Communication Archives

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.

Value Creation in Negotiation: 4 Steps to Getting What You Want

What’s value creation in negotiation? Why is value important for both parties? When negotiating, your goal should be to get the best possible deal for yourself while strengthening your relationship with the other party. To achieve a good deal and a stronger relationship, you must not only claim but create value. Keep reading to learn more about value creation in negotiation, according to Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman’s book Negotiation Genius.

Details in a Story: How Much Can the Reader’s Brain Handle?

Do you confuse your readers by adding too much detail or the wrong kind of detail? What should you include, and what should you leave out? Lisa Cron discusses how to use details in a story, explaining that details should be concrete rather than abstract—and enough but not too much. Cron shares her advice on how to use details to enhance your plot rather than distract from it, explaining that your protagonist helps you determine what to include. Continue reading to learn how to strike the right balance when it comes to using details in a story.

How to Have a Good Conversation: 3 Principles to Follow

Why should you give your full attention while someone is talking to you? What are the basic principles of having a good conversation? Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott explains that your behavior, body language, tone, and communication style are critical to courageous conversations. Scott discusses three principles to follow that will establish mutual trust and understanding with the other person(s) so you can have an effective courageous conversation. Let’s dive into how to have a good conversation.