You’re on your way to a meeting or you’re in the middle of a project that requires your focus, when someone tells you something important. “Got it!” you say. Later, though, you realize you weren’t fully tuned in. Consider what sort of listener you are, and then heed these tips:
Whether you’re writing for a company blog, newsletter or e-newsletter, your goal is to keep readers coming back for more. Here’s a short list of common mistakes people make when creating content:
You crave it. And you probably don’t get enough of it. Here’s how to ask for feedback on your performance: Schedule it. Explain what you want. Don’t fish for compliments. Ask for specifics. Stop being defensive …
Stop monopolizing a conversation. Every time someone asks you a question, ask one in return … Resist the urge to do several things at once … Avoid sending an email to the wrong person, with this tip from Patricia Robb, author of the “Laughing All the Way to Work” blog …
“Presence.” You know it when you see it: Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had it. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter did not. Those who have it gain an advantage in winning over others.
Strengthen your sentences by using fewer words and getting rid of awkward or passive construction. Practice by rewriting these wordy sample sentences, inspired by the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL):
In some offices, you might kick-start relationships between older and younger workers with these tips: Try reverse-mentoring … Go out of your way to collaborate with different generations … Don’t get hung up on office etiquette you think everyone should be following.
While these phrases aren’t grammatically incorrect, they tend to be used in all the wrong places: “With all due respect, …” “Does that make sense?” … “I hear what you’re saying, but …”
Practice. That’s the best way to get comfortable with speaking in front of others. Although the idea of public speaking may sound terrifying, your confidence will get a major boost from stepping out of your comfort zone and into the spotlight.
Affirm your credibility in a meeting with these five tactics:
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