Gearing up for a big family dinner party? Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, a wedding, or any other kind of family get-together, keeping the peace is no joke…especially when it feels like you’re constantly being provoked by relatives looking to pick a fight. In this Q&A, we have a sticky situation coming from…
Are you among the many (MANY) people who like to “take the edge off” before giving a speech with a drink or two? Whether you’re giving a speech at a corporate gala, acting as emcee for an event, or making a toast at a wedding, a quick drink before taking the microphone is a common…
Is your office embroiled in email warfare, with people sending passive-aggressive messages or getting worked up into a froth after taking an email the wrong way? Email can be a hotbed of miscommunication, but there are ways to ensure your emails are clear, effective, and are interpreted the way you intended. In today’s Communication Q&A…
We humans think with our eyes before we think with our brains. Visual information is hugely important for our cave-dweller brains, and when it comes to wooing an audience, how you look matters. Happily, you don’t have to worry about your body type, or your size, or other variables out of your control. Rather,…
I’m coming to the #elbowgate party a bit late. All the same, it’s too glittery a rhetoric issue for me to ignore. If you haven’t heard of Elbowgate, here is a brief summary: While votes were being gathered in the Canadian House of Commons on a contentious bill, a brouhaha was created when Prime Minister…
Note: This will be the last post for 2014 – enjoy it, enjoy your holidays, and I’ll see you again in January! Welcome to the most stressful small-talk time of the year! If you are among those who are biting their nails down to the quick with worry over how you are going to survive…
The term ‘cold calling’ strikes fear into the hearts of many a professional. Heaven’s knows it does to me. Cold calling, though, has its place. Actually, it can be a very useful activity for both the caller and the receiver. It can save time and energy, create new connections and opportunity, and grow your network.…
For my American friends, here is a guide to holiday dinner etiquette. Note the hilarity that can be created by using technically correct words in an unexpected context. Or just have fun with the sheer puerile nature of this offering. Don’t show it to your kids. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFzz6EZmkq8&w=560&h=315]
