Boost your communication skills

Types of Communication
Excel at communication by knowing the types of communication, and how we use them. In this article, we look at two important types of communication.

What's a Good Media Story?
You can increase the effectiveness of all your communication by including at least one of the four characteristics of a good media story in your message.

Strategic Clarity
Make strategic clarity, an unambiguous statement of purpose, the first step in your communication management process.

"Throw Out the Lifeline" Language can be a tricky thing. Be aware that words sometimes have unique meanings within groups. If you're not part of the group, be sensitive to the use of words that prompt the people around you to exchange knowing glances.

Listening Strategically
To stay on top of the issues that affect your organization, and the world around it, adopt the practice of strategic listening.

Good Communication Skills Lead to Success
"Learning to communicate effectively is a life-long process...." by Dr. Meribeth Dayme, Ph.D,

A Case of Confused Context
Context, the framework within which messages are received and interpreted, has a powerful effect on the way messages are understood.

The Adjusted Winner: An Advanced Communication Approach
A new method for dividing up assets after a breakup also provides some useful communication techniques for difficult times.

Communicating Across Time Horizons
If the person or persons with whom you're communicating don't share your time horizons, your messages may not get through.

Two-Step Your Communication
You can extend your communication reach and impact with the two-step strategy, which involves using influential others to pass on your message. Influential people add networks and credibility.

Communicating When A Crisis Strikes
When my Internet service provider encountered a crisis situation it responded effectively, by implementing a four-part communication strategy.

Technology & Communication
We need to consider what can happen to important messages when they are transmitted through the new media.

The Significance of the Mundane
Sometimes communication programs can be built on simple everyday ideas, not great ideas.

Story Telling With a Purpose
Increase the impact and effectiveness of your communication by telling stories - - strategically.

Your message, in their minds
The process of communication involves several critical stages. In this article, learn about a five-step process the recipients of your message go through: Awareness, Understanding, Justification, Action, and Evaluation.

Waiting & Communication
Long waits, especially in situations where users are already stressed, will be unpleasant. But, we can implicitly communicate that we care by addressing many of the minor, non-core things that aggravate.

Rationality & Communication
Rationality and rational decision making build on individual assumptions, values, contexts, and time frames. If we don't share those characteristics, we might jump to the conclusion that others aren't acting or thinking rationally. That would be a mistake. Learn more about rational decision making and communication here.

Consuming Communication
Communication benefits people, as well as the organizations that produce it. People consume it, and the information embedded in it, to achieve their own ends.

Strategic Checklists
Checklists can be much more than just simple lists. Here's how to use them to communicate unspoken but important messages.

The Monkey Trap: Barriers to Communication
...now that story may be an urban myth, but it nicely illustrates an important point: We humans often get caught in monkey traps, too. I'm referring specifically to barriers to communication that crop up in everyday personal and business communication.

Many Small Winners & A Few Big Losers
Many common situations produce a few big losers and many small winners. The losses get far more attention than the wins, often to the detriment of our nations and organizations. Counter this with a communication initiative that focuses on the problem, that assumes nothing on the part of stakeholders, and reports frequently to them.