What you heard is not what I said!

Communication may seem simple, but it is one of the most complicated things that we do.  The meanings of anything we say or do are not in the words or gestures that we use—those words and gestures are only symbols.  Let me explain.  If I use the word, “chair,” you may have something in your [...]

Solutions

Last time, I posted about listening to people who disagree with you.    This time, I want to talk a little about how to disagree with someone.  One of the elements of my research program revolves around what types of dissent messages are most effective in the workplace.  When you are expressing dissent to someone, the [...]

Please disagree with me?

One of the most important things managers and supervisors need in any business is people that will disagree.  That’s right.  As comforting as yes-men and yes-women can be, they sabotage effective decision-making.  John Stuart Mill (1859/1998) argued that we need people around us who disagree with our positions.  He said that by talking to people who [...]

Starting a conversation…

Most of us communicate with people daily, and a lot of that communication takes place in organizations.  I am convinced that we can communicate better.  I have a PhD in organizational communication and teach at a major university.  I am starting this blog with several goals in mind, some self-serving, but others more altruistic.  My [...]