conversation

Becoming a better conversationalist means approaching your conversations like a master craftsman

Relationships are the lifeblood of business. You know this as well as I do -- without building relationships with people, you're not going to do well in business.Building that capability takes time, though. It's not easy and it doesn't come naturally for ...

Asking questions up-front and then really listening to the answers can prevent a whole lot of grief later

When I conducted research for my book, Overcoming Fake Talk, I was interested to discover why so many people were afraid to talk about certain topics -- what I call undiscussables. Undiscussables include anything that we think and feel but choose not to share. ...

Following this advice will not only prevent you from coming off like a jerk, but actually make you memorable

What do you get when you cross a smartphone with the act of snubbing someone? “Phubbing.”That’s not just a punchline -- the word is defined in multiple dictionaries, and close to 44 percent of people do it more than twice a day, ...

If you're the one talking, it's your responsibility to make sure others are listening

Conversations can elicit a range of emotions. They may be daunting, or they may be dreaded. They may be awkward, or they may be monotonous. The good news is, you, as a participant in any conversation, have more control than you think about ...

Because some people take them the wrong way

We’ve all said things that people interpreted much differently than we thought they would. These seemingly benign comments lead to the awful feeling that only comes when you’ve planted your foot firmly into your mouth.Verbal slip-ups often occur because we say things ...

To start a sales relationship off right, offer value out of the gate and understand a prospect's challenges

Your first conversation with a prospect is one of the most important parts of the entire selling process. If you nail this conversation, you’re likely to set up a meeting, which can turn into a closed deal. Unfortunately, most salespeople have no idea ...

Used in the proper context, they can help you open the door to a meaningful and mutual negotiation.

The words we use every day shape our realities, whether we realize it or not. Our word choices can make a powerful impression on the people around us, whether they occur in a polite conversation at the grocery store or during a ...

Take control of the first impressions you make.

Amy Cuddy, a psychologist at the Harvard Business School, has been studying first impressions for more than a decade. She and her colleagues found that we make snap judgments about other people that answer two primary questions: Can I trust this person?Can I ...

Striking a conversation with anyone may be the most important skill you need as an entrepreneur.

Every entrepreneur needs to have countless skills, from creative brainstorming to logical analysis and decision-making. And these skills range in complexity and specificity, with basic ones like time management permeating your day, and more complex ones that are exclusive to your industry and are ...

Here are ways to become a more effective communicator.

No matter how meticulously you plan your words, you can never control how your message is received. However, several things are within your control, like timeliness, intensity and volume. Knowing what’s within your power and preparing in advance will help you to ...

Learn how to communicate with confidence using these three simple steps.

It is no secret that the majority of entrepreneurs realize the importance of your typical elevator pitch, and use this method as the primary means to talk about their work, explain their role and hopefully obtain some sort of “buy-in” from the ...