Dianna Booher's Blog, page 34

What Does “Respect” Mean in Politics, Religion, and Race Relations?

“Given such a lack of respect from both sides of the current political environment and the seeming lack of it through Facebook postings, I’m wondering if the meaning of respect has been forgotten or even abandoned.” That comment came from one of my blog readers recently with a request for me to address the issue from a communication perspective.

So I’m taking on the challenge here and “upping the ante.”

I’ll broaden my scope to include race relations, religion, politics, and the workplace,...

10 Grammar Mistakes That Drive Your Friends Nuts

I recently posted this note on my Facebook page:

He: “I’ll try and call before the weekend.”
Me: (thinking) “He’ll try TO call before the weekend.”

Does anybody else have a grammar-auto-correct button that was installed in their brain by an English teacher or parent?

Within a few hours, a loooong list of pet peeves came back in response. So it appears that I’m not the only person on the planet with an implanted auto-correct button that goes off at the sound or sight of grammar errors in em...

5 Ways to Cool Off a Hot-Headed Customer or Coworker

Six colleagues and I sat huddled in an impromptu meeting before a general session. Someone raised the question of how to generate a bigger attendance at our regular meetings. As we tossed out various ideas and discussed the pros and cons, a stranger walked and seated himself at our small table.

Our leadership team paused momentarily, nodding in his direction, thinking that he possibly was an early attendee for the session to follow in that room. Since our discussion was not confidential, w...

How Well Do You Manage Yourself?

Leadership has been at the forefront of organizational thought for the past decade or longer. Executives, authors, speakers, and consultants have pondered questions like these: How do you inspire a team? What are the key characteristics of leadership? How do we train your managers to be real leaders? And so forth.

A key question should occur to all of us at some point: If all our leaders should be coaches rather than heavy-handed authoritarian bosses, …. then how well do you as an employee...

What Did Trump’s and Clinton’s Body Language and Style Reveal in the Debate?

Body language leaks the real feelings and truth behind the words. So what did the candidates really reveal to the audience in last night’s debate?

First, a caveat: One gesture alone means nothing. Body language should always be read in clusters, and gestures and movements must be compared to someone’s natural body language. For example, arms crossed across the chest is typically a defensive, closed posture—unless that’s someone’s natural way to sit or stand. For that person to stand or sit...

Trump and Clinton–Dump the Dour Demeanor

Media pundits and critics have commented on Trump’s and Clinton’s communication styles and demeanor almost as often as their policies. I’m convinced both could improve their rankings if they’d drop their dour demeanor in exchange for body language that builds trust.

They remind me of my high school principal, Mr. McGowan, who appeared to be in pain as he talked. I never recall seeing him smile—at ballgames, in the cafeterias, on holidays, or during summer break.

Some politicians and corpor...

3 Things You Should Say Before You Quit

Many employees have “come and gone” during my three decades as CEO of a small business—interns graduate, professionals move across country with a spouse, some find a better job somewhere else. The vast majority left on great terms. A few—well, let’s just say they weren’t missed.

But here’s what each group had in common: Those who left under less-than-desirable terms wrote the typical one-sentence resignation: “I’m resigning my position as X, effective X date.” But those who left on great t...

3 Common Myths About Professional Speakers and Speaking

When people walk into my kitchen, their eyes always immediately go to a large centerpiece of colorful teapots arranged in the center of my granite island: 21 miniature teapots to be exact—all given to me as gifts from someone I’ve mentored for the past 14 years. She started the collection as thank-you gifts after each of our sessions, wanting them to be mementos of our time together talking shop about the speaking business.

After she’d sent the 21st teapot to symbolize specific countries w...

How NOT to Hire Toxic Employees on Your Team

Nobody intends to hire the whiner, the troublemaker, or the sharp-tongued twit that ticks off customers and drives coworkers crazy. But somehow a few seem to work their way through the system and get hired, managing to lower the morale of the entire team.

According to research from two studies (one done at Harvard Business School and the other by CareerBuilders), the turnover cost to the organization of these toxic workers has been estimated from $12,500 to more than $50,000. The real cost...

4 Persuasion Techniques to Help People See Your Point

Bernie Madoff bilked investors of their life savings, pulling off the biggest fraud to date in US history. Charles Ponzi put “Ponzi schemes” in our business lexicon around the world. George Parker sold the Brooklyn Bridge twice a week for years until convicted the third time and sent to Sing-Sing. But these con artists weren’t necessarily persuasive. They were manipulators.

Persuasion is a neutral word. Persuasion tactics can be used for either noble or negative purposes. If your purpose i...