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Communication Skills and Training Articles
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SelfGrowth.com Recommended Articles:
Access POWER - by Joseph Riggio- Listening is not Understanding - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2010 from Claude WarnerWe all listen, but there is a big difference between receiving information, and actually understanding what is being said. For many of us our main focus whilst listening is to pick up clues to respond to. This is not necessarily wrong, but the difference is our intention in listening. Are we ...
Views: 1406(2 votes) - Interesting Conversation Starters: How To Start Great Conversations And Make Friends - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2010 from Michael LeeIt is important to keep some interesting conversation starters handy every time. Why? Well, let’s say you’re at this party where you hardly know anybody. The feeling is awkward. The only other person you know is chatting up another person on the other side of the room. Suddenly, a person ...
Views: 2702(1 vote) - Speak With Confidence Through Visualization - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Janet HiltsVisualization is a great tool to help you boost your confidence in business speaking. And I'm using the term "visualize" very loosely. Some of us are more kinesthetic or auditory than we are visual. That doesn't matter. You can use this tool anyway. More on that in just a minute... First, I ...
Views: 1649 - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 17-Win-Over C-Level Decision Makers with Effective Communications - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Sam ManferWin-Over C-Level Decision Makers with Effective Communications Learn to Find and Push the Execs’ Hot Buttons/ Engaging Executive Conversations Capturing the attention of a top level person is extremely difficult. Holding it is even tougher. However, top level people do like to talk about ...
Views: 2952(2 votes) - Still Using Those Tired Old Office Buzzwords? - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Dave Neal“Paradigm shift.” “Value-add.” “Win-win.” “Customer-centric.” “Outside-the-box.” “Leverage our core competencies.” Clichéd terms like these buzz around the office like flies at a hot summer picnic … and they’re just as annoying. Language is alive, and when it’s not, it’s time to liven things ...
Views: 1405 - 5 Networking Opportunities You May Be Missing Out On - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Monique MacKinnonIf you had the choice, would you rather forego in-person networking in favor of something that’s less unnerving and more enjoyable? So, what makes us shy away from, or downplay who we “truly” are during networking… that it feels like “selling”? The good news is, you can eliminate your pattern of ...
Views: 1413(3 votes) - Conversational Leadership: A way to enhance your leadership and relationships - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Raymond JorgensenEvery successful group venture, whether in the business world, the family home, an educational setting or a community campaign, is the result of effective leadership. Simply put, leaders accomplish desired results by influencing others. The most significant contribution a leader can make is to ...
Views: 4726(6 votes) - What Exactly Would You Say You Do? - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2010 from Clay ScrogginThis is a famous line from one of my favorite movies, Office Space. If you have not seen the movie, I highly encourage you do so. In the scene, an efficiency auditor asks a manager what he does for the company and the manager just can’t come up with a comprehendible answer. After a number of ...
Views: 1526(1 vote) - A Word About Responsibility in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Dr Ana GarciaIn November 2008, I felt ready to go to the next stage in my public speaking. As I started to focus on leadership, in my mind I could suddenly project myself towards the future into a world of management and leadership much more efficient and compassionate, human and effective, than what I ...
Views: 1638(3 votes) - Commitment & Success in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Dr Ana GarciaI don’t think I have to tell you, if you have picked this book and especially if you have kept reading so far, anything about commitment, because you are already committed not only to becoming a better speaker but also to your own personal growth. It was June 2009, after I made the ...
Views: 1828(2 votes) - An Act of Love - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Dr Ana GarciaMost people believe that money gets the world go round. So did I… until my life changed in a way that things stopped being the way they used to be and started to change in ways that, at the time seemed harsh, difficult… even unfair… … and then I decided to look for the gift in my present ...
Views: 1621(2 votes) - The Call to Become a Public Speaker - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Dr Ana GarciaIn March 2008 I borrowed a friend’s “Triple Goddess Tarot” pack of cards (by Isha Lerner) and gave myself a reading. Among the cards that came up, one took the place of the “New Moon or New Beginning” – It was the card No. 23 or Infinite Truth. Among the meanings of this card, the following ...
