When asked what they most want from their employers, four categories are always at the top of a young workers' list
Kendra is majoring in Finance in of one of the top universities in the United States. With one semester of schooling to complete, Kendra spent the summer as an intern in one of the leading high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. That company just made her an offer for full-time employment after graduation, which Kendra will…
Studies show it takes the brain just 200 milliseconds to gather most of the information it needs to determine a person's emotional state
It was a job interview, an important client meeting or even a sales call. You were dressed for success, rehearsed and ready to wow them. So what went wrong? Chances are you got off to a bad start – and that less-than-positive impression began before you said a word. Here are three small mistakes that…
Follow our tips and you'll be surprised at how well you can 'read the room'
Here is a tip that will quickly gain you the nonverbal advantage in any negotiation or important business meeting. Want to know what the biggest 'secret' to body language experts' success? They take the time to determine how a person acts under relaxed or generally stress-free conditions so that they can more accurately spot meaningful…
It is time for a new social contract between employers and employees
It's time for a new social contract between employers and employees. Chances are, if your organization is like many others described in numerous studies, half of your workers are doing just enough to get by, 25 per cent are totally turned off and only one quarter are usefully engaged in building your organization and helping…
As long as you know what they're saying
A study from the University of Chicago a few years ago found that the more gestures babies used at 14 months (shaking a head "no," raising arms to be picked up, pointing at an object of interest, etc.), the more words they had in their vocabulary at three years old. Which is no surprise to…
We know that men have a different workplace communication style than women, but does "different" mean better?
We know that men have a different workplace communication style than women – but does "different" mean better? Well, yes. And no. There are obvious strengths and weaknesses in the communication styles of both genders. Based on research project in which I collected responses from 387 employees and managers in the United States, Canada and…
The best educators could teach business leaders a thing or two about body language
The best educators could teach business leaders a thing or two about body language. Pygmalion in the Classroom, one of the most controversial publications in the history of educational research, showed how a teacher’s expectations can motivate student achievement. This classic study gave prospective teachers a list of students who had been identified as “high…
If you don’t look like you’re telling the truth, it won’t matter that you actually are
I once spoke to MBA students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business as part of a wonderful program called the Mastery in Communication Initiative. In its expert speakers’ series, Stanford invites “pioneers in the field of communication” to share their insights with business students. In my presentation, on “How to Spot Liars at Work…Need help breaking down that "silo mentality" in your company?
After every election, politicians say the same thing: "Now we have to reach across the aisle to work together for good of the people." And I hear similar proclamations (of working together for the good of all) from my corporate clients who are looking to break down the "silo mentality" of their companies. Sounds simple.…
The most successful people realize that there are always two conversations going on; so stay equally alert to what isn't being said
You may have "sales" in your job title. But if you are a leader announcing an organizational change, an entrepreneur pitching to a venture capitalist, or an employee on a job interview – you too are in sales. And in any situation where you are selling a product, a service, or an idea, engagement and…