We all use filler words, or vocal disfluencies, in our daily speech. The junk food of the applied linguistics world, they come off as sloppy and faltering. We should try to banish them, especially from our professional speech as much as possible. Right? Well, not necessarily.
October 10, 2019
Categorized in: Speaking
One of the most overlooked tools in clear communication is the paraphrase—summarizing what you’ve just heard so that you confirm you understood what the other person just said. This is such a simple, basic aspect of communicating effectively, but so often people ignore it, and it leads to all kinds of problems down the line.
Positive people have a way of telling even sob stories in a way that reveals a silver lining. That’s called a “positive explanatory style.” Develop it with these 4 steps…
Write it right, say it right, spell it right.
January 3, 2019
Categorized in: Speaking
The way you say something can be just as important as what you’re saying, so take note of your voice projection in daily conversation. Heather Yamada-Hosley offers these tips at Lifehacker.
November 1, 2018
Categorized in: Speaking
There are common words and phrases that you may use to soften your tone, but some of them can actually make you sound less confident or less knowledgeable. Avoid these phrases.
Anytime you’re wading into a situation where you’re trying to persuade strangers on the phone, consider these tips.
September 26, 2018
Categorized in: Speaking
If you’re about to present—and you’re an anxious mess, try these unusual tips to help calm your nerves fast.
September 13, 2018
Categorized in: Speaking
Q. I give a lot of presentations and am always envious of people who can evoke a laugh in all the right spots. I myself just don’t have that skill. Can it be learned?
September 6, 2018
Categorized in: Speaking
Most people believe they get interrupted because that is simply how the interrupting person behaves. In reality, the blame more often lies with the speaker rather than the interrupter.