Communication Archives

An Introduction to Body Language: 2 Tips to Understand Its Context

How confident are you that you can read body language accurately? Do you know how to read cues collectively or just individually? You can use many body language cues to reliably and consistently assess someone’s emotional state. But, retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro says that there are some contextual factors to consider before forming conclusions based on your observations. Read more to get an introduction to body language from Navarro by exploring two of his tips for assessing the context of cues.

Wired for Story by Lisa Cron: Book Overview & Takeaways

Why is it hard to explain what makes a story good? How does that impact our ability to write good stories? What can we do to overcome that difficulty and craft interesting narratives? In Wired for Story, Lisa Cron argues that our brains evolved to absorb information through stories. So, writers who want to create compelling narratives should write in a way that satisfies our brains’ expectations of story. Continue reading for an overview of this book that takes a fresh approach to story writing.

Logrolling in Negotiations: 3 Steps You Can Take to Create Value

What’s logrolling? How does it create value in a negotiation? Logrolling means trading negotiation items that both parties value. Understanding what each party cares about most is crucial to nailing down a deal. Continue reading to learn more about logrolling in negotiation.

How to Resolve Issues in a Small Group Discussion

Do you need to have an intimate conversation with a group of friends or a work team? How can you guide a small group discussion? One of Susan Scott’s conversation models in Fierce Conversations is intended to be used for intimate conversations with one or a few people. Its purpose is to find the root of an issue and surface effective and sustainable solutions by uncovering other peoples’ truths. To structure your small group discussion according to this model, take the following steps.

How to Tell if Someone Is Anxious Through Body Language

Can you tell when someone is anxious? Is sweating always a sign of stress? If you were able to detect when someone else is stressed out, imagine how helpful it would be to be able to adjust your own words and behavior accordingly. In The Dictionary of Body Language, retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro shares four common anxious body language cues. Keep reading to learn how to tell if someone is anxious by interpreting their body language.

Why Do People Like Stories? How Stories Appeal to the Brain

Why do people like stories? What answer can we find in the reason why storytelling developed in the first place? Stories aren’t just entertaining; they also satisfy a neurological need that humans evolved over millennia. That’s the view of Lisa Cron, who argues that our brains evolved to absorb important survival information through stories. Read more to understand why Cron urges writers to write in a way that satisfies our brains’ expectations of story.

How to Prepare for a Negotiation So That You’re Ready for Anything

Do you have a big negotiation coming up? Do you feel ready? According to Negotiation Genius by Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman, the first step to effective negotiation is preparation. Before you enter a negotiation, you must have your negotiables ready and gather as much information as you can about the other party. Let’s look at how to prepare for a negotiation so that you’re ready for anything.

4 Guidelines for Large Group Discussions at Work

Do you have trouble guiding large group discussions? How should effective work meetings be conducted? In Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott provides a model that is intended to uncover all important details and perspectives of complex issues in large groups. This is important because organizations are multifaceted with individuals who have different perspectives on issues. To structure your large group discussion, Scott provides the following guidelines.

Bored Body Language: 2 Ways to Tell if Someone Is Checked Out

Can you tell when someone is bored or impatient? Do they just look at their watch or twiddle their thumbs? Retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro knows how to read people, and he wants to help you learn to interpret nonverbal communication. In his book The Dictionary of Body Language, he teaches you how to read emotions by understanding subtle cues in people’s physical behavior. Continue reading to learn how to detect bored body language in people and determine that they’re probably checked out.

What Are the Elements of a Narrative? The 4 Ingredients

What are the elements of a narrative? What story ingredients do our brains expect to find? Writer and producer Lisa Cron contends that humans require stories to engage our brains in the way our brains process information. She believes that we developed certain expectations for narratives. So, if a writer wants to engage readers’ brains, they must provide these expected elements. Keep reading to learn what these essential ingredients are and why they meet readers’ cravings.