Self Improvement

Making a Good First Impression

A positive first impression can't guarantee that someone will like you, or that you'll always form a successful or profitable business relationship. But a good first impression can help you optimize that important first contact with a potential networking partner.

The tendency to quickly form lasting first impressions is part of human nature. This is because a first impression establishes the framework within which a person's subsequent actions and behavior will be judged.

Becoming a Good Communicator

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Research shows that the most effective leaders are good communicators. They have learned to give clear instructions, listen to questions and suggestions, and keep people well informed. Research also shows that good communication promotes:

Using Persuasive Communication

When you need results from someone, but don't have authority over them, you have to be persuasive. If your goal is clear, you'll be able to get straight to the point. However, you also need to consider the other person's perspective. This will increase the persuasive nature of your request.

Receptive Behaviors in Communication

Once you have gone to the effort to make contact or to invite contact, you can do other things to improve your approachability. Your reception of other people – the behaviors you use when actually speaking to them – can have an important impact on how approachable they consider you to be.

Communication Mistakes in the Workplace

Communication mistakes abound in the corporate arena. One reason for this is that there's a lot of room for error. But a bigger and more insidious cause is a lack of forethought on the part of the communicator. In many companies today, there is an absence of rules governing communication etiquette, which makes it even more important to understand how to convey messages appropriately. Generally, there are three causes of communication etiquette mistakes:

Etiquette for Using Modern Communication Tools

Modern communication tools such as pagers, cell phones, and speakerphones have inundated the workplace. And why not? The cellular phone, for example, is convenient, handy in emergencies, and a productivity booster. Yet, if abused, these tools, and the people using them, can quickly incur the rage of their work mates.

The Power of Assertive Communication

Being assertive at work is advantageous in many ways. It's never necessary to become aggressive to express your opinion or to get what you want. When communicating assertively, you speak honestly and in a straightforward manner, show respect for the person you're interacting with, and use assertive body language.

The Three C's of Good Communication

The CEO asked the DVPs to estimate the ROI on the M and A proposal. Now, can you decipher that code? The chief executive officer (the CEO) asked the division vice presidents (the DVPs) to estimate the return-on-investment (or ROI) on the merger and acquisition (M and A) proposal.

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