Maddeningly Detracting Phrases (Part 1 of Many Such Posts)
September 9, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
Consider the number of phrases you hear – and use – that take away from your message when you speak and write. I heard myself say "positively wonderful" to a client this morning. Do you know of something that is wonderful that is not positive? Here are some more phrases that come to mind right away:
- Positively wonderful (already noted this one).
Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome…Innoculate Yourself Now
March 12, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
There's buzz about "hoof-and-mouth" disease. (Anyone remember the television program "Boston Legal" with William Shatner's character suffering from what he called "mad cow disease"?)
What about "put-foot-in-mouth" syndrome? Most of us periodically have bouts of this syndrome. The cause is typically that we open our mouths and speak before our brains catch up to us to tell us that what comes out of our mouths might best be re-phrased (or not leave our lips at all).
“Social” of Social Media = Interpersonal
A Nielsen Wire study notes statistics on the rise of social media use in recent years.
READ STUDY RESULTS. (Nice graphs, too, for us visual information processors.)
The "social media phenomenon" can no longer be considered a "new thing". Google, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other sites have been around long enough for an entire generation of people to know nothing except these tools! And that generation is a growing part of the workplace.
Quilts: Slave Communications Along the Underground Railroad
February 3, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
As a student of communications methods of varying types, I am fascinated by the variety of ways in which we communicate with each other. One of the messaging systems of the past controversially includes quilt codes used by and for slaves as they escaped to freedom. Quilt patterns were used to communicate safe-passage messages and other information along Underground Railroad routes. More information about this form of communication is in this article (The Crisis Forum LINK) and in the book, Hidden in Plain View: The Secret Story of Quilts and The Underground Railroad, by Jacqueline Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard.
What Is “Success Language”? Overview
January 30, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
This is a Lunchtime Seminar interview with Sylvia Henderson (featured guest) and Sandra Ruiz, substituting as host for Greg Williams ("The Master Negotiator" and Founder of the "Lunch and Learn" Internet broadcasts). In this interview (approx. 28 minutes) Sylvia explains her "Success Language" program and talks about her book "Why You Talk So White? Eliminate the Behaviors that Sabotage Your Success".
Success Language: Wordsmith.org
January 30, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
A resource for developing language skills – Wordsmith.Org.
This site has the following resources:
- A.Word.A.Day: The Newsletter (discover the magic of words)
- Wordlovers' Library Project (free books for libraries worldwide)
- Internet Anagram Server (find the wisdom of anagrams)
- Wordsmith Chat (live chat with authors, lexicographers, thinkers, and more)
- The Wordserver (lookup services via email)
- Listat (a statistical tool for mailing lists)
Socially-Acceptable Sayings When You Don’t Know What To Say
January 30, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
A bit of humor, though totally serious…
Ever receive a gift and hate what you received, yet the gift-giver is in front of you watching you open it?
Ever have to respond to seeing someone else's newborn baby whom you think isn't so cute?
Ever receive a comment from someone that you would rather not have received?
IM NT UR BZNS WRTG STL
January 26, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
When I was a child I watched my mother-who was a head secretary in a public school-write using a technique called Gregg shorthand. This writing technique involved using symbols that appeared to me as squiggly lines to represent words and phrases. Using shorthand enabled my mother and secretaries like her to record dictation quickly. They then transcribed their shorthand notations into full sentences.
High-Class Insults: When Language Had “Class”
January 23, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
From a post on another professional member list to which I subscribe…
These glorious insults are from an era when cleverness with words was still valued, before a great portion of the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words…not to mention waving middle fingers.
You have to think about what they say in order to "catch" the insult. Brilliant! You don't know you've been insulted until AFTER you've been so wronged. Enjoy.
Every Body’s Talking: Reading & Interpreting Body Language
January 23, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
(From an article in the Washington Post/Health section on how to read and interpret BODY LANGUAGE).
Written by an ex-FBI agent who specializes in reading the subtleties of body language, the article notes that words matter little in communication. Your body gives you away in terms of the real message you communicate.
Interesting article. Amateur drawings as graphics demonstrate what is noted in the article. An audio slide show accompanies the article on the website.
Eschew Obfuscation_01
January 23, 2010 by Sylvia · 2 Comments
(As seen in a recent major newspaper; I won't reveal the actual publication.)
"What we have seen over the past few days has been a mix of improper disclosures of partial information mixed with inaccurate information and then drawn into unfounded conclusions."
The meaning of "obfuscation", from dictionary sources: obfuscate (verb); obfuscation (noun)
Effective Communications Month = June: “Starter Tips”
January 23, 2010 by Sylvia · Leave a Comment
Effective Communications Month
June1-thru-30 (Annually)
Established by Sylvia Henderson
(Refer to: Chases Calendar of Events)
Description: The most important spoke in the wheel of interpersonal relationships is communication. Active listening, verbal variety, paralanguage, body lanague, and written communication skills are the essence of how human relate to each other personally and professionally. This month is dedicated to learning about, improving upon, and committing to communicating more effectively in our lives.
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