assert, assertiveness, speak, listen, feedback, manage conflict,
Personal boundaries provide an effective strategy to handle many different external woes or adversities. Survey respondents quoted in my book, From Woe to WOW, indicated such. An outreach worker wrote, “I wish I’d stood up to her,” an office receptionist wrote, “I should have stood up for myself months sooner,” and a nurse wrote, “I didn’t make the world a better place by running away.”
At the beginning of April, in response to covid-19, I offered my eNewsletter recipients three free counselling sessions. The response was significant. Several themes emerged. Half of the respondents were warding off elevated distress and anxiety levels. The other half were taking advantage of the extra time for introspection–to explore their feelings, beliefs and stumbling […]
During covid-19, many of us are required to spend hours, days, weeks, and longer with family, roommates or others. Hopefully we like those others. But even the best of relationships can go sideways if communication skills are poor. As I’ve written before, our relationships thrive, suffer or die in the sea of communication, just like […]
People with high resilience value acknowledgement and use words of recognition.
The probability of arguing or disagreeing in a love relationship. Some describe these moments as Relationship Fighting.
Psychologist, Marg Wolf trained many helping professionals, including me. We were interns in the ten-week domestic violence prevention program called, You are Not Alone. Marg provided clear and helpful feedback that made the process easy, doable, repeatable and empowering. Indeed, her performance feedback improved our skill levels! Not once did I experience criticism. I experienced […]
Ready to self-promote? Why would you? You will need to self-promote if ever you want to move up a career ladder or move into a desired position, or land a job or sell your services or product. How do you do it? Self-promotion is the ability to let others know your strengths, capabilities, and accomplishments. […]
Nancy Loraas, a Calgary-based executive, leadership, and communication coach, sent me a request to fill in a communications questionnaire. As I was filling it in I began to think, “My answers might be helpful to my readers; those interested in effective communication skills.” Consequently, I am sharing Nancy’s questions and my answers. Nancy’s Communication Skills […]
Just as water is home to fish, our conversations are the context or home to our relationships. Sharing and listening are keys to making relationships work. Good communication that creates mutual understanding is even better. Effectively Speak Let us begin with speaking with honesty, kindness, authenticity, and sometimes assertiveness. You have control over the words you choose. […]
The American reporter and humorist, Franklin P. Jones (1908-1980), wrote, “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger.” Like Jones, you may dislike receiving criticism. Logically then, we should also be cautious about giving criticism. I was once given twenty-seven criticisms in the guise of feedback. […]
Conversation can take a nasty turn of misunderstanding.
Rebecca Eckler, a reporter with the National Post, interviewed me about nagging.