Speaking
Banter heroes are people who can always think on their feet—maybe people you tried to emulate when you developed your own speaking style.
When it comes to small talk, some people get it and some people don’t—or do they? Here are the five stages of conversational intelligence.
Your ability to communicate with others is paramount to your success in any arena of your life. You must get your point across in a clear and concise manner. As a receiver, you must listen intently when others are communicating to get their point. You must also decipher or decode those who aren’t clear or concise in their own communications.
When we’re trying to forge a bond with someone new, there’s one mistake we always seem to make, writes Mike Steib in his book The Career Manifesto. We immediately begin to fill in every available silence with details about ourselves.
Write it right, say it right, spell it right.
Write it right, say it right, spell it right.
Write it right, say it right, spell it right.
Watch your body language, and keep your ears open for the nuances of tone that create statements in disguise.
Whether giving a speech, addressing a meeting, or just talking one-on- one with an employee, take a pause before answering tough questions. Here’s why.
Holding your listener’s attention is as important as saying your piece clearly and fully—and probably harder to do. Use leading statements to keep the discussion focused on your main message.
Impact vs. affect, farther vs. further, emigrate vs. immigrate, and sympathy vs. empathy.
Over time, organizations gradually develop their own special terminology, abbreviations, acronyms, and jargon. But for new employees and people from outside the organization—like customers—this language can be bewildering. Here’s how to make it more accessible to the uninitiated.
If your voice is fine in conversation but fades when you’re addressing a group, try this volume control tactic from communications coach Karen Friedman.
