How to be a better listener
Strategist and coach Zoë B offers five ways to boost your listening skills.
Limit replies
Word your email message to discourage recipients from sending replies to the entire distribution list. Example: Instead of saying “Can everyone meet Thursday at 1 p.m.?” send this direction: “If you can’t meet Thursday at 1 p.m., reply directly to me.”
Are you a true professional?
Answer true or false to the following statements: 1. I am giving 100% to my job and completing my work to the best of my ability. ___ True   ___ False 2. I take pride in the work I do. ___ True   ___ False 3. My contributions are valuable. ___ True   ___ False […]
Confirm pronunciations
Don’t stumble over an unfamiliar name when you will be meeting with someone. Call the person’s voice mail after hours to hear how he or she pronounces it.
How assertive are you?
This self-assessment scale will help you spot weaknesses in your ability to express yourself, especially where confrontation is concerned.
5 ways to improve your writing skills
Like it or not, people judge you by how you write. Strong writing skills will help you get noticed, earn your colleagues’ trust and move you up in your career, says author and writing coach Roger C. Parker. Five suggestions to help you improve your writing:
Beware of talking yourself into accepting a job
Q: “I can’t decide whether to accept a recent job offer. I’ve had a lot of trouble communicating with the manager, who seems unable or unwilling to answer simple questions. Although the work sounds great, I would have to work a different schedule every day. The pay is also less than I deserve. I do have a backup job offer, but I don’t enjoy that type of work at all. What should I do?”
Should you take notes in meetings electronically?
For some people, a computer will never replace a pen and paper for note-taking during meetings. But for others, electronic notes may make more sense, especially if they have to share them electronically anyway. Here are three questions to determine which way is best.
Disagree tactfully with someone in public
Disagree tactfully with someone in public, by using one of these leadoff sentences.
When training, context is key
When training someone on a new task, remember to take a step back and explain exactly why it needs to be performed, everything it accomplishes and everything it affects. This will go a long way in helping memory retention and embedding the importance of the skill in the trainee’s consciousness.