Views: 1746(3 votes) - Some Speaking Tips - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Dr Ana Garcia• Never miss an opportunity to speak: it is practice that makes it perfect. As long as you don’t hog all the time and attention, you will be seen as a reliable speaker that has the capacity to fill a gap when everyone else has either cancelled their speaking opportunity or changed their mind ...
Views: 1546(2 votes) - How To Be A Terrific Listener - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2010 from Maurine PattenPeople have a need to be listened to because of an increased sense of isolation at home and at work. Listening to someone shows that you care for that person. When we do not listen, we are showing that we really do not care about the person who is talking. Listening creates connection, ...
Views: 2132 - But I Don’t Know How to Network with People! - by Submitted on Oct 14, 2010 from Gil PizanoAt a recent event, someone I hadn’t met before came up to me and asked me for advice on how to network. I was flattered that the person asked me and puzzled at the same time. I asked him why he wanted my advice. He told me that he was observing me and noticed how easy it seemed for me to meet ...
Views: 1470(1 vote) - Assertive Strategies for Addressing Conflict - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2010 from Lorna BlakeAddressing issues can be challenging for many of us. Many times we either ‘fight’ or ‘fly’ depending on how we were raised and how we saw our families of origin deal with conflict. ‘Fighting’ and ‘flying’ both lead to alienation and are aggressive and passive behaviors respectively. When we ...
Views: 4849(3 votes) - Are you a Santa or a Scrooge? Communication Essentials for Professionals - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2010 from CarolAnn Bailey-LloydToo many professionals lose productive, high-quality workers and business partners simply because they don’t have a clue on how to properly communicate with others. This holiday season is the perfect time to point out the critical differences that Santas and Scrooges have in the world wide ...
Views: 1590 - How to Use Google Alerts to Stay Ahead - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2010 from Serena CarcasoleUsing Google Alerts is a great way to keep informed about what is being talked about online. You can use it to keep track of names, products, news stories, popular subjects, and anything else that keeps you better informed. With a Google account and a few keywords, you can create your own ...
Views: 1616 - Doing All the Talking - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2010 from Marnie GreenOn a recent cross-country flight I was seated in front of a gentleman who was highly intelligent, skillfully articulate, and utterly clueless. How did I know all this about the man who sat behind me? For the entire four hour flight he talked, and talked, and talked, and talked. I learned about ...
Views: 903(1 vote) - In Sales, What Breed of Dog Are You? - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2010 from Monique MacKinnonIf you are a solo-entrepreneur or small business owner, or even operating on a base plus commission arrangement, you need to sell to your prospective clients and Joint Venture (JV) partners to be financially successful. Whether you are a novice or seasoned sales professional, here is some of ...
Views: 1696(1 vote) - Selling is a Mind Game that Starts on Home Turf - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Clive MillerSelf sabotage stems from unconscious interference. We desire a certain outcome yet sometimes, a part of us refuses to cooperate. Yet if we could train our unconscious mind to work in harmony with our purpose, almost anything ought to be possible. How can we train our unconscious mind to ...
Views: 2320(4 votes) - "You Don't Understand Me!" - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2010 from Lex SisneyAn Issues Clearing Model for Better Communication “You don’t understand me!” a wife screams at her husband. “How can I possibly understand you?” shouts the husband. “You’re not making any sense!!” A mother bemoans to her teenage daughter, “We never spend any time together. You’re ...
Views: 2287(2 votes) - Communicating at Work - How to Use High Impact Language and Have More Influence on Others - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2010 from Allie CaseyCommunicating in the workplace to influence others requires using high impact language to effectively send your message. You may be reducing your ability to influence others by using softening phrases in your conversations. Listen for these 5 phrases when you speak that might imply a lack of ...
Views: 1183(1 vote) - Communicating at Work - Developing Leadership Skills and Management Communication Skills - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2010 from Allie CaseyLeaders and managers or supervisors require different skills. A description or list of management and leadership skills may have some overlapping qualities but they are distinct proficiencies. Leaders require the ability to see the big picture and make decisions about missions and goals. ...
