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December 2, 2014
How to Have a Healthy Conversation
Connecting with others is the lifeblood of getting work done.
With the well-warranted national conversation on good health, it’s time we talk about another area where health is important – our own conversations.
We’ve got obesity on the national scale and bloated conversations in the workplace.
We’ve got fillers in our food and fillers in our conversations.
We seek workarounds to what we know contributes to good health (exercise, anyone?) like we seek shortcuts when we converse and omit details required for...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Professional Development on December 2, 2014
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August 20, 2014
Grow Up to be Big and Strong: Define Your Strengths
Three things we can do to grow up & make the most of our strengths.
When a parent wanted you to eat your vegetables, were you told something like, “Don’t you want to grow up big and strong?” Mine certainly did. We put a lot of emphasis on being strong -- and for good reason. Being strong is as old as the biblical Samson. Being strong indicates we are healthy. Being strong means we have a shot at being Superman, Superwoman or simply super. Being strong while communicating says we get our point across.
Donald O....Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Professional Development on August 20, 2014
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July 29, 2014
What Are We Not Saying?
Actionable Opportunities to Engage Employees with Feedback
A provocative question. This is not about interpreting nonverbal behavior or playing Hollywood Game Night at the company picnic. It’s about being tight-lipped with our employees when we could choose not to. It’s about the messages we could be saying that would go a long way in engaging them, something we keep saying we want but can’t seem to get out of our own way to create.
What do employees want? We have scores of studies that show us. Whether you review Ross DePinto’s...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on July 29, 2014
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June 12, 2014
Lost in Translation, Again!
3 Things You Can Do to Get Your Message Understood
Lost in Translation? A great phrase. It means that words, once translated, can lose the original intent of their meaning. Or for those who loved the movie, it is the name of the insightful and curiosity-piquing film by Sofia Coppola released over a decade ago. Either way, people, we have something to talk about. We’re missing something in our communication.
In the movie, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson play mismatched souls who keep running into each other...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on June 12, 2014
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April 22, 2014
Snarky, Snappy & Sarcastic
Dealing with the Rude Co-worker
No, Snarky, Snappy and Sarcastic are not the names of three additional dwarfs. If they were, I think Snow White would not have been so optimistic! Ever been in a great mood only to have a rude remark waylay your cheery disposition? What to do? What to do? This is not to be confused with the seriously detrimental effects of bullying on employees’ psyche and health. I’m talking about the under-one’s-breath-day-ruiner, the run-in you wish you had NOT...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on April 22, 2014
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March 27, 2014
From Mentors’ and Mentees’ Mouths
Five Lessons Worth Sharing
Do you ever wish you had the Dalai Lama, Warren Buffet or your own personal Gandalf as a mentor or trusted advisor? Me, too.
I could have used a conversation with one of them recently. Ironically it was because I was asked to participate in a mentoring event for young professionals a few months back. Mentoring continues to be a hot topic -- and for good reason. Mentees seek ideas, tips and secrets to success. Mentors seek to share words of wisdom and add value.
As...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Professional Development on March 27, 2014
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February 24, 2014
Dealing with People Not Like Us-It’s Difficult!
3 things to do differently to make progress with “difficult” people.
It seems to happen in a lot of workplaces. Someone is difficult. It can be a client, peer or (gulp) your boss. Or it could be that incommunicative guy in the mailroom, the gossipy sales person, the surly receptionist or the aggressive fill-in-the-blank that puts a crimp in your day.
Might be that new Gen Y that asks too many questions, texts too much and talks too little. ENTITLEMENT! Could be the very direct Gen X who leaves the desk at 5 PM with work still to be done. UNCOMMITTED! ...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on February 24, 2014
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January 19, 2014
Hey, Hot Head, Don't Say It!
5 Steps to Better Emotional Intelligence
You know you want to. In fact you're dying to pop off some expletives that would make Mom turn ten shades of red. Whether you receive news about a coming reorganization, unrealistic client deadline or one of your peers being absent AGAIN, you've been triggered. Whatever you're thinking at this exact moment, don't say it. And, please, please, please don't e-mail it or text it either. Easy up on that trigger finger, pard’ner.
The news you received is out of your...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on January 19, 2014
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January 5, 2014
Talk to Me In Pictures
Learn to Connect with Younger Bosses, Employees & Customers
Quick. Think fast. What’s your first thought when I say “workplace communication?”
Did you think of written communication like texts, emails, memos, policies or reports? Did you think of verbal communication like phone calls, meetings, one-on-ones or the grape vine? Perhaps workplace miscommunication -- a conflict, a rant or your boss’ nonverbals during your last interaction – popped into your mind.
I’d wager that if I ask...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on January 5, 2014
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November 16, 2013
Promises, Promises: The Power of Keeping Our Word
5 Things You & Your Team Can Do To Create An Accountable Culture
While Halloween is long gone, we still are graced with a scary word that is permeating corporate consciousness. It’s four-----teen letters. It has executives, middle management and front line supervisors stumbling and bumbling around looking for answers. The lack of it is often talked about as the reason for our business woes.
Lack of passion? Nope, that’s only 7 letters. Lack of engagement? Still too short, but a great guess! Need more...Continue reading
By Sherri PetroPosted in Management on November 16, 2013
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