“It is wise to use titles for people in positions of power, higher education, seniority, or maturity, unless otherwise instructed. This may sound old-fashioned, but practicing respectful traditions will earn you points and inevitably make you seem more cultured and sophisticated. This is especially true with older generations.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“To call certain people, such as your boss, teachers, professors, doctors, your parent’s friends, etc. by their first names might be considered disrespectful. It is best to err on the side of caution until you know what is appropriate.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Asking permission to call someone by their first name is a gesture of gentility and consideration. And once permission is granted, the gate is open for mutual respect and mutual purpose. Simply demonstrating this courtesy before making an assumption is impressive. Once permission is granted, you have earned points on both sides.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Make It Fun. Have you ever been publicly acknowledged or called upon in a room filled with people? Depending on your personality type, it can be either exhilarating or mortifying. It certainly does grab your attention, as well as everyone else’s!”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“When I am working with groups of thirty or fewer people, there is a powerful name exercise that I do to break the ice, start with humor, and begin my program with positive energy. One by one, each person will introduce themselves using an adjective that describes their personality that starts with the first letter of their name. “Spontaneous Susan,” “Dependable Dave,” and “Happy Helen” are a few quick examples. The benefit for the participants is twofold: it makes each person feel good and it makes people laugh. Additionally, it enables me to learn their names so that I can integrate them into the entire presentation for full engagement and participation.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same. You wanna be where everybody knows your name.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Using names with respect and consideration tells a person that you care, are present and engaged, and that you are genuinely interested in making a connection. You make them feel remembered!”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Uh-Oh . . . One year I was the guest speaker at an annual conference. The person who coordinated the agenda mistakenly typed my name as “Sue” rather than “Susan.” I felt odd and a little disrespected because they didn’t take the time to ask the spelling of my name. It felt awkward when I saw it on all the tables throughout the ballroom, to say the least. I asked, “Please make sure that you introduce me as Susan because I’ve never been called Sue.” The initial impression was sticky for an instant, but they quickly made it right. The correction was shared and everything turned out fine. Even an innocent and unintentional name error can impact your first impressions. Making a joke about it once I was on stage was a light-hearted way to confirm my real name.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“It is generally believed that nearly 40 percent of your first impression will be set from the tone of your voice. Your vocal thermometer can be more impactful than the actual words you use.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Every time you speak, you are using your voice to connect with others, whether it is in-person, on the phone, or in a recorded message.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Is your voice value delivering the image you wish to convey? Is your voice coming across as smart, friendly, and positive or ignorant, rude, and negative?”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“The way you deliver the words you say becomes your “vocal image. This "vocal image" can make or break your first impressions, impact your communication, and determine how people respond to you.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“What can you do to ensure that your voice value translates into impression value?”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Every professional voice coach worth their salt will bring you back to the importance of tone, pace, and pitch. While these concepts were introduced earlier in The Art of Body Language section, we can now elaborate and take a deeper dive into how you can use your voice to improve your communications.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Your encounters will be more successful when you slow down, pay attention, and become more mindfully aware of the world around you. Heightening your awareness in your social, situational, contextual, orientational, and cultural scenarios will improve your agility as you adapt to new social settings.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Mindfulness means paying attention to what is happening at this very moment and being keenly aware of your surroundings and the people in it.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Whether your awareness is focused on your own emotions and perceptions or directed toward the preferences, needs, and feelings of others, being mindful (aware and attentive) will enable you to respond more appropriately.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“This deliberate focus and sensitivity allow you to "put yourself in another person’s shoes and walk around a while" to better understand where they are coming from and what they are all about.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Mindfulness is a quiet strength and deeply rooted value which many other cultures understand and often practice better than we do. It can be puzzling to people from other countries as to why Americans are so task-driven and action-oriented.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Developing this ability instills a sixth sense for navigating human relationships with dignity, grace, and discretion, thus making an intentional and thoughtful first impression.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“As Americans, we typically move full steam ahead without much regard to mindfulness or thoughtful reflection, often to one’s own detriment. Yet it is that same propensity for bold action which makes fulfilling the "American Dream" possible—where an immigrant can come to our country with nothing and achieve extraordinary things.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Although it may serve you well, any strength or skill which is overused can become a limitation when it forces you to constantly be moving and looking for the next best thing. Distractions, interruptions, and incessantly chasing after the next golden ring can become the norm.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“With your mind alert and your eyes wide open, you will be better able to assess your space and your place for optimizing exchanges and your communication impressions.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Becoming more socially aware involves greater understanding of the dynamics of social interactions to assure you achieve harmonious outcomes.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“When you are socially aware, you will realize whether you are forcing yourself into a conversation or have actually been invited to participate.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Sometimes you must earn the right to be included. Otherwise, you may appear awkward or pushy.