Category: Uncategorized
-
Communicating effectively at work feels a lot like playing a game of catch. Whether you’re tossing a ball in your yard or sharing ideas in a meeting, success depends on focusing, working together, and keeping the ball moving. Are Your Eyes on the Ball? When playing catch, take your eyes off the ball, and you…
-
At some point in our lives, we all play tug of war. Two teams grab opposite sides of a rope, dig in their heels, and pull with all their might. The goal? Make the other side lose. Conflict often feels like a game of tug of war. Whether it’s a disagreement with a friend, a…
-
Interpersonal relationships involve people, emotions, and communication. Jump rope involves a rope, a little coordination, and occasionally tripping over our own feet. Yet, the two share a lot in common. TIMING MATTERS In jump rope, timing is everything. Jump too soon or too late, and you end up tangled in the rope. Relationships work similarly.…
-
You bet it is! Sometimes when two people interact, one of them may be trying to hide what they really mean, think, or are feeling, while the other person is trying to uncover meaning and seek understanding. And just like the game we played when kids, the outcome of the interaction can be surprising, competitive,…
-
Remember the game of “hot potato?” Well, we often treat conflict like it’s a hot potato. We panic when we think there’s no one left for us to pass the conflict to. We worry that we’ll be the one left holding it. Why We Rush to Pass Conflict Along Experiencing conflict makes many of us…
-
Interpersonal communication can be a lot like dodgeball? We need to stay engaged, read the room, know when to throw and when to duck, and be careful not to hit our own teammate. Think about it. Every conversation has its own movement, strategy, timing, and emotion. Some of us charge into discussions. Others hang back.…
-
When we say, “Honesty is the best policy,” are we lying? Lies are part of everyday life. Some of us use them to help smooth social interactions. Others use them to avoid having to face the truth. If uncovered, a lie erodes trust much like a slow leak in a tire erodes safety. What kind…
-
Praise is a relationship booster. And yet, we regularly underestimate its importance. Whether you’re in class, at work, or chatting, giving and receiving praise can transform the relationship. Done right, praise builds confidence and trust, and makes people more eager to show up and exceed performance expectations. But there are some rules to follow for…
-
We are living in a digital world. Texting a thumbs-up emoji substitutes for having a real person-to-person conversation. Although texting may feel efficient, is it preferable? What happens when texting replaces our actually talking to one another? Well, there are upsides and downsides. The Upside Texting is the fast food of communication. It’s quick, easy,…
-
A strong friendship doesn’t typically fall apart in one dramatic moment. Instead, it usually fades in the quiet spaces. The unanswered texts. The “let’s hang out soon” that never happens. The slow drift. But the good news? Strong friendships don’t depend on constant contact. Instead, they depend on one friend or the other creating opportunities…
Blogging About Communication 