The World's Best Book Summaries
How can we understand body language across cultures? Can you make sure that your use of body language is culturally sensitive? Body language customs are different across cultures, especially in reference to levels of appropriate eye contact and the use of hand gestures. By understanding these differences, you can become more aware of how you’re coming across to others. Read more about the differences between body language cues across cultures.
What is the role of body language in communication? And how important is body language? Body language plays two roles in communication: influencing how others perceive us and changing how we feel, which in turn affects our relationships. By understanding the influence that body language has, we can communicate better and build better relationships. Read on to learn more about the two roles that body language plays in communication.
What’s the best approach for mentoring engineers? What do new engineers need from a mentor, and how can you use your experience to help others? Mentoring engineers requires communicating well, both listening and explaining thoughtfully. Effective mentorship also means planning your mentee’s workload strategically. Learn more about how to be an effective mentor with these mentoring tips and strategies.
Are there people in your life you just can’t understand? Does it sometimes sound like they’re speaking a different language? In many ways, they are. Words That Change Minds, a book by Shelle Rose Charvet, contends that each individual makes sense of the world in a unique way. When two people approach the same situation with completely different frames of mind, it can cause miscommunications, conflict, and animosity. Continue reading for an overview of this book that can help you understand others as well as speak their language.
What mental habits do you have? How do they impact your behaviors and choices? How can you leverage what you know about someone else’s mental habits? Communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet argues that, if you learn how another person thinks, you can consciously match their frame of reference and speak in a language they understand. Then, you can influence them more effectively. Read more to learn about the psychological basis for Charvet’s assertion: neuro-linguistic programming theory.
Are you active or passive in your approach to action? What about the people around you? When you understand how people operate, it’s easier to communicate with them effectively and work with them toward a goal. Communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet discusses active vs. passive personality and shares tips on how to speak each language. Keep reading for her practical advice as well as a broader discussion about active and passive behavior.
How can managers improve their communication in the workplace? Can managerial communication skills make a difference to the team? Managers can improve their communication in the workplace by building relationships with their employees one-on-one, even in upper management positions. Improved trust and communication lead to a greater understanding of expectations. Read more about the importance of communication skills for managers and how managers can improve communication in the workplace with these insights from Camille Fournier’s The Manager’s Path.
Are you more motivated by promises or by threats? What about the people around you? Communication and influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet says that you can figure out whether someone is wired for positive or negative motivation. Then, you can use that information to influence and incentivize them. Continue reading to learn how to leverage positive and negative motivation in others—and yourself.
How do you decide what to do? How do you determine how well you do things? You either validate yourself or look to get that validation from others. That’s true for everyone. Shelle Rose Charvet applies this knowledge to the workplace and provides guidance on how to persuade both self-validating people and people who are more validated by others. Read more to learn about this difference in people and how to make the most of it.
What approach do you take to problem-solving? What if you could figure out the approach other people take and use that information to influence them? Some people tend to stick with one way to address problems. Others gravitate toward new ways of tackling issues. Influencing language expert Shelle Rose Charvet explains how you can identify a person’s dominant problem-solving style and communicate with them in a language they understand. Keep reading for Charvet’s tips along with some supplemental advice from workplace coach John Whitmore.