Communication Archives

Emotion and Facial Expression: Can You “Read” People?

Is there a relationship between emotions and facial expressions? How can you “read” someone’s emotions, according to psychology? According to Lisa Feldman Barrett’s research, the idea that facial expression reveals emotion is an outdated concept. Barrett claims that emotions are constructed rather than innate to humans, so a facial expression could have different meanings from one person to the next. Keep reading to learn why facial expression and emotion actually aren’t related, according to Barrett.

The Importance of Feedback in the Workplace: Heighten Your Awareness

Is debate encouraged in your company? Is everyone, regardless of position, listened to? Intel CEO Andrew Grove explains how debating and listening can help you become aware of blind spots, improve your decision-making, and recognize when you’re at a strategic inflection point. He offers two pieces of advice that will help you keep an eye on potential market disruptions so you can respond accordingly. Continue reading to learn the importance of feedback in the workplace in regard to strategic inflection points.

Rewarding Good Behavior: Is It Helping or Harming Kids?

Should you reward children’s good behavior while punishing bad behavior? Does rewarding good behavior help or harm kids in the long run? Author Alfie Kohn cautions that it’s easy for parents to forget about long-term goals when busy or overwhelmed, instead shifting their focus to whether or not a child is being “good” or “bad” at any given moment. Kohn says creating a system of rewards and punishments leads to potentially harmful outcomes in children. Read on to learn Kohn’s advice about rewarding good behavior, including his examples of rewards for children.

Do Trees Talk to Each Other? In a Way, Yes

Do trees talk to each other? How do trees communicate with one another? In Finding the Mother Tree, Suzanne Simard says trees are intertwined via fungus in a complex resource-sharing network. She further claims that trees “talk” to each other via this network to share resources and nutrients. Keep reading to learn why trees talk to one another.

Why You Should Ask for Creative Feedback

A leader showing the company's vision to employees on a laptop

Why is creative feedback important for artists? How can feedback make you better? In his book The Practice, Seth Godin shares tips and tricks to improve your creative skills. He says that after you finish a project, you should ask for feedback from others, but also not pay attention to a lot of criticism. Check out Godin’s advice for effectively using creative feedback.

What Is the Goal of Communication? The Secret Motive

What is the goal of communication—really? Why did Sheila talk to you at the office Christmas party? Why did she nod her head at almost everything you said? Hidden motives are a byproduct of humanity’s social nature, so it’s no surprise that they show up in our most fundamental forms of communication. Both our speech and our body language are full of messages other than the ones we’re directly aware of. Keep reading for an enlightening discussion about the hidden goals of conversation and body language.

Repairing Trust in a Relationship the Right Way

What happens when you lose trust in a relationship? How should you repair trust in a relationship when it’s lost? Author Stephen Covey says trust is your most valuable currency in a relationship. However, in society, Covey notes that high-trust relationships are still undervalued. To repair trust in a relationship when it’s broken, Covey believes forgiveness and demonstrating authenticity are two of the most important factors. Keep reading to learn Covey’s advice for repairing trust in a relationship the right way.

How to Be Trusted: What Not to Do

How can you show that you are trustworthy? What behavior should you avoid if you want to be trusted? How does building trust improve new and existing relationships? The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey explains why building and maintaining trust is important across all relationships, including those in your professional and personal life. Covey identified certain behaviors you can demonstrate to others to show that you are a trustworthy person. Keep reading if you want to learn how to be trusted by others, according to Covey’s advice.

Stephen Covey’s Trust Equation: Trust Adds Up

The Millionaire Next Door Formula for Net Worth

What is Stephen Covey’s trust equation and how can you use it? How does measuring trust help you predict your success? Stephen Covey outlined the trust equation in his book The Speed of Trust, a guide for leaders and individuals teaching the importance of cultivating and leveraging trust in relationships. The trust equation creates a simple way for readers to determine the likelihood of success based on the factors of trust, strategy, and execution. Keep reading for an explanation of Stephen Covey’s trust equation, including how to apply it to your own situation.

The Importance of Networking in Business: Triads

What can networking do for you and your business? What’s particularly powerful about networks of three? In Tribal Leadership, authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King explain how tribes develop through stages. At Stage 4, a tribal leader deliberately cultivates relationships with potential tribe members. The authors discuss three-part relationships (triads) in particular, identifying three main benefits: They’re stable, they’re easily expanded, and they enable creativity. Keep reading to learn about the importance of networking in business, the Tribal Leadership way.