Political Discussions in the Workplace - Danger Zone

Discussions regarding the politics seem impossible to avoid. The media is bombarding us with information as this election year there are many "firsts" in our history. Freedom of speech is our right - but is it right to discuss politics in the workplace?

Improving Your Communications Skills is Essential in Business!

Studies have shown that communication skills, written or oral, and the ability to work with others, are the main factor in contributing to success. You need to be clear on why and what you want to communicate, and that the information is useful.

Delving Into Diversity - Increasing Inclusion

Their Nielson ratings and audience appeal are about more than just singing and dancing. The contestants on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, although mostly young, come from all walks of life, different geographic regions, races, religions and ethnic origins.

Communication Through the Filters

How many times have you looked back on a conversation only to say to yourself in exasperation "they didn't hear a word that I said." Fact is they likely heard every word that you said. The problem is they listened through their filters.

Communicating in Context

A short piece about Contextual Frameworks and how communicating within them increases your efficacy. To be a really successful communicator, you need to have a contextual framework for your communications. What does that mean? Well, it's a lot simpler than it probably sounds.

In Tough Times, is Your Definition of Success Too Narrow?

You have seen it far too many times. Successful, top-of-the-heap leaders gone awry. Madoff. Blagojevich. Lay. Just to name a few. On top of these disappointments, you overlay the uncertainty of our economic outlook... and you try to make sense of this mess.

Minute Takers - Tips For Taking Meeting Minutes #1 - Understand the Meeting

Good meeting minutes are essential for every organization, but the challenges of the minute taker's role are not always appreciated. In the first of a series written by a professional minute taker, here are some tips on how to take great meeting minutes.

Free Thank You Notes For Colleagues Who Are Moving On

These free thank you notes can be used for a colleague or subordinate who has been recently promoted or wooed away by a new company. Generally, it is best to let the tone of your relationship dictate the tone of your note. However...

How to Write Business Letters 101

No matter what type of business that you work in, it is important that you learn how to write business letters. There are any number of instances where a letter is needed, from thank you notes to sympathy letters to proposal letters and more.

Generation Gap at Work

Every generation comes with its own set of qualities and people belonging to a similar generation exhibit the same kind of qualities more or less. This is a golden age because we have nearly four generations interacting with each other and also working together.

How to Recognize and Understand Behavioral Styles

Do you ever wonder why you click with some people and struggle to find common ground with others? By understanding the four basic behavioral styles, you can adjust your own style to be in alignment with the other person, thereby creating stronger rapport and trust.

Forgiveness at Work is NOT Singing Kumbaya

Can forgiveness and business be compatible? We don't often think about forgiveness in a business context. It's usually not in our vocabulary at work. However, it needs to be. Forgiveness at work creates a healthier work climate or environment and creates many other real benefits.

How to Resolve Conflicts Effectively - 4 Steps to Deal With Conflict

Why is communication important in conflict resolution? Only because conflicts happen ever so often in the workplace, in groups, in the church and we have to learn to deal with them well. Learn how you can effective diffuse conflicts and bring harmony in your workplace!

Trust is a Choice

In my recent consulting with several different companies, I have found a lack of trust at the root of many of their problems. Sometimes, the lack of trust is for other co-workers and other times it's a lack of trust in the company or administration.

How to End a Joint Venture Painlessly

During your ongoing business dealings, you may find that your markets change, your customers grow and diversify into other demographics, and even your products or services may modify into something new. This can also be the case for your joint venture partner's business as well.

Office Politics - Successful Tactics For Five Games

One of the seven deadly sins listed by Mohandas Gandhi was politics without principle. Playing corporate games with principle represents taking the high ground. Here are five games that frequently occur in business organizations, with suggestions for how to wend your way through these moral issues.

Dealing With Angry and Hostile Coworkers

It's normal to react angrily when a colleague is hostile to you. Everybody experiences this scenario at least once in business. Now you have a choice. How are you going to use this anger and hostility when you have to deal with these two personality types?

Delivering Difficult Information Successfully

We all avoid delivering difficult information because we are not sure of the outcome. "What if?" keeps us from delivering information in a timely way. What if there were a good way to deliver difficult information successfully, be effective and create a positive improvement in performance?

Family Values in the Workplace Family - Learn to Ignore Insults

Successful relationships are usually the result of deliberate choices. We were taught if you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all. But in every workplace are people who didn't acquire this family value. This article encourages the choice of conflict-avoidance at work.

How to Create Perfect Business Email Communications

There are different levels of business etiquette and email business communications. When emailing people there are different ideas and ways to convey messages in your email. Learning the tricks of perfecting a email is a great opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills and business communication etiquette.

Shark Attacks in the Workplace

If you've lived anywhere near the coast and swam in the ocean you have probably thought about being attacked by a shark. But have you thought about being attacked by a fellow employee who harasses and bullys you until you are so wounded that you leave?

Getting an 800 Number

Many small business entrepreneurs are competing with their larger counterparts by implementing an 800 number in order to create a bigger business image. An 800 number provides small businesses with nationwide accessibility thus enabling customers to call when they need to without thinking twice about making that call.

Leading After a Loss - A Lesson From the Other Kobe Bryant Vs LeBron James Conflict

Though they didn't meet in the NBA finals, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James had a different, unexpected sort of conflict near the end of the season. Their contrasting responses to setbacks under pressure point to an important lesson about losing and leading that applies to the workplace.

Business Communication Revealed - 6 Ultimate Steps to Improve Your Business Communication

Business communication is a type of communication use to promote an organization, a product, or a service. It also refers to the process of relying information to people within and outside the company (example; employees, top management, suppliers, etc.). Here's how you can improve your business communication.

What a Pain!

There's always one or two of them at work. They can take a perfectly good Friday and make it seem like a Monday with their ability to magnify problems, while rarely, if ever, contributing to a solution. They are difficult co-workers, and you can't get rid of them.

What to Do When That Jerk Does it Again

Rather than escalating into bigger conflict when face with difficult behavior or worse, see how to sidestep or resolve conflict or work around it - even demonstrating how to keep cool while under fire. Imagine! Someone's difficult behavior is an opportunity for you to show your innate decency...

Business Phone Systems - An Inevitable Part of Every Organization

Businesses around the world today are fast paced and demand quick access to every single data that is needed. Time has become a very important factor for a business to succeed. In certain businesses, their success or failure seldom depend entirely on their efficiency in managing their time.

Intent Vs Impact

Did you ever have an unexpected impact on a person to whom you were communicating and had no understanding as to why? What can you do if you realize that there is a mismatch between your intent and your impact on a colleague, friend, or someone at home?

Business Communication Etiquette - What Does Your Business Card Say About You?

Business cards are an important way to communicate with each other in today's business world. Whether it is a causal meeting on an airline flight or at a formal networking function our card, and how we handle the interaction of presenting the card, says a lot about us professionally.

Everything Counts

Everything you say; every thought you entertain; and everything you do has a direction, which serves as an advance or a retreat in respect to your pursuit of excellence. Everything, regardless of size or intent, has bottom-line consequences; therefore, everything counts - this is the golden rule of excellence.