I received a call recently from a publisher who wanted to renew my subscription. At least I think that was the purpose of the call. The truth is I couldn’t understand most of what the person on the other end of the phone was saying. This wasn’t a matter of a foreign or regional accent [...]
Most industries have their own language. Acronyms, buzzwords, insider concepts, etc. are commonplace but act as a hinderance to clear communication. Unless you’re speaking to a group of people who are steeped in the material, avoiding highly technical or industry-specific language. Think about whether or not your grandmother could understand your communication. If your grandmother wouldn’t [...]
I was struck by a commercial for auto insurance. They were touting the benefit that if your car is totaled, they will pay you enough to get a car that is one model year newer. On the face of it that sound fine, and certainly they were presenting it as a positive. However, according to [...]
When you present your information, whether it is a live presentation or posted online, it is essential to ensure that your audience is keeping up with you. A strong structure will help them follow along and receive your message. However, you don’t want to put so much structure into your presentation that it distracts from [...]
E-mail has become the primary mode of communication for many people. It’s convenient and quick. There are, however, some simple rules that apply if you want to use the medium to get the best results. Respond in a timely manner. If someone send you a message that has a question, respond. Even if your response [...]
Whether it’s an e-mail, a proposal, or a blog entry, we spend a lot of time writing. The most important thing to keep your writing clear to get your point across and avoid misunderstandings. Keep the following in mind to assure your writing is read the way you intended. One idea per paragraph. Novels hold [...]
I was watching an informational video recently. The topic is unimportant, but suffice it to say the presenter was intelligent, knew his topic, and I couldn’t recommend him to anyone. Why not? He didn’t focus on the details. What do I mean by that? The focus of his presentation was the importance of information and [...]
Even though communication is critical to business, many businesses do not give it the attention it requires. Even in the best of organizations, breakdowns occur. The Harvard Business Review recently recommended the following three ways to ensure employees and team members understand and communicate well: Provide context. For people to understand a message, they have [...]
What drives some companies to succeed while others languish? Why does Kmart struggle while Wal-Mart and Target thrive? What the former lacks — that the latter have nailed — is focus. Wal-Mart focuses on “always low prices.” Target caters to a similarly cost-conscious market but focuses more on image and design. You can’t be all [...]
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