I’ve often blogged about the importance of words because our words have a powerful impact. It’s the reason I chose the word “human” instead of “soft,” in the heading of this post. To me, the idea that essential communication skills are “soft,” suggesting they are less important than “hard” or technical skills, is just plain…
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Which of the following sentences do you think is true? A. One of the greatest benefits to communication is the cell phone. B. One of the great barriers to communication is the cell phone. Both could be true. Unfortunately “B,” the cell phone as a barrier to communication, is becoming all too common. Just the…
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When U.S. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this summer what made the biggest news was Trump’s now infamous “would” vs. “wouldn’t” gaff. In the press conference following the meeting, Trump talked about how Putin claimed Russia had not interfered with the 2016 U.S. elections. Trump appeared to agree with the Russian president,…
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I love watching professional tennis matches: the impressive strategizing, the physical feats, and the sheer intensity of play. And even though pro tennis players make their incredible skill and athleticism look like second nature, of course it takes an enormous amount of effort and training to reach that level. The fact is, being a pro at anything — whether it’s…
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I think, at this point, I can safely say that no one in the world is more famous for speaking his or her mind than U.S. President Donald Trump. Also true: his blunt and sometimes nasty words have repercussions. I say this as a Canadian who woke up to the news, following the recent G7…
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It’s been quite some spring in Toronto where I live. Snow in April! Rain for days! Nearly hurricane force thunderstorms! So I wasn’t surprised when my neighbours decided it was time to fix their wet, leaky basement. They’ve talked about doing it for quite some time. However, to fix the problem, the contractor had to…
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I must admit I find it a challenge — “it” being the goal of getting someone I don’t already have a business relationship with to respond to an email. Part of my business — and of many businesses — is seeking new clients. Sometimes that means I’m following up on a referral; sometimes I’m sending…
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Something I never expected to happen to me: I was fired! No, not as an employee, as I run my own company, but as a client. In truth, being “fired” was not unwelcome news. While the service provider, who fired me, had done some good work for my company, much of it was not of…
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) conjures up thoughts of robots taking over, automation, logic, and a lack of emotion. Although AI initially appears to be about making machines intelligent, it also enables us to learn more about what it means to be human. Strange as it may seem, AI can help us be more human, especially in…
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