content of what someone is saying, AND understanding the emotions,…
Eight Bad Habits That Get In The Way Of Listening – Part I
Bad habits will interfere with your ability to listen and hear It’s fair to say that in our society, we give lip service to the importance of listening to others but in practice we do not live in a society…
Important issues with assertiveness and listening use in the real world
While in theory, the use of assertive skills and various forms of active and reflective listening should work in real life, the reality is that they often do not work the way the experts contend, or the books teach us….
What Is Assertive Communication?
Overview of Assertive Communication The Core Principles of Assertive Communication Assertiveness, or assertive communication has become a commonly trained method to help people communicate so that, at least theoretically, both parties can talk about, and have their needs met in…
