Author Archive
Characteristics of Good Constructive Feedback
We often confuse feedback with criticism - probably because much of our experience with it has had more to do with what we’ve done wrong than what we’ve done right or how we could do better.
This is unfortunate. Feedback should not be viewed as a personal assault or a list of errors, mistakes, or […]
One Step to Making Small Talk
Just the thought of small talk congers up painful memories of stilted conversations that revolved around the weather and umpteen other dreadfully boring topics. While small talk is engaging in non-personal conversation that is casual, light and “safe” - meaning that the topics are of general interest and are not offensive - it doesn’t have […]
Three Steps to a Powerful Thank You
Everyone likes being appreciated - I know I do and I suspect most other people do also.
We were taught - or “trained” - at a very young age to say “thank you” at the same time we were taught to say “please.” I still hear parents today asking their kids the same question my parents […]
Simple Technique for Approaching Conflict Resolution
Conflicts are a normal part of life. We interact with so many different people in so many different situations that we’re bound to run into difficulties.
A conflict is a disagreement where those involved feel that they are somehow being threatened. It could be that they perceive a threat to their way of thinking, their interests, […]
Five Steps to Giving Constructive Feedback
Giving feedback is one of the most important interpersonal skills for any manager.
The purpose of constructive feedback is to provide information that will contribute to improvements and create better results. For feedback to be useful, it has to be actionable, otherwise it’s likely that the situation or behaviour will recur.
Whenever you’re giving feedback, […]
What Are Good Non-Verbal Social Skills?
Good social skills are key to getting along with others and they help us to connect with the people around us. They’re not about conforming, but having a healthy respect for others.
There are many, many different elements to social skills and if you’re looking for an all-in-one, short-and-sweet, how-to lesson on them, you’re going […]
How to Ask for Good Feedback
Asking for feedback is a great way to get information from others that helps us make improvements on any number of projects or situations.
Recently, I was looking for feedback and asked my peer the following:
“I’ve attached the two ads that I spoke to you about when we met. If you have a moment, could […]
