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"Ever get an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach during a job interview? Ever see two interviewers swivel their heads toward one another, lock eyes and pause before answering your question?"
"If you're the kind of person who wants to know the other side of the story, here's a way to interpret some interview clues that could foretell a dismal future job experience.
"For starters, check out . . ."
Read the full article by Jill Cornfield (photo, left) at CNBC....
Linguist John McWhorter "traces the evolution of five words that have spent millennia drifting from one meaning into another."
"Allen's books are bestsellers. People pay attention to him, and we writers should too. If your reader cannot handle your message or document easily within two minutes, it is going to be put somewhere "as an option for work to do later." Or ignored. Or deleted."
"Employers will look for you to demonstrate listening skills during job interviews. Discover why good listening skills are vital in the workplace. Plus, see how to build this skill — along with bad habits to avoid."
"No matter how much we try to work with others and get along, the time comes when we can’t agree. It might be with a co-worker, a customer, or a boss. You don’t want to get into an argument. You don’t want to appear disagreeable. Yet, you can’t just go along. Difficult times call for difficult conversations," writes Joel Garfinkle (photo, left) in a piece at SmartBrief.com.
"Here are seven ways to help you look reasonable, interested and supportive, even as you disagree."
Read the full article . . .
"Maybe someone told you that you need to be more succinct when you speak. Don’t feel bad–science is to blame. Humans are programmed by evolution to be chatty; we use verbal communication to survive. But some of us are more talkative than others, and there’s hardly a clear-cut, universal definition for what constitutes excessive chatter in which situations. To help you figure out whether you’re your office rambler, it helps to unpack some of the most common motivations for talking a lot at work. Here’s when and why you might be overdoing it–and what to do instead."
"If you're in small business, be prepared to communicate. It's a important part of what small businesses do. The same thing goes for those who lead them. Here's why you must consider communications as part of your business."
"I was teaching a class recently when somebody raised his hand to ask a question. After I answered it, then he asked a follow-up, which I responded to as well. Both times, he apologized for asking those questions, despite my assurances that questions are important."
"How often do bosses and managers issue these reminders? “There are no stupid questions!” “Please ask as many questions as you need!” “I’m always on hand to answer questions.” Yet when people take advantage of these invitations, they often do so apologetically: “I’m sorry, just wanted to ask . . .” “Sorry, but I’m wondering whether . . .”
"So let’s get one thing straight: You should never apologize for asking questions. It doesn’t just reflect badly on you, it can weigh down everyone else on your team. Here’s why."
Read the full article by Art Markman (photo, left) . . .
"Imagine this scenario: Your supervisor emails you with a message that says “Please edit the attachment." Or perhaps the instruction is "Fix the attached" or 'Please give this piece some polish.'"
"What does it mean to edit, fix, or polish a business message? How do you do it? Sometimes correcting quirky punctuation, typos, misspellings, and nonstandard grammar is a challenge in itself. But what should you do beyond that?"
Read the full article by Lynn Gaertner-Johnston (photo, left) ...
"With email dominating your conversations in all aspects of your life—especially your professional life—you’re going to be sending lots of requests every day. From asking someone in accounting to run a report for you to pleading with someone else in graphic design to help you format a proposal, you probably send a lot of emails asking for favors."
"But when your request isn’t in person, it becomes all too easy for the recipient to ignore your message until it disappears into inbox oblivion—or, worse, delete it completely.
"So when you need a favor, how do you write an email that will get a response? The short answer is: carefully. Here are a few pointers to help you craft a message that will actually get your reader’s attention—and the response you need."
Read the full article by Caris Thetford (photo, left) at TheMu...
How You Should Prepare Students for the Mobile Shift in Business Communication
What’s Disrupting Business Communication? Your Students Are Holding It in Their Hands
Have You Prepared Your Business Communication Students for a Mobile Job Search?
Can Your Students Write Professionally for Mobile Audiences?
