The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you ever get stuck in a conversation and don’t know how to end it? Is there a way to politely escape a conversation? Whether you’re at a business party, an event, or a family reunion, odds are that at some point you’ve been stuck in an awkward conversation. Luckily, you don’t have to fake a phone call to get out of it—just try one of these tips. In this article, we’ll explore how to gracefully end a conversation without burning any bridges.
Do you know how to engage in small talk? What are the mechanics of a successful conversation? Should you prepare in advance? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine breaks down all of the components of a successful conversation. She gives you advice for questions and answers you should prepare in advance, how to actively listen, cues to give your partner, and how to speak assertively. Here are Debra Fine’s tips on how to hold a successful conversation.
How do the world’s cultures differ in terms of communication? How have these differences come about? On a communication spectrum, cultures can be classified into high-context (where people communicate and interpret messages at face value) and low-context (where you have to read between the lines to get the message). According to Erin Meyer, a culture’s communication style is shaped by its language and history. In this article, we’ll look at the two factors that underlie cross-cultural differences in communication: language and history.
What is the key to delivering clear yet considerate feedback? How does feedback differ across cultures? The ability to deliver feedback on someone’s performance in a way the receiver understands is essential to both your and the feedback receiver’s success. If you’re too indirect, the receiver might not understand its content and if you’re too direct, you may come across as cruel or incompetent. In this article, we’ll look at the two main ways cultures give feedback and present some strategies for giving feedback across cultures.
Do you hate talking about yourself? Why do you need to be willing to open up to others to make a connection? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine says that conversations should be balanced, meaning you can’t just keep asking your partner questions. Thankfully, you don’t have to go into conversations unprepared. Here is Fine’s advice on how to talk about yourself and tips on how to tell your story.
Do you want to master the art of small talk? How do you politely start and end a conversation with a stranger? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, author Debra Fine teaches readers how to master the art of small talk. She goes over the four steps to a successful conversation, how to start a conversation with a stranger, how to end a conversation gracefully, and more. Here is an overview of Debra Fine’s advice on how to master the art of small talk.
How do people of different cultures perceive time? What is the difference between linear time and flexible time perception? Understanding how other cultures perceive time is crucial for maintaining beneficial business relationships. Otherwise, you might be furious that you’ve been kept waiting—then become even angrier when your partner arrives and not only doesn’t apologize but is also confused as to why you’re so upset. In her book The Culture Map, Erin Meyer classifies the perception of time in different cultures into two broad categories: linear-time (aka monochronic) and flexible-time (aka polychronic). In this article, we’ll explore the differences in time
How can you keep a conversation flowing smoothly? What kinds of questions should you ask to keep a conversation going? There are two methods you can use to keep a conversation going smoothly: asking open-ended questions about the other person and following up on their answers with additional questions. By avoiding straightforward questions, you give yourself the opportunity to connect more with the other person. Here are good questions to ask to keep a conversation going.
How do you get people to like you? What is it about likable people that makes them that way? We all want to be liked and socially accepted—it’s a fundamental longing. Psychologist William James once said, “One of the deepest drives of human nature is the desire to be appreciated.” Though you won’t get everyone to like you, there are ways to make yourself into a person who gets along well with others, even if you’re not very social or are considered “difficult.” In this article, we’ll explore what it takes to become likable, drawing on sources from popular literature.
Do you manage a team made up of people from different cultures? How do you deal with cultural differences between team members? If you are a manager of a team represented by people from different cultures, it’s important to anticipate potential clashes that could happen between team members due to cultural differences. In her book The Culture Map, Erin Meyer presents several strategies managers can use when their teams need to work with different cultures or consist of people from different cultures. In this article, we’ll present the key strategies Meyer recommends when creating and managing cross-cultural teams.