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Category: Communication (Page 5 of 14)

4 reasons to learn a new language

11/01/2017 /

English is fast becoming the world’s universal language, and instant translation technology is improving every year. So why bother learning a foreign language?

In this TED talk, Linguist and Columbia professor John McWhorter shares four alluring benefits of learning an unfamiliar tongue, which can be summarised as:

  1. If you want to imbibe a culture, if you want to drink it in, if you want to become part of it, then you have to control to some degree the language that the culture happens to be conducted in. There’s no other way.
  2. It’s been shown that if you speak two languages, dementia is less likely to set in, and that you are probably a better multitasker. Bilingualism is healthy.
  3. Languages are just lot of fun.
  4. We live in an era when it’s never been easier to teach yourself another language.

 

language

 

Image source: Flickr – Jurek d. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Leading a team like an alpha wolf

04/12/2016 /

Great leaders recognize that, like it or not, humans are animals. This is why to be great leaders we can learn a lot from the alpha wolf.

In this article by Eric Shiffer there are listed five main abilities we can learn from alpha wolves:

  1. Be a master communicator. Like wolves use their howl to keep their pack synced, leaders must be good communicators in order to become great leaders;
  2. Buil the pack to mass. Like in a wolf pack, attracting more talented members who embrace your mission and values will make everyone want to contribute more for the group;
  3. Go predator on them. In a wolf pack you work as one to hunt food. Equally a great leader must show his team that by working together to hunt your prey you can survive another day;
  4. Track down your beta. In a wolf pack beta wolf reminds all that alpha is the king. A great leader needs a great number two;
  5. Value your omegas. In a wolf pack lowest-ranking wolves have an important role as safety valve and in absorbing the stress of the pack. Front-line employees play the same role. This is why a great leader must trust and support them.

wolf

 

Image source: Gray Wolf Maya – Wikimedia Commons

Smile!

22/09/2016 /

During a demanding negotiation, when interests at stake are radically divergent and it seems that there is no more room for the dialogue, a radical shift in the approach to the pourparler could be the turning point of the whole negotiation, even in case of major discussions over national interests, such as the controversial right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to carry on the uranium enrichment process started in 2006.

In effect, this article highlights how a radical shift of the Iranian negotiators’ approach to the nuclear dossier, which opposed the Islamic Republic to the international community, led to the signature of the so-called Vienna Agreement in July 2015.

By shunning the bombastic and confrontational language that had become the hallmark of the Islamic Republic’s officials, Mr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister and chief of the Iranian delegation,  build up a personal relation with foreign diplomats thanks to his easy smile and mastery of English.

In conclusion, when the negotiation is stuck and all options seem inconsistent, a “smile” approach to the negotiation could be more useful than a simple force demonstration, and, in some cases, it could even bring to make an agreement over a nuclear issue possible.

Smile

Image source: Flickr – wewiorka_wagner  (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Introverts and diplomacy: a possible marriage?

13/09/2016 /

The principle behind the art of public diplomacy is not new: in order to advance your goals you need to engage, listen, discuss, persuade and ultimately influence others.
Now, if all this is true, is there a chance for introverts to be good diplomats?

In this TED Susan Cain suggests a very interesting answer.

First of all, she explains what introversion is. She argues that Western culture misunderstands and undervalues the traits and capabilities of introverted people although some of our leaders in history have been introverts: Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and Gandhi.

Nowadays, according to Cain, we entered a new culture that historians call the culture of personality and introverts are pressured to act like extroverts instead of embracing their serious, often quiet and reflective style.

In our workplace when we think to leadership, introverts are routinely passed over for leadership positions, even though introverts tend to be very careful, much less likely to take outsize risks and introverted leaders often deliver better outcomes than extroverts do. Introverts tend to be more empathetic, modest, deep-thinking and innovative.

Cain is not seeking introvert domination but a better balance and inclusion of different work styles, acknowledging that big ideas and great leadership can come from either personality type.

Introvert

Image source: Flickr – Bill Strain (CC BY 2.0)

 

 

The importance of humility

19/07/2016 /

Nowadays, self-confidence is considered to be one of the key skills one should master to be successful, especially at work. However, it doesn’t mean that on your workplace you should be arrogant, or exceed your own limits, showing off more than you are demanded to. In fact, there is a difference between self-confidence and certainty, and every professional should be humble enough to know that.

Sanjay Sanghoee explains the importance of humility at work, considered both as a moral value and as a form of intellectual honesty. In order to improve your skills, and to create a better working environment, you should, first of all, learn how to be humble. Some advice could be useful:

  1. Think twice before acting;
  2. Ask plenty of questions;
  3. Admit your mistakes and avoid being defensive;
  4. Create your own professional goals.

Read the full article here.

Humilty

Image source: Flickr – Wicker Paradise (CC-BY 2.0)

Getting around the limits of empathy

14/07/2016 /

Although empathy is considered to be at the heart of several crucial sectors – from product development to customer service, including also leadership, failing to recognise its limits can impair individual and organisational performance.

As Adam Waytz brilliantly describes in its article there are three main problems you can run into when dealing with empathy, and luckily three valid recommendations for getting around them.

Problem #1: It’s exhausting

Being an heavy-duty cognitive task empathy depletes our mental resources.

Several studies on health and human professionals, as well as those who work for charities and other non profits, show that empathy is exhausting, in any role in which it’s a primary aspect of the job.

Problem #2: It’s zero-sum

Empathy doesn’t just drain energy and cognitive resources – it also depletes itself.

The more empathy we devote to one aspect of our life, for example our job, the less is left for others (family for instance). Moreover the zero-sum problem leads to another type of trade off: empathy toward insiders – people in our team or organisation- can limit our capacity to empathise with people outside our circles.

Problem #3: It can erode ethics

Empathy can cause lapses in ethical judgment. Extreme loyalty toward insiders may push us to take their interests as our own and to overlook transgressions, or even worse to behave badly ourselves. With actions like cheating or stealing to benefit those in the immediate circle people put empathy for a few before justice for all.

So how to rein in a land of excessive empathy?

As a manager there are a number of things you can do to mitigate these problems.

1. Split up the work

2. Make it less of a sacrifice

3. Give people breaks

Despite its limitations, empathy is essential at work.Understanding and responding to the needs, interests and desires of human beings involves some of the hardest work of all. Managers shouldlook for ways to give employees breaks,Encourage individuals to take time to focus on their interests alone. When people feel restored they’re better able to perform the demanding task of listening to what others need.

Empathy

Image source: Flickr – AleKsa MX (CC-BY 2.0)

 

 

Image source: https://locallocale.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/empathy-schmimpathy-why-bother-nathan-mctague-empathy-parenting-advice/

5 sentences to get what you want

23/06/2016 /

Certain words and phrases have surprising power to influence your listener and are particularly helpful at getting the desired response.

“They increase our effectiveness in communicating clearly and up our ability to get what we want,” says famous writer Wendy Capland.

Let’s try some phrases Capland suggests and see if they make a difference:

1. What I heard you say is …

People are more likely to listen to you if they feel they themselves have been listened to.

2. Help me understand …

Rather than jumping to the conclusion, you’re wisely pausing to get all the facts.

3. Would you be open to the possibility …

It softens the request and allows the listener to take the next step.

4. My request is …

The more specific you are about what you want and when, the likelier you are to get it.

5. I’m not sure, but let me get back to you in …

Much better than “I don’t know. Let me think about it.”

Read more here.

1790865867-03-Ask-for-What-You-Want1

Image source: Quotesgram

 

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