Communication & Technology

  Number three on my list of most-asked etiquette questions includes both business and social quandaries, with answers to help you move gracefully through your day. • When applying for a job, is it okay to ask about salary range? As a job candidate, you are within your rights to ask about salary range. It’s…

  Number two on my list of most asked etiquette questions includes both business and social quandaries and how to address them. Here are more answers to help you navigate the modern world gracefully. • Is the continental style of eating (fork in the left hand, knife in the right if you’re right-handed, and the…

  Oprah may have her list of favorite things, but I have my list of “most asked” etiquette questions. If you want to be in the know, or simply want to know the right thing to say or do in different situations, life just got that much easier. • If I am at at a…

When communicating with others in the business world, be sure what you say and write has impact. Here are tips for both verbal and written communications. Verbal Communication • Speak clearly (don’t mumble) and loud enough (but not too loud), while standing or sitting up straight and looking your listener in the eye. • Make…

“I’m as proud of what we don’t do as I am of what we do.” —Steve Jobs No. Nyet. Non. Nein. No matter you say it, the meaning is still the same, but this tiny word can be very hard to say. What is it about the word no that makes us feel uncomfortable? If…

Here are the top 30 things that make me crazy when I’m trying to talk to people. I’ll bet most of them drive you crazy, too. 1. Interrupting 2. Lack of eye contact 3. Holding side conversations 4. No response or feedback 5. Asking questions that have already been answered or are irrelevant 6. Correcting…

Giving criticism of any kind is difficult, though it is often the job of managers and business executives to do so. If we want to be helpful when correcting the mistakes of others, we must always be mindful of the way we do it. Of course, accepting criticism can be even harder to do. Here…

Because it’s so fast and so convenient, texting is now the No. 1 form of communication. But because this tool is so powerful, it has ground rules and responsibilities. Since texting has no boundaries or face-to-face communication, it can cause misunderstandings and even lend itself to abuse. Words matter, especially written words. Here are some…

Do You Talk or Text? Like many of the X generation, my sister and I shared three-course dinners with our parents nightly, and during that meal, we talked. My parents asked us questions such as: How was your day? Was your science test hard? How’s your friend Katina? These days, however, much communicating is nonverbal:…