Our actions can have an unintended result on others.  What we perceive as teasing or playing around, another can see it as bullying or harassment.  Corporations have sexual harassment training.  It is quite interesting in that an employee can be reported for sexual harassment even if both ‘parties’ agree there (more…)

Think of the people you work with … how do their thought processes differ?  Do some quickly decide, while others need more information?  Do some look at the personal side and how it will affect the team, while others look at the situation from a strictly-business perspective? (more…)

If I asked you if you have ever intentionally run a red light, what would your response be?

How about if I asked if you have ever slid though a red light?

Aren’t they the same thing? Don’t they both mean that you broke the law and proceeded when you should have stopped?

Which sounds better …. Less threatening, friendlier?

If you asked someone whose communication or personality style was opposite yours, would they agree with you?  Generally speaking, people that are more forceful and aggressive prefer the action words and words that have a ‘hard’ sound like the ‘k’.  People that are more introverted prefer the ’s’ and the ‘c’ sounds over the harsh ‘k’ sounds.

Do the words we use really make a difference?  Try it for yourself.

It isn’t what I said, it’s what you think you heard.

The New Mexico Business Weekly recently had an interesting article. It stated that research has shown that knowing someone’s natural behavioral style how they act and react in situations will help you match them to the position that will keep them engaged. And we know what happens when employees are (more…)

Even though I am a distributor of, and believe strongly, in the DiSC behavioral assessment, I have been fresearching other assessments, learning styles and behavioral models. Talk about an overwhelming task! There are at least a dozen types, including Myers Briggs, Hermann Brain Dominance, DiSC [and all the variations], Kolb Learning Style [which we use at Mountain State University in the Bachelors of Organizational Leadership program], locus of control [which we also explore in that same program], Impulsivity/Reflexivity, right brained learners / left brained learners, Visual/Vergal, Gregore Learning Styles …. The list literally goes on and on. 

In addition, there are auditory learners, visual learners, those that learn by actually doing …  

Emotional Intelligence assessments are gaining in popularity … I am certified to administer EI assessments and I use them in my coaching and workshops.  I believe that having high EQ can result in phenomenal outcomes.  Having a high degree of self-awareness, empathy, time management, drive strength, leadership and assertion are great tools to have, and to pass along to your team members. 

The bottom line for communications misunderstandings is to talk to the other person in the manner that they listen … tell them the information they need to make their decision, in the manner they need to hear it.

It isn’t what you said, it’s what they think they heard