November, 2011

The Recovering Engineer

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Three Power Phrases to Disarm a Verbal Aggressor

The Recovering Engineer

When you feel that you have been verbally attacked, it is incredibly difficult to think of the right words to calm the situation and disarm a verbal aggressor. Developing power phrases for use in various situations can help you get past this mental roadblock so that you can respond calmly and quickly in a wide range of situations. In working with workshop participants and coaching clients to find good ways to address specific, emotionally charged situations, I have learned three power phrases yo

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Six Questions to Make Sure You Have Communicated Effectively

The Recovering Engineer

The communication process really should be easy. You say something to another person. They hear it. They act in a way that is consistent with what you said. End of discussion. And, it’s not quite that easy. In reality, the process for spoken communication goes like this: You get a picture in your mind of what you want to communicate. You convert that picture into words, tone, and body language that describes the picture as you see it.

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Three Things to Consider Before You Start Writing

The Recovering Engineer

Ignore these critical considerations when you write, and you could invite a communication disaster. Written messages just might be the most dangerous form of communication. There are so many ways that they can go wrong and lead to miscommunication. If you have ever written a message that someone else misunderstood, then you know what I mean. While, the general rules of effective communication apply equally to both spoken and written forms, there are some special factors to remember when you comm

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Three Critical Factors to Consider Before You Choose a Communication Technique

The Recovering Engineer

Before you start looking for the right communication technique or words to use to convey an idea, you must consider three critical factors. They are not complicated. They are important. Failure to include them in your thinking, could lead to a failed communication. Proper consideration of these three factors coupled with understanding the underlying principles of communication and conflict resolution will lead you to successful, powerful, and effective communications.

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Five Questions to Make Sure that You Understand Others Correctly

The Recovering Engineer

Have you ever taken an action – either immediately or at some later time – based on what you heard someone say only to find out after you acted (or spoke) that you did not accurately understand their statement or request? So far, everyone I have asked this question in a face-to-face conversation answers pretty much the same way. In effect, they all say: “Yes, of course I have.

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