There’s nothing like the holiday season to get people worried about their conversation skills. You’d be amazed at how many questions I get peppered with: “I’m a total introvert – how can I start a conversation at the corporate party next week?” “I want to look good in front of my boss. I probably shouldn’t…
So you’ve been appointed to The Committee (or board, or working group…). This group has a reputation for being tough – hard on new members, tricky to get to know and work with. You’re justifiably anxious to make a good first impression and fit in with this group as quickly as possible. How do you…
You can find David Moscrop on Twitter @David_Moscrop Politics and religion: two topics that are never to be broached in polite company. We all know how realistic THAT particular saw is. Political conversations are everywhere, and while there has never been a period in history where politics made for “nice” conversation, current trends towards populism,…
You can find Gord Sheppard on Twitter @GordonSheppard1 It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it… Oh, how true this old saw is! Non-verbal communication (including vocal expression like pitch or pauses) can drastically change the meaning of your words and the way they’re interpreted. And this is a communication skill leaders need…
You can find Gord Sheppard on Twitter @GordonSheppard1 It doesn’t matter how much I explain it, it just doesn’t seem to sink in! Ever feel this pang of frustration when trying to get a point across? It’s pretty common to think that when someone isn’t ‘getting’ what we’re trying to say we need to…
It’s been some time since I posted a book review, and I’ve been getting inquiries about what’s currently on my bookshelf. A few months ago, I got my hands on a juicy new Canadian release that those of you interested in the intersection between politics, critical thinking, and communication will probably love as much as…
You can find Tom Mucciolo on Twitter @TMucci Want to speak with the poise and confidence of a Fortune 500 CEO? Even our corporate top dogs need help with their presentations, and they get it from Tom Mucciolo. Tom is a highly respected speaking expert who specializes in performance and visual presentation for high-level…
Networking event, business mixer, after party…whatever you want to call it, these kinds of small-talk heavy events can be the bane of many people’s existence. That goes double if you are on the introverted side. We need to make conversation at these events, but how do you even start a conversation at a business networking event? Some…
Ever had to give a training presentation or speak on a topic that you didn’t have a lot of knowledge or experience with? What if you needed to deal with a snarky co-worker at the same time? Theresa has to deal with this, and she needs to demo a buggy software to boot! In this…
You can find Tina Varughese on Twitter @TinaVarughese Ever feel like you’re walking on multicultural eggshells? Diversity is a valuable asset to any organization – it increases things like happiness, profitability, and functionality – but it can be intimidating for people who are worried they’ll say the wrong thing or who feel like other…
