Communication

Do you negotiate by asking … or are you just telling?

June 9, 2021
It’s often assumed that business negotiations—especially when price is concerned—must be cutthroat. But that’s not always necessary. In negotiating, as in working with people in general, knowing who you’re talking to and how to talk to them can make all the difference.

Use judicious threats to propel talks

May 27, 2021
When you’re working out a problem with employees, vendors, or customers, making threats can be risky. People resent them, and you may decrease the likelihood of cooperation and even risk inciting revenge. Yet, as negotiation experts Adam D. Galinsky and Katie A. Liljenquist point out, threats can be effective—if you follow these three principles.

LinkedIn Company Pages: The voice of your organization

May 27, 2021
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for growing your brand, business, and overall impact. Company Pages, in particular, are an effective means of increasing discoverability—as long as those pages are well managed.

What to say when you can’t deliver on a promise

May 26, 2021
One of the toughest kinds of bad news to deliver is your failure to accomplish what you promised. Here’s what to do.

Convey your vision with vivid detail

May 26, 2021
Employees want to know lots of things, but telling them where your organization is going is what gets them fired up. The key is providing detail.

Make the most of audience input

May 12, 2021
The most commonly used method for handling questions from the audience is to ask the group to hold their queries until you’re finished. However, in some cases, it’s to your advantage to encourage questions along the way. Develop your ability to recognize these cases and to handle questions on the fly.

When employees lose their drive

May 12, 2021
Most employees start out full of enthusiasm, but some lose their motivation along the way. Here are some common causes of lost motivation—and what you can do about them.

Find the right project leader

May 12, 2021
With enough time, you can usually train a person to be a great project leader. But you’ll do it better—and more quickly—if you start with someone who has a few innate leadership traits.

Disseminate info by ‘cascading’

May 12, 2021
In a large organization, “cascading” is often the best way to get information out to employees. When the CEO can’t address the entire workforce, he or she talks to managers who then communicate the news to their individual departments. It’s efficient, but not problem-free. Rely on this advice.

Steady the ship when employees lose their balance: 3 tips

May 12, 2021
Employee disengagement or burnout isn’t always apparent, and some employers may be in for a surprise if and when the COVID-19 pandemic winds down. Leaders need to learn how to recognize when the people around them—peers, colleagues, but especially subordinates—are out of balance or are heading in the wrong direction.