How to Make Yourself Funnier
People with no ability to see humor in a situation, or craft and deliver a joke, cannot make themselves funny. Now the good news: We can all make ourselves funnier. More good news: It’s not that difficult.
Two Things You Should Keep Out of Your Documents
You know to double-check for typos. You know to avoid slang and profanity. That’s the obvious stuff. But there are a couple of other things you need to keep out of your documents – subtler mistakes, but just as dangerous, because they can undermine your credibility and give your readers huge laughs at your expense.
If You’re Asked to Give a Presentation (and Can’t Wiggle Out of It)…
A successful presentation is a tricky task. Here are a few tips to help you make your presentations successful and memorable—and deliver the results you want.
Do You Deliver Bad News Well?
No matter how skillfully you phrase it, bad news will hurt, frustrate or anger your readers. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
Why Can’t I Start This %*^@! Document?
Often what we perceive as a block is really just a flaw in our approach to writing. Here are a few common reasons that people find it hard to start a document, and some tips to help you conquer the blank page.
Managers: Get More from Your Staff Meetings
A poorly planned, poorly run meeting squanders a terrific opportunity to foster teamwork and enhance a staff’s success. Here are some tips to help you make your staff meetings the focused, productive and motivational events they should be.
Avoid Cliches…Like the Plague
When you use a cliche, it’s as though you’ve temporarily left the conversation and told your listener, “Here, talk to my Great Aunt Melba.”
Don’t Hit ‘Send’ Until You Have Read These Email Tips
The emails you send at work are like any other professional documents. They reflect your professionalism and competence, and when you send them you lose all control over who sees them and how they’re used and interpreted. So before hitting ‘Send,’ read these email tips.
Become a Better Listener in 10 Minutes
Want to advance in your career, enhance your professional reputation, or just have more meaningful relationships? Listen up. One of the most powerful—and underappreciated—interpersonal skills is being a great listener.
Three Simple Tips for Better Writing
Writing is a single-task activity. Study after study has shown that multi-tasking is a myth. Our brains can be devoted to only so many mental tasks at once. Try singing a song while adding a couple of two-digit numbers in your head. Or better yet, notice how someone turns down the car stereo when looking for an address.
