Communication Archives

Assertive and Aggressive: Know the Difference

What is the difference between assertive and aggressive communication? What can you do to avoid being aggressive? How can this help you to avoid conflict? The difference between assertive and aggressive communication is whether you are in control of your emotions. Another key difference between assertive and aggressive communication is how you present your message. In The Chimp Paradox, Steve Peters says that aggressive behavior is caused by your emotional inner Chimp taking over. Read on to find out the key differences between assertive and aggressive communication and what this has to do with your inner Chimp.

Inspectional Reading: Understanding Key Points

How can inspectional reading help you comprehend a book better? How do you read inspectionally? Mortimer Adler’s book How to Read a Book describes inspectional reading as the second level of reading. At this level, a reader can understand the main concepts of the book by skimming it and reading its high-level content. Learn how you can understand a book in just 15 minutes with inspectional reading.

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Quotes by Neil Postman

What are the best Amusing Ourselves to Death quotes by Neil Postman? Do Postman’s observations from 1985 still hold true today? Although Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death was published over thirty years ago, the messages still hold true today, if not more than ever. Postman warns us of a world that is more focused on entertainment than truth and value. Continue reading for some of Neil Postman’s quotes from Amusing Ourselves to Death.

One-Minute Goals: Give Your Employees Direction

What are one-minute goals? How do you set them? Why do one-minute goals work? If you want to learn how to be a one-minute manager, then you need to learn about one-minute goals. Each goal you set should be readable in one minute or less, hence the name. When you have these written performance standards and deadlines, employees feel more driven and have direction. Here’s why you should set one-minute goals for your employees and why they work.

Why Should You Read? Because Reading Is Learning

What is the major benefit of reading? What questions should you ask yourself while you read? How do know which books you should read? Mortimer Adler says that the reason you should read is simple: reading is learning. And to be well-read is not to have read a large number of books, but to have a high-quality understanding of good books. Here’s Mortimer Adler’s advice on how to read better and how to choose which book to read next.

How Religious TV Shows Undercut Religion

How does a church-based religious experience differ from a religious tv show? In what way do religious tv shows negate the traditional religious experience? According to Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, religious tv shows turn religion into something easy, self-serving, and trivial. Rather than focusing on the messages of the religious texts, tv programs attract audiences with lavish sets, images, and even secular actors who endorse them. Learn how religious tv shows focus more on entertainment value than the religion itself.

How to Cope With Anxiety Triggered by Criticism

Do you suffer from anxiety triggered by criticism? How can you reframe this criticism so that you no longer feel anxious about it? One aspect of life that triggers anxiety in almost everyone is criticism. Though unjust criticism might sting, it can be considered a compliment—it means you’re doing something that merits jealousy and attention. Here is how a small change in perspective can help ease anxiety triggered by criticism.

One-Minute Redirect: Instantly Fix Poor Performance

What is a one-minute redirect? How can performing one-minute redirects improve your staff’s performance? In The New One-Minute Manager, a one-minute redirect is a way to give immediate, effective, and constructive feedback to your employees when they’re not performing up to standard. This method works better than the typical performance review because it allows employees to correct their mistakes immediately. Learn why you should use one-minute redirects rather than performance reviews.

The Post-Truth World: The Era of Entertainment

Are we living in a post-truth world? How did modern society come to value entertainment over truthfulness? And how has looking good on camera become all that matters? Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, believed that we were entering a post-truth world—and since this book was published in 1985, many believed we have entered this era already. Postman feared that the public cared more about the entertainment value of the news rather than the truth and relevance of the information. Here is how the invention of television pushed us into the post-truth era.

Sam Walton’s Leadership Style: Trust in Your People

What was Sam Walton’s leadership style? How did Walton keep the small-store feel even when Wal-Mart had thousands of stores? Sam Walton had a “whistle while you work” attitude. He trusted his employees, encouraged open communication, held managers to the same expectations as their underlings, and more. This created a close-knit company culture in Wal-Mart’s early days. Keep reading for more details about Sam Walton’s leadership style.