Views: 1015(1 vote) - Rehearsing Your Way to Success - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2010 from Stephanie ScottiFrom Paper to Podium: Rehearse your way to prime time Think back to the last conference you attended. While an event’s keynote or session speakers may be subject matter experts, most are not professional speakers. If you’ve ever wondered what makes one presenter sparkle while others fall ...
Views: 1165(1 vote) - Sales, JV Partners and Wet, Sloppy Kisses - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2010 from Monique MacKinnonWhen I was a little girl and my parents had some visitors, I would sometimes go and hide in the closet. Doing this, I could avoid their overwhelming displays of affection – ranging from wet, sloppy kisses to smothering, inescapable hugs. So, why am I being self-revealing here? – To show you that ...
Views: 2421 - ***How to Find Your 'Real' Speaking Voice in 60 Minutes or Less - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2010 from Nancy DanielsRecently, I read an article about improving your voice in 7 days. While I do not agree with the writer’s suggestions or methodology, the truth is that you can actually find your ‘real’ voice in about 1 hour. Admittedly, your ‘real’ voice will not be a habit in only 60 minutes, but one of the ...
Views: 9954(4 votes) - How to Tell People Things They Don't Want to Hear - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2010 from Joan CurtisWhenever we face a communication dilemma, whether we must tell our aging parents that they can no longer live independently or tell our best friend that her clothes do not suit her, we agonize over what to do. How do we tell people things they do not wish to hear? These kind of communication ...
Views: 14506 - Why They're Not Calling You - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Sandy SchusselBefore anyone will call you about your services, they have to know you’re there. My friend, Connor, tells a story about a tree limb that fell on his lawn. His wife, Judy, concerned that the neighborhood children could get hurt playing on it asked him to call someone to cut it up and haul it ...
Views: 922(2 votes) - Ten Talent Wishes for 2010 - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergIt's my privilege as a leadership coach to work with and speak to many ambitious, hard-working and energetic people. They're often the up-and-coming talent, the get-it-done gang, and the backbone of a company's next generation of success. But they want more. They want to be heard--and they ...
Views: 678 - Caution! Pilgrims at Work - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergIf you're picturing pilgrims as those black-and-white clad Puritans who came over on the Mayflower, you're not alone. That's the image that comes to mind for most of us. But lately, I've been noticing a trend --that when we look hard enough, we're surrounded by pilgrims at work. With ...
Views: 699 - The Real Gifts to Give - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergA few months ago, I really looked forward to this December, deciding I'd take full advantage of the holiday season. I wanted to make a gingerbread house; I wanted to linger in new stores and find creative, surprising gifts; I wanted to bake cookies for my wonderful neighbors. But my ...
Views: 700 - How to be More Like My Dad - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergAfter sharing advice my dad gave me with one of my coaching clients, the client sighed and said, "I wish I could be more like your dad." I smiled and moved on, but the thought stuck in my head. How would someone become more like my dad exactly? Would they really want to be? (Mom, you can't ...
Views: 713 - Motion of Emotion - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergI have a milestone birthday fast approaching. I used to get emotional about birthdays, but not anymore. Maybe it helped to hear my grandmother Muz (who lived to be 91, and who I miss every day) tell me "Birthdays are better than the alternative." Even if you're not celebrating a milestone ...
Views: 852 - Carry-on Only! (Only carry the necessities in your story) - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Sandra Dee RobinsonHave you taken a trip in a small plane? I mean truly small… the type that requires a limit of one carry-on bag only? Aside from the apprehension that I personally feel about bouncing around in a small airplane, I feel a slight anxiety about the packing of this all-important bag. “Carry on ...
Views: 1416 - Public Speaking - Four Types of Words to Avoid When Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gilda BonannoWhen you've giving a presentation, your words can affect your ability to communicate your message to your audience. If you want to be a more effective presenter, avoid these four types of words: FILLER WORDS Filler words are words such as "um," "ah," "like," "so," and "ok," which are used ...
Views: 5573(2 votes) - Public Speaking - Body Language Mistakes: Gestures, Movement, Posture & Facial Expressions - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gilda BonannoNon-verbal communication, or body language, is an important part of public speaking. Your body language includes your posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and voice. At the very least, your body language should not distract the audience and with a little practice, it ...
