Communication Archives

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.

John Kotter: How to Communicate the Vision for Change

How can you effectively communicate your vision of change to your employees? What things should you avoid when you’re communicating the vision? According to Kotter, once you’ve developed a sense of urgency, assembled a credible and empowered coalition to lead the change effort, and articulated a clear vision that can anchor every decision and action taken within the organization, you’re ready to sell the change project to the broader organization. Continue below for tips on how to communicate your vision for change.

The Instinctive Reaction Tendency—Explained

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Instinctive Reaction Tendency

What is the instinctive reaction tendency? How do you keep calm in stressful situations? The instinctive reaction tendency is the inclination to react without thinking during stressful situations leading to ill-informed decision making. You can control the tendency by keeping calm during stressful situations and recognizing that you still have some time to think methodically before making a decision. Read on to learn more about the instinctive reaction tendency.

Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies: Communication Tips

What is the preferred communication method of each of the four tendencies? How do you determine which of the four tendencies a person belongs to? In her book The Four Tendencies, Rubin provides some tips on how to effectively communicate with each of the four tendencies (upholder, obliger, questioner, and rebel). She gives advice on things to say that will satisfy all four tendencies and shares questions you can ask someone to determine what tendency they belong to. Keep reading to learn about Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies framework and how to communicate with each tendency.

How to Be Persuasive and Always Get What You Want

What is the secret to mastering how to be persuasive? What is the danger in using psychological tricks to persuade people? You master how to be persuasive when you learn to use the psychological biases of people to get them to do what you want. This is how brands exploit the social proof bias of fans to get them to buy products promoted by their favorite celebrities. However, leveraging the psychological biases of people can backfire when it is done too transparently or it is used to achieve immoral ends. Read on master how to be persuasive and get people

How to Foster Mutually Beneficial Relationships

How can hiring more personnel help you improve your personal relationships? What two things can you do to improve your mutually beneficial relationships? Mutually beneficial relationships aren’t always focused on romance—it’s important to deepen your connections with others, even at work. In their book Who Not How, Sullivan and Hardy explain that there are two ways of strengthening your personal relationships: by giving generously and by engaging wholeheartedly. Continue reading to learn how personal relationships benefit both parties and how to grow them.

Erin Meyer: What Is Affective Trust?

What is affective trust? How do people from personal cultures approach professional relationships? Affective trust is trust that develops based on how you feel about the other person. Affective trust is the trust that people of all cultures feel towards their family and friends. But in personal cultures, it’s also the cornerstone of professional relationships. In this article, we’ll look at how members of personal cultures build trust and present some tips you can use to build trust in a personal culture.

How Peach and Coconut Cultures Approach Disclosure

What is the difference between a “peach” and a “coconut” culture? How do peach and coconut cultures approach personal disclosure? The peach/coconut model describes how different cultures indicate the depth of their relationship. People from peach cultures seem friendly on the outside but difficult to know on the inside. In contrast, people from coconut cultures may seem cold and unapproachable on the outside, but once you get to know them, you can build a deep, personal relationship with them really fast. Keep reading to learn more about peach and coconut cultures, according to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer.

How to Join a Group Conversation Without Intrusion

How do you join in a group conversation without being rude? Is there a polite way to interrupt an ongoing conversation? Whether you’re at a work party, a family get-together, or a business meeting, it’s important to connect with others. But that’s not always easy when they already know each other or are already engaged in a conversation. So, here are some tips on how to insert yourself into a group conversation.

Deductive vs. Inductive Thinking: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between deductive vs. inductive thinking? Which cultures tend to adopt either style of thinking? Deductive thinking moves from broad, overarching principles to specific observations. In contrast, inductive thinking moves from specific data points to overarching hypotheses or theories. According to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer, Latin Americans tend to be deductive thinkers, whereas North Americans and people from Anglo-Saxon countries tend towards inductive thinking. In this article, we’ll consider the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning in a cultural context.