I disagree with the adage, The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Good intentions are powerful mindsets which will drive your actions to accomplish the results you want. Setting good intentio...
Humor can heal the heart, instill hope, bring people together, and remind them that life isn’t meant to be so doggone serious. Why not use it for good? There is no denying that humor’s uplifting, ener...
Growing up with well-educated parents and an older sister with her Master’s Degree in English Language and Literature, I was left with little wiggle room as a child to use poor grammar. When I would i...
As you use fun and humor to reduce tension and connect with laughter, light-heartedness will prevail. Exercising discretion and good judgment in your communication will leave your listener feeling lik...
A simple handshake is not always a simple handshake. The way it is delivered can take on a million meanings and interpretations. As with every other form of body language and non-verbal communication,...
Your words have the power to shape your thoughts, your opinions, your attitudes, your self-esteem, your goals, your self-image, how others perceive you, your reputation, your behavior, and more. Your...
Your encounters will be more successful when you slow down, pay attention, and become more mindfully aware of the world around you. Heightening your awareness in your social, situational, contextual,...
Years ago, my mentor, Mary Seals and I shared a mutual acquaintance who was successful in sales, but had a questionable reputation. I told her, I really like him, but I can’t trust him as far as I can...
Wise leaders know that being personable ad friendly is the highly-prized personality for employees who are meeting, greeting, and engaging on the front lines with customers. They are the real ambassad...
When you enter a room, a social situation, or a business meeting, be mindful of cues; read between the lines to better understand people and events. What do these things tell you?
What About the Social Introvert?Perhaps you don’t want to talk! Maybe you prefer to speak only when responding to another person. If you tend to be more reserved and less gregarious, the expression on...
To touch or not to touch . . . that is the question. Handshakes, hugs, and other touching all have their appropriate space and place. The key to success in this area is to know when, where, and how to...
Think about the people in your life with whom you have the most engaging dialogue—the ones who will listen to you and consider your opinions regardless of the topic. They'll stop whatever they are doi...
Strengthen your first impressions by making the intentional effort to first earn people’s trust, and rapport will naturally follow.
It is wise to use titles for people in positions of power, higher education, seniority, or maturity, unless otherwise instructed. This may sound old-fashioned, but practicing respectful traditions wil...
Discretion & Good Judgment . . .The flagrant lack of decorum, reckless behavior, and poor judgment exhibited in our world today continues to astound. Even those who never dreamed they’d be caught in t...
Communicating negatively (gossiping, bragging, bullying, and criticizing) can be disastrous to your reputation, cause you to lose the respect of others, and leave a terrible impression. Why leave this...
By your practice of active listening, everyone involved benefits because you . . .• are more engaged and engaging;• demonstrate that you are interested in others and what they have to say;• make other...
As soon as someone believes you cannot be trusted, you are stopped dead in your tracks. Whether this perceived loss of trustworthiness is true or false, the perception alone can be damaging.
A person who offers a loose handshake, on the other hand (pun intended), may be interpreted as being uninterested, lacking confidence and self-esteem, weak, or being wishy-washy. Whether too strong or...