Views: 5697(1 vote) - Public Speaking - 5 Frequently Asked Questions about How to Use Eye Contact - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gilda Bonanno1) Why should I use eye contact? It helps you connect to the audience, no matter how big or small. Whether you're speaking to an audience of four or four thousand, it can help to create a one-on-one communication experience for each audience member. It also demonstrates your confidence and ...
Views: 1340(1 vote) - ***The Best Way to Eliminate Excessive Nasality in Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA few years ago, my son’s 7th grade teacher had the strange ability to increase the volume of her voice by means of her nose. While I have worked with thousands of people in voice and presentation skills, this particular ‘skill’ is something I had never heard before and haven’t heard since. ...
Views: 4012 - ***Take the Test to See If Your Speaking Voice Is Plagued by Excessive Nasality - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen you think of Fran Drescher in her role as The Nanny, what thought first comes to mind? Her beauty or her nasal voice? For many people, their first thought is her whiny voice which, over time, can be quite annoying, even nerve-wracking, for her listeners. While Drescher’s infamous sound ...
Views: 4245 - A Public Speaking Passion - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Dr Ana GarciaExtract from one of my Master of Ceremonies notes, April 2009: “April is a month that has a very distinguishing feature… and I am not talking about my birthday! I am talking about Easter. Easter is about the Passion of Christ. I am not going to preach to you about anything ...
Views: 1940 - The Triangle of Truth - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2010 from Mike RobbinsI have a love-hate relationship to conflict. I love it when things “work out,” but hate it when they don’t. My fear of things not working out, of people’s feelings getting hurt, or of me losing something important are usually high on my list of justifications for not saying certain things, not ...
Views: 1258 - Reach Out and Connect – Impact of Connection - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2010 from Terrie AndersonThis is the second in a series of articles to help you improve your communication skills and establish stronger relationships at all levels. A lot of stress and angst can be removed from our lives if we can learn to effectively communicate. When we meet someone we are given a short time in ...
Views: 2244 - The Key to Becoming a Great Receptionist - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2010 from Arthur MarkhamWho says being a receptionist is an easy job? Well, it may be easy in a sense that the job is a routine, but contrary to popular belief, being a company’s receptionist is a crucial job. For one, you are most likely to be the first person who people talk with whenever they call or visit the ...
Views: 9615(3 votes) - Fear Free Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2010 from John J. LimThe Major problem that most people facing when comes to public speaking is the unnecessary stress created from their fears such as fear of loss, fear of the unknown, fear of embarrassment, fear of losing faces… these are the major causes of all the needless pressures that hinders their ...
Views: 822 - Mending Our Ways - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2010 from Eugene Yiga“Not to mend one’s ways when one has erred is to err indeed.” – Confucius We all make mistakes. What separates us is how we respond. Either we pull up our sleeves and do what we can to make things right or we throw away something beautiful and potentially lose it forever. Please don’t do the ...
Views: 1719(4 votes) - Interview with Best Selling Author and Couple’s Therapist, Harville Hendrix - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2010 from Stephanie MicheleSome people may find it odd that I, a woman in my 30’s, who has never been married choices a couple’s therapist as one of my greatest idols. His name is Harville Hendrix, PhD. He is the author of the bestselling book, “Getting the Love You Want” and co- founder of Imago Therapy that was ...
Views: 1337 - The Art of War - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2010 from Eugene Yiga“Wars teach us not to love our enemies, but to hate our allies.”- W.L. George With so many interactions with so many different people, we’re bound to butt heads every now and then. And if we’re not careful, those conflicts could ruin a great relationship. (We’ve all seen that happen!) But we ...
Views: 2817(6 votes) - Sample Smart Answers To Frequently Asked Interview Questions - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2010 from Daniel ChakrabortyInterview- the word is like a nightmare to a countless people all through out the globe irrespective of caste and creed. Well it might be a natural syndrome to be a little scared of this procedure. A little fear is your friend. It always makes you cautious. You do not make the mistake to take ...
Views: 3173(2 votes) - The Art of Critique - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2010 from Eugene Yiga“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” – Douglas Adams We all make mistakes. What matters most is how we respond to them. But what often stands in the way of this is ...
Views: 2336(4 votes)