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“When a person is focused completely on self it is nearly impossible to be mindful of others at the same time. That is a contradiction for healthy communication, networking, and relationship building.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Sometimes it is better to refrain from engaging in conversation because making no impression is better than making a bad impression.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“When people can't give anything and are only there for themselves, why should others use their time and energy to get involved? There's no benefit.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Do you attend networking events to give out as many cards as possible or is it your intention to deliver something of value? When you are busy charging ahead with your own agenda, you're not meeting the needs of anyone but yourself—and it's obvious!”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“At a Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast, two of my friends and I were standing in a circle talking. A stranger approached, interrupted our little reunion, and gave each of us her card. She then began talking about herself and her business without a hint of social awareness, or care about her interruption. She even had the tactless gall to ask us for referrals. When she left our small circle, we looked at each other and laughed, “What was that?”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Situational awareness enables you to observe your periphery with a clear vision and emotional foresight, which may inevitably keep you socially, physically, or professionally out of harm's way. Connect the dots.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“When you enter a room, a social situation, or a business meeting, be mindful of cues; read between the lines to better understand people and events. What do these things tell you?”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“How do you know when to advance the conversation or when there's something still unresolved? When you are situationally aware, you watch the body language and notice the cues that are given to you. Listening and observing are being mindful in the best sense of the word.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Being “appropriate” means being suitable, fitting, relevant, or proper in a situation. What may be appropriate in one circumstance can be terribly inappropriate in another. How does one discern? Sometimes it is simply a matter of maturity and experience.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Contextual awareness represents a continuum of behaviors, which illustrates how and why groups of people unite or divide among cultures.”
Source: The Art of Communication: 8 Ways to Confirm Clarity & Understanding for Positive Impact
“Life rewards action. To get from where you are now to where you want to be requires forward movement and momentum. Although you may already know what it takes to bridge the gap, simply knowing what to do is not enough.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Action is the key to creating the changes needed to propel you toward your chosen outcomes and help you achieve your relationship goals. How are you allocating your time, energy, and activities to ‘activate your awesome’ and contribute to making a positive first impression?”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“The Art of Action explores specific action steps you can take for personal and professional transformation. Start by taking the initiative to be kind, courageous, and polite.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Become a ‘good finder’ and seek to acknowledge the best you see in others.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Move beyond yourself to serve a greater purpose and vision. Learn to mix, mingle, and glow, thus helping others feel more comfortable, at ease, important, and connected.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“By being fully present and engaged you will maximize your moments to make every encounter count.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Being proactive and intentional will enable you to create a positive experience for yourself and others.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Nice is a little word with a big meaning. How many times did your mother say, "Just be nice?" It's basic manners, yet in our negative world today people often neglect to extend random acts of kindness and simple acts of courtesy.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“It is no mystery why nice people are well-liked and get along harmoniously with others. Being nice makes people feel emotionally safe, allowing for more authentic, trusting, and happy interactions.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Google Proves Nice Counts. On a quest to discover what it takes to build the "perfect team," Google launched the Project Aristotle initiative to find the answers. Over a period of several years, they surveyed hundreds of teams, conducted interviews, analyzed studies, and observed how team members interacted with one another.
Google’s findings revealed that "psychological safety" is the key ingredient for creating a high-functioning team. It nurtures a healthy environment that encourages freedom of expression, engaging communication, empathy for one another, caring, support, respect and, drum roll please . . . BEING NICE!”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“Benefits of Being Nice
• You set positive karma into motion.
• What you give is what you get back in return.
• You are more likable.
• People will treat you better.
• You will reduce personal stress.
• You will make friends more easily.
• You can improve someone else’s day.
• You will have less drama in your life.
• It takes less energy than being otherwise.
• It makes you a more valuable team player.
• You create a sense of emotional safety for others.
• It can keep you physically and psychologically safe.
• You set a positive example for others to play nicely.
• You will build bridges of cooperation and collaboration.
• You will improve personal and professional interactions
• Lastly, being nice feels nice!”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“In the hit movie, “Pay It Forward,” a middle school child dreams of how he can change the world by being the catalyst for kindness. He begins his “social experiment” by performing a selfless act of kindness, and so begins the domino effect. As each consecutive person receives an act of kindness they, in turn, do something nice for another. The kindness becomes contagious and changes hundreds of lives for the better. Think of the global impact we could make if more people would make it their mission to simply pay if forward by BEING NICE.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“ASK YOURSELF: Have you found that being nice to some people is simply not effective? When might it be wise to throw down the gauntlet and get tough or confrontational?”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact
“While you will certainly attract more bees with honey, there are times when being nice can backfire. Take it from a naturally kind person, being a “bitch” has its time and place. There will be times when you must engage with mean, rude, and inconsiderate people.”
Source: The Art of Action: 8 Ways to Initiate & Activate Forward Momentum for Positive Impact