Isn’t it a wonder that we can communicate at all? First, we think about what we want to say. Then, we say something that is an echo of our thoughts. The receiver hears what they think we are communicating. Finally, laughingly, they interpret what they think they heard us say. All of this happens in […]
Archive | Relationships
The Power of Powerless Communication
Susan Cain, author of QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, recently wrote a very interesting piece for The Huffington Post on “powerless communication”. We at Speaking that Connects frequently stress the immense power of communication, so how exactly can it be powerless? It is really a matter of whether […]
Mind Reading for Beginners (Sort Of)
While reading The Wichita Eagle’s “Next Element helps groups with conflict, communication”, which discusses a unique Kansas-based corporate consulting agency, one particular passage stood out, “Partner Nate Regier said that he could tell within 15 minutes at a company staff meeting whether there is a problem, what it is, and how deep it is just […]
Applying Communication Lessons from the Living Room to the Boardroom
There are many similarities between the family and the workplace. For one, both involve groups of people brought together by circumstance, not necessarily by choice. Both also have structures and power dynamics that set the tone for the group as a whole. In a nuclear family, parents usually have the leadership role, much like managers […]
Communication Lessons from The Office
The American version of The Office came to an end one week ago today. While the series often contained farcical situations, it also taught valuable workplace lessons. With the series’ end came a number of articles illustrating these lessons, including “The Office” Finale: Series Offers Workplace Lessons for Students from the USA Today website. While […]
Presentation or Conversation? Speed Networking
I recently attended my first speed networking event. I reluctantly signed up, because I must admit, I have been biased against them. Having a background in speech and voice, I know that incessant talking and speaking above noise, can put strain on one’s vocal cords and cause hoarseness that can last for days. This was […]
Why Reading and Writing, but not Speaking and Listening?
For most of us, reading and writing were part and parcel of our elementary curriculum. We were diligently taught how letters made sounds, sounds made syllables, syllables made words, and words made phrases and sentences. We were taught to process what we read, to read for information and the subtleties that were “between the lines.” […]
When an Innocent Joke Goes Terribly Wrong
It’s natural to want to goof off at work every now and then. As long as productivity isn’t noticeably impacted, some employers don’t mind if their employees have a little fun. One popular day for businesses to get a little silly, especially media companies, is April Fools’ Day. Google and its subsidiaries are perhaps the […]
Capitalizing on Verbal White Space ™
By speakingthatconnects in Blog, Leadership, Non-verbal Communication, Presentation Skills, Relationships
When I was in third grade, I competed in a writing contest. The student with the best handwriting would have the privilege of writing the class letter to the President of the United States. Seems a bit silly today in this world of technology, but this was a few decades back. I wrote like a […]
How Do You Silence A Noisy Talker?
We’ve all been annoyed by discourteous speakers at various times in our lives. Whether they talk too loud, interrupt others, or talk too long, it is often frustrating for others in their presence. In group discussions, some may feel as if their ability to contribute has been compromised. In libraries or similar work spaces, many […]