Listening Practices: Tips and Traps

Have you ever noticed how GOOD it feels to be really listened to? It’s impactful, particularly when the listening goes beyond just the words you’re speaking. That kind of artful listening conveys respect and value to the speaker, and promotes positive relationships of all kinds. And, like any art, it takes practice. According to widely […]

The Rewards of Really Listening

Joanna and Cyndi are sitting at a coffee shop. Joanna has just gone through a divorce and is telling her friend all about it. To a casual observer, it looks as if Cyndi is listening. But take a look at the thoughts running through Cyndi’s head: Really, people get divorced all the time; it’s time […]

7 Ways to Motivate Yourself Every Day

  There are some days when it feels impossible to get motivated. Yet in order to achieve your goals, motivation is essential. Without it, nothing is accomplished. Responsibilities and tasks pile up. Life becomes overwhelming. Motivation becomes even harder to find. However, with a few simple strategies you can motivate yourself every day. Here are […]

WAIT – Why Am I Talking?

In a world filled with constant conversation, embracing the idea of waiting before we speak can be a game-changer. I recently read a piece on the importance of “waiting to speak”,and as the holidays approach with gatherings of family, friends, and colleagues, I thought this concept was worth sharing. This approach is especially valuable not […]

Quiz: How Well Do You Motivate Others?

  Pay, praise and promotions may have some effect on motivation levels in the workplace. But these three Ps pale in comparison to more personal factors, such as the Top 5 of the oft-cited research by Rewick and Lawler: job challenge, accomplishing something worthwhile, learning new things, developing skills and abilities, and autonomy. Take this […]

Are you like Goldilocks?

  Do you remember the childhood story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”? In case it’s a bit fuzzy or you missed it, Goldilocks was this curious girl who wandered into the home of three bears looking for food, a comfy place to sit, and a cozy bed to sleep in. The gist of the […]

Putting the Value Back in Performance Evaluations

  We have disposable contact lens, disposable cameras, disposable headphones on airplanes. Lest we add disposable employee appraisals to the list, we might want to consider ways to put more “value” into performance evaluations so that they become more like a roadmap for development than a shortcut to nowhere. Performance appraisals for all employees are […]

A Good Laugh Is Good for Business

“The arrival of a good clown into a village does more for its health than 20 asses laden with drugs,” observed Thomas Sydenham, a 17th century British physician, who may have been the first doctor to recommend laughter as the best medicine. Dental practice owners and managers today are increasingly acknowledging that laughter is good […]

Mastering Boring Conversations: The SLANT Approach

The holiday season often brings us together with family and friends, creating moments for lively conversations. However, not every discussion is a captivating one. Whether you find yourself stuck in a seemingly dull dialogue or need an exit strategy, mastering the art of conversation is a valuable skill. In this blog post, we’ll explore the […]

Top 10 Ways to Handle Difficult Conversations

  The fallout from conversations gone wrong is not pretty: trust and intimacy suffer, while resentment and misunderstanding build. But it is possible to improve the way we handle our most difficult personal conversations. Our relationships need to nourish us, not deplete us. Consider the following:                 1. Set […]