Using transitions in your writing is like taking readers by the hand and guiding them exactly where you want them to go. Transitional words such as “however,” “meanwhile” or “likewise” create relationships between your sentences and paragraphs so that readers can understand why you’ve written sentences in a particular order.
The magic of a thesaurus is that it can take your business writing from drab to unforgettable. Which thesaurus to use? Nothing beats the print version of Roget’s International Thesaurus. But for ease of use, try these bookmarkable online editions:
Which is proper “me and him” or “him and I”? It’s a good question. Often when people speak, they don’t get these pronouns right. Then, when they try to write using pronouns, people get confused about the correct grammar. Here’s the rule:
A policy has changed. Your task? Share the news with the office. Write a well-received policies and procedures memo by addressing these four questions:
We’ve offered advice before about keeping your professional and personal networks from overlapping too much. Now a new survey from OfficeTeam reveals that people are still uncertain about the rules of online social networking. Here are tips for blending personal and professional friends on Facebook:
Take the guesswork out of a relationship with a new manager by having an up-front conversation about expectations. No doubt, you’ll need to talk about the nitty-gritty of your everyday tasks. But don’t leave the conversation at that. Get a big-picture snapshot of your role, so you can come to a better understanding with your new boss.
Tried Twitter but find the deluge of information-sharing too much to manage? If that sounds like you, these web sites and services can help you manage the chatter and enrich your communication:
When a control-freak boss monitors your every move, you and your co-workers may be tempted to rebel. Instead, don’t let your annoyance show. “Getting visibly irritated when he leans on you will only make him think he needs to keep an even closer eye on you,” says Albert J. Bernstein, a clinical psychologist and author of Am I The Only Sane One Working Here? Here are more strategies:
Too often, people express themselves negatively without even realizing it. If your writing contains a lot of “no’s” and “not’s,” it’s a signal of negative writing. Using positive, self-assured, optimistic language is a better way to promote your ideas. Here are examples of negative sentences turned positive:
Ask a person if he likes criticism, and he’ll probably say no. Most of us would prefer constant praise. But most of us also want to know that people take our work seriously. We crave feedback that is thoughtful and thought-provoking. The trick is learning how to give and receive meaningful feedback. Here’s how:
Page 62 of 88«1…6061626364…88»