Communication Archives

Stephen Covey: Synergy and Its Benefits

How does Stephen Covey define synergy (habit six)? How does synergy relate to the previous five habits? According to Stephen Covey, synergy is the culmination of the first five habits. You need a deep conviction of your principles and values, a Win/Win paradigm, and the skills to develop and nurture effective interdependent relationships. Read more to learn about Covey’s concept of synergy, its benefits, what it entails, and how to improve your ability to synergize.

How to Develop Charisma: Be a Good Listener

What role does the ability to listen play in charisma? What steps can you take to become a better listener? Although it may seem like you only need to be a good speaker to have charisma, a big part of charisma is actually being a charismatic listener. If you take a genuine interest in others, they will be drawn to you. Here are some tips on how to develop charisma by improving your listening skills.

Olivia Fox Cabane: How to Be a Charismatic Speaker

What does it take to become a charismatic speaker? Which vocal styles are more charismatic than others? In her book The Charisma Myth, charisma expert Olivia Fox Cabane explains how to become a charismatic speaker. She says that you need to make the listener feel important, use a wide range of emotions, and speak with authority. Here are some tips on how to speak with charisma, according to Olivia Fox Cabane.

Nonverbal Skills: The Body Language of Charisma

Do you want to be more charismatic? What do nonverbal skills have to do with charisma? When you think of charisma, you probably think of a person who has magnetic energy and who can captivate any listener. However, what you may not know is that one of the most important parts of being charismatic is actually being a good nonverbal communicator. Here’s what Olivia Fox Cabane has to say about nonverbal communication in her book The Charisma Myth.

Verbal Communication: Strategies to Use and Avoid

What are some verbal communication strategies you should be aware of? Which ones should you use? Which ones should you avoid? We use various verbal communication strategies when we engage in conversations at home and work. There are three strategies—silence, violence, and “clever stories”—that you should seek to avoid, but it’s important to recognize when they are in use. Two strategies—useful stories and contrasting—lead to constructive dialogue and should be part of your skill set. Continue reading to learn about these verbal communication strategies.

Healthy Skepticism: How to Use Doubt as a Tool

Do you practice healthy skepticism? What’s the difference between skepticism and cynicism? Healthy skepticism is a handy tool to have around if you want to get at the truth. It’s also a way to achieve freedom of control, according to The Fifth Agreement authors don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz. This is your ticket to choosing how you want to live. Read more to learn how to leverage healthy skepticism, and how skepticism is different from cynicism.

Choose Your Words Wisely: The First Agreement

What is the first agreement of Toltec enlightenment? What does it mean to choose your words wisely? In The Fifth Agreement, don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz discuss the five agreements in Toltec enlightenment. The first agreement is to choose your words wisely—or, as they put it, to be impeccable with your words. They emphasize that you must be careful not to use words as weapons against yourself or others. Keep reading to learn how it’s important to choose your words wisely.

Leading Change Step 2: Form a Guiding Coalition

What does John Kotter mean by “guiding coalition”? Why should you avoid forming a change committee to lead organizational change? Step 2 in John Kotter’s 8-step change model says to create a guiding coalition. This means that you must create a group of impactful change leaders rather than relying on a single person to lead the change. This will convince the rest of your employees to follow the changes. Continue below for more on step 2 of Kotter’s change model.

How to Create an Inspiring Leadership Vision Statement

What is a leadership vision statement? Why is making a vision statement an important step in leading change in your company? In John Kotter’s book Leading Change, he stresses the importance of creating a vision statement when leading change. This is important because it allows you to articulate the ultimate vision of the change and connects all your employees towards a singular purpose. Continue below to learn how to create a vision statement.

Bias in Journalism: Why Journalists Take Sides

Do you think journalists are largely objective in their representation of news? What happens when a journalist disseminates a biased perspective? According to Nassim Taleb, bias in journalism is the result of journalists’ lack of “skin in the game.” Their salaries don’t depend on how much useful and accurate information they convey to the public—rather, they depend on how well they fulfill their employers’ expectations. In this article, we’ll describe the flaws caused by a lack of skin in the game that Taleb has identified in the news media.