What is Miller’s Law and what is it for?
Miller’s Law was formulated by George Miller, Princeton Professor and respected psychologist. It reminds us of the importance of suspending judgment about what someone else is saying, so one can first try to understand what the person is saying without…
Dealing With An Overly Positive Or Negative Employee
Maximize Their “Skills” and Encourage Flexibility Working With Or Managing The Overly Positive Or Overly Negative Employee “Empty Glass Is Full” employees, and the opposite, Full Glass Is Empty” empty employees can drive their co-workers and managers absolutely around the…
What’s the biggest myth/misconception about communication? – Verbal, Nonverbal, Meharabian, Mehrabian
Poor old Albert Mehrabian. His research on the contributions of verbal and nonverbal components of communication are the most misunderstood, misattributed, and confused amongst all the communications discussions around the world. And what’s worse, they can’t even get his name…
Should I intentionally communicate differently depending on the medium? Why?
The answer to this is a resounding yes, but chances are either you already knew that, or unconsciously alter how you communicate depending on the medium. For example, when you write a report, do you communicate the same as you…
Credibility: Knowing The Difference Between “Understanding From The Outside” and Understanding From The Inside
Communicating Credibly Understanding From The Inside – Understanding From The Outside We all think we know how government works. I thought that, at least until I joined the government as an organizational and development consultant some years ago. I’d always…
Less Is More In Communicating Your Message
Less Makes Better Communication Why LESS Communication Is More Effective To Make Your Point Whether we are trying to communicate a point face to face, on the Internet, on the phone, or to groups of people, many of us have…
What is the “less is more” principle of effective communication?
In informal speech and communication, people have a tendency to talk, and talk, often is a slightly disorganized fashion, since informal speech is not the kind of thing you can plan out. It may surprise you to know that in…
Why I Don’t ROUTINELY Thank Comment Authors On My Writing – Social Media
No, It’s Not A Lack Of Appreciation I’ve noticed that on social media, people tend to thank those who read their posts or comment on them. Some do that for almost every single comment made, which clutters up the thread…
When Praise Is Toxic: One Up, One Down Communication
Can Praise Be Condescending and Toxic? You Bet It’s probably fair to say that all of us appreciate and need praise from others. Or positive feedback, whether emotionally based or task based (see The Uncommon Art of Giving and Receiving…
Difference between task oriented communication and relationship oriented communication
What is the difference (and importance) of task oriented communication and relationship oriented communication? First, why is it important that we understand the difference between two “styles” or approaches to communication? When two people communicate they form perceptions of each…
Better Conversations For The Shy: Using Probing Questions
Probing Questions Grease The Wheels Of Conversation How And Why To Use Probing Questions Whether you are shy or outgoing, talkative or quiet you can become a brilliant conversationalist by learning to use, and using probing questions. What Are Probing…
