Mar 3, 2021 | Communication Skills |
Whether it is from those who work under us or our coworkers, we are all faced with questions in our daily lives. Of course, not all questions may warrant a response. But when a reasonable person genuinely enquires about something, it is important to listen and respond...
Oct 22, 2020 | Communication Skills |
“The right word at the right time will unlock the door to treasures – the wrong one will close it forever” – Rasheed Ogunlaru Think about a discussion you have been planning to have with your manager. For example, to ask for a raise. Perhaps as a manager,...
Jun 1, 2020 | Communication Skills, Emotional Intelligence |
On a recent archaeological dig in Man Bac in what is now northern Vietnam, a team of researchers made a remarkable discovery. While unearthing the remains of some Stone Age people who were buried 4,000 years ago, they discovered one young man who had been placed in...
May 30, 2020 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself, Emotional Intelligence |
There was an old man whose most beloved possession was a watch left to him by his late wife. He treasured the timepiece and had it on his person wherever he went. One day, in anticipation of his grandchildren arriving for a visit, he was cleaning out the spare...
Mar 25, 2020 | Communication Skills |
This guide contains everything you need to know about dealing with conflict, disagreements, and other difficult conversations – be it at work or outside it. How to listen well. Why conflicts are natural? What to do, and what not to do when dealing with...
Mar 20, 2020 | Communication Skills |
The world is unpredictable and full of chaos and change. Many things can cause worry and tension in an organization. Mergers & acquisitions, leadership wrangles, controversies, and pandemics such as Covid-19 are just some of the many things that can cause a crisis...
Dec 17, 2019 | Communication Skills, Emotional Intelligence |
“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced man relies on the language of the first.”― Ralph Waldo Emerson In recent years, technology has brought in a big change in our ways of communication. With the best tech devices and the most vibrant...
Jul 3, 2018 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
“I want to give you some feedback.” If you are like most people, once you hear the above statement, your heart will start to beat a little faster, your palms might begin to sweat, and in certain situations, you might even begin to shake. Feedback can make anyone...
Jun 19, 2018 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
Giving good quality feedback is an important skill to have in any organization. Doing so regularly with our peers gives everyone an accurate understanding of how they are doing at work, and what needs to change/improve. However, I have always felt that the importance...
Jun 19, 2018 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
It is the end of the quarter. And it is feedback season again! Feedback is a word many people dread and it makes them uncomfortable, while for others it is a tool to reflect on and improve performance. Having been on both ends of the feedback spectrum over my career,...
Nov 27, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
There was once only one orange left in a kitchen and two chefs were fighting over it.”I need that orange!””Yes, but I need that orange as well !”Time was running out and they both needed an orange to finish their particular recipes for the...
Nov 15, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
In the previous four articles, I have written about what conflicts are, what not to do when they happen, how to prepare to solve them through a conversation, and some practical tips to follow during the conversation itself. However, doing all this doesn’t guarantee...
Nov 8, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
So you have prepared well (read my previous article), and are walking into a conflict resolution conversation with trust and respect for the other person. You have established ground rules for the conversation, and you know your BATNA. Even with all this preparation,...
Nov 6, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
A conflict resolution conversation is one of the most critical conversations in any organization. The success or failure of this conversation will determine how the inherent energy in a conflict will be used, and how the relationship between the involved parties will...
Nov 2, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
We all deal with conflicts in the workplace. In the last 12 years of my professional career, I have had my own share of conflicts. That has left me with some learnings about how to navigate through them successfully. This article is the second in a series of articles....
Oct 31, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
CONFLICT! Is that a word that scares you? Is that something that makes you run in the opposite direction? Do you wish you had the skills to handle conflicts better? If you are like most people, you are no fan of conflicts and have often been caught up in the maze of a...
Jun 23, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself, Emotional Intelligence |
Tom : “I am sorry I am a bit late to this meeting. My previous meeting ran over.” Sara : “I am more worried about the missed deadline on the product your team is developing. Your team is slow.” Tom : “It’s not my fault. Two members on my team reported sick last...
Feb 6, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
One of my most vivid memories from my childhood is when my grandmother mistook me for my father. I first thought she had gone crazy, but I was relieved when it was diagnosed as cataract in her eyes. Within a few days and after a small surgery, I was back to being her...
Jan 11, 2017 | Communication Skills, Deploy Yourself |
Listening is one of the most basic skills required in human communication. Then isn’t it strange that there is no formal training on how to listen in our school and professional system? The lack of emphasis on listening could be because we believe that listening comes...
