Taking a break

As this semester is going full steam now, I’m beginning to realize that I need to streamline the tasks that I take on.  So with a little bit of regret, I am taking an indefinitely break from blogging.  I’ve looked back over the year plus that I’ve been blogging, and I’ve noticed that the times [...]

What I mean is not really what I said

I’ve said this before, but talking with one of my classes recently has convinced me to say it again.  When we communicate with others, we assume that our words have only one meaning.  We know what we mean, and we assume that they will interpret our words exactly as we intend.  That is a false [...]

Training People how to have Tough Conversations

I was talking to an executive recently about organizational communication.  He said that he believed basic business skills were often important in landing entry-level jobs, but that being promoted relied more on communication than business savvy.  While I hesitate to make the same generalization, I do think most managers need the ability to communicate with [...]

Person-Centered Messages…Revisiting an Important Topic

One of my favorite topics these days is Person-Centered Messages, so I thought I would revisit that topic today.  Person-Centered Messages are those times when you communicate with the other person in mind, and specifically, with how the other person will hear what you are saying.  We tend to communicate like we want other to [...]

The Old Suggestion Box

I’m still having a little trouble balancing things and finding time to blog.
When I was in college, I worked at a job and we had a suggestion box right next to the supervisor’s office.  Funny thing was that no one had a key to the box, so we all thought of stories of some of [...]

When you make a mistake…

I got a little bit behind on Friday and wasn’t able to post, but I’m back today.
What do you do when you realize that you’ve made a mistake?  Do you cover it up?  Do you blindly continue on a course of action that you know is wrong?  Do you admit the mistake and apologize?  Most [...]

Childhood Lessons We Forget As Adults

Today’s post comes after a conversation with someone starting a new job this past summer.
As children, we were all taught to say “please” and “thank you” at appropriate moments.  I can still remember my mother saying “now what do you say?” over and over until it was drilled into my head—when you want something, say [...]