“Speak in anger and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” This popular quote is a cautionary tale of what could happen if we let our emotions get the best of us. Yet, it’s understandable to have an emotional reaction when you receive criticism. You may feel defensive. You may want to explain yourself and defend your actions. So…
Life has a way of presenting us with unexpected challenges. It sometimes makes us feel like we’re being pushed off a cliff rather than taking a deliberate leap. As the saying goes, we must learn to grow wings on the way down. In a recent interview, I shared my story of deciding to take the leap into my own speaking…
“People do business with those they know, like and trust,” according to the popular expression. As such, it benefits us to know how to use communication skills to make more meaningful conversations. I recently quoted those wise words when I was interviewed by Reader’s Digest Magazine for a communication article: How to Talk to Pretty Much Anyone. I also shared…
Sadly, it seems that the ability to disagree without destroying the relationship is a lost art. People seem to have forgotten how to constructively express their differences of opinion without digressing into a name-calling free-for-all. Interactions on social media are an exasperating example of our society’s loss of civility—especially during these unprecedented times. Certainly, there are times when the other…
“You have a bad attitude!” Even though we know people who could benefit from that negative feedback, that ugly wording is not the best way to share it. There are two reasons that saying “you have a bad attitude” is not the best way to get results: Those harsh words are likely to get a defensive response. It provides…
“Flight cancelled!” That email notification popped up just as I was heading to bed the night before a recent early morning flight. This situation and other travel travails have become all too common in this post-pandemic world. But there are some easy-to-implement ideas that can make travel less stressful. I’ve provided below seven tried and true travel strategies I’ve learned—some…