If you’re reading this, I’m going to guess you and I have something in common: we both ❤️ love to LEARN. This week, I’m excited to share some things I recently learned, plus some tools that I hope will help you improve your communication skills. Here we go… 3 things to Talk About this week: … Read More
If you’re a new Talk About Talk newsletter subscriber – WELCOME! If you’re a long-time subscriber, you’ll notice here that I’m trying something new. Each week, I’m going to share THREE THINGS with you. (Yes, “The Power of 3 “!) My goal is to provide a brief summary of three different things that will … Read More
https://media.blubrry.com/talkabouttalk/content.blubrry.com/talkabouttalk/_123_Adopt_a_GROWTH_MINDSET.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThere are many reasons to adopt a growth mindset. Andrea explains why adopting a growth mindset is the #1 most impactful yet underleveraged skill, how thinking about prototyping can help you adopt a growth mindset, plus her three ideas for how you can adopt a growth mindset right now! … Read More
Most of us think we are SELF-AWARE. But research indicates that only 10-15% of us are technically considered highly SELF-AWARE. The good news is that we can turn up the dial on our self-awareness. By doing so, we improve our communication, our relationships, and our performance. Basically, we will be happier and more successful! When … Read More
Based on a few recent conversations with clients, it occurred to me that people define the concept of SELF-AWARENESS in different ways. Let me share some examples… “Ashley” was an amazing leader who I had the privilege of coaching over six months. About a month into our program, she revealed to me that recently when she was … Read More
How self-aware are you? Andrea shares the definition of self-awareness, different types of self-awareness, and how we can improve our communication effectiveness by being more self-aware. RESOURCES The 3 Point Body Language Scan Podcast Episode: https://www.talkabouttalk.com/96-3pt-body-language-scan/ Talk About Talk Website: TalkAboutTalk.com LinkedIn: Andrea and TalkAboutTalk Weekly Communication Skills Newsletter – https://talkabouttalk.com/blog/#newsletter-signup Email – Andrea@TalkAboutTalk.com
If you’re reading this, I bet you have a growth mindset and you’re focused on improving your communication skills. 👏👏👏 Maybe you’re working on your confidence, your body language, or your precision. Or perhaps you’re trying to remember to say something more often. Whatever it is, how can you accelerate your adoption of these new … Read More
How are your 2023 New Year’s Resolutions going? For many of us (myself included), the challenge isn’t setting goals or INTENTIONS; it’s turning them into HABITS. Say you’ve just read a book or listened to a podcast that resonates with you, and you decide you want to implement what you’ve just learned. How do you make … Read More
Andrea shares several suggestions that she and her clients use to adopt improved communication habits. Whether it’s a new philosophy, words you’re trying to use (or avoid), or different body language, simple tactics to cue these new habits will help you succeed. RESOURCES ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear: https://amzn.to/3IVBEo8 S.M.A.R.T. Goals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria … Read More
I have two quick things to share with you today: 1. The #1 technique to improve your communication skills – fast 2. My communication pet peeve “What’s the fastest way to improve my communication skills?” People ask me this question all the time. Can you guess what my answer is? It’s recording yourself and then … Read More
In this BONUS episode released on #BellLetsTalk Day, Nicole German, founder of The Maddie Project, shares her experience and thoughtful advice to parents, family members, coaches, teachers, anyone who interacts with youth. Youth mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression are common. We need to step-it-up with awareness, empathy, and advocacy. “Anything we can … Read More
Quick: When I say “COMMUNICATION BEST PRACTICES,” what comes to mind? Is it: Be courteous and punctual Don’t interrupt Watch your language…? Certainly, these things are important. But these points are pretty basic.In this week’s podcast episode, I share my top 3 tips for five different communication media, and all of them are beyond the basics. Here’s … Read More
Andrea shares best practices for texting, email, phone, virtual and in-person meetings. This is beyond the basics! Of course, you need to be courteous and punctual. These tips will elevate your communication effectiveness across various media. RESOURCES “COMMUNICATION MEDIA: Which medium is best for your message?” PODCAST EPISODE: https://talkabouttalk.com/118-which-medium Talk About Talk Website: TalkAboutTalk.com … Read More
Have you ever had a performance review via email? Has anyone ever broken 💔 up with you via text? Or proposed to you over the phone? I hope not! Yes, these examples are clichés. But they perfectly illustrate why your choice of communication medium is important. This goes for both personal and professional contexts. Here’s an example in a professional, … Read More
I have some fun trivia for you. You’ve probably heard this famous quote, and maybe you’ve even said it: “The Medium is the Message.” First piece of trivia: The correct quote is actually, “The MEDIUM is the MASSAGE.” That’s what 🇨🇦 Canadian philosopher and English & media studies professor Marshall McLuhan called his 1967 book: “The … Read More
Do you know when to text versus email versus pick up the phone? What about virtual versus face-to-face meetings? Andrea encourages you to think beyond your default media and consider the WHO, the WHAT and the WHY when choosing the ideal communication medium. RESOURCES “MEDIA” or “MEDIUM”? https://grammarist.com/usage/media-mediums/ Dr. Andrea Wojnicki & Talk About … Read More
Image by pixelshot via Canva 2022 is almost over! It’s easy to get caught up in the end-of-year stress, isn’t it? I try my best to focus on some of my favourite things: LISTS and GIFT GIVING! LISTS Are YOU a list maker? I definitely am! (Thank you, ❤️ Mom!) Image by @glenncarstenspeters via unsplash This … Read More
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the end of the year is another time in our calendar when gift-giving is rampant. There are corporate gifts, teacher gifts, and on and on… For some of us, GIFT GIVING is a beloved tradition that brings us much joy. But it can also bring us stress! Image by alexkich via Canva … Read More
Gift-giving is a highly symbolic form of communication. Gift-giving can also create a lot of stress! Whether it’s a client thank-you gift, a birthday gift, or Valentine’s day, gifts communicate things about the giver, about the giver’s beliefs about the receiver, and about the relationship between them. Gifts can reinforce important relationships, take them to … Read More
Are you communicating and enabling psychological safety? Psychological safety is a key contributor to team performance. A climate of psychological safety means increased learning, creativity, productivity, satisfaction and engagement. Andrea defines what psychological safety is and is not, then she shares several strategies for how we can communicate psychological safety. There are mindsets to adopt, … Read More
Last week I introduced you to my friend, communication expert Judith Humphrey. We focused on one of the biggest obstacles in our path to leadership: imposter syndrome, or what Judith describes as the crow on your shoulder, cackling away, and depleting your confidence. I ❤️love this crow metaphor. That crow is not you, its message is not true, and you can talk back to … Read More
We need to talk about that crow on your shoulder. Imagine you’re TAKING THE STAGE – it could be a speech, a big meeting, or a presentation to an important client. Image by jgroup from Getty Images You’re prepared. You did your research. You’ve rehearsed. But you still hear it: that incessant CROW, cackling in your ear: “You’re not … Read More
Make 3 your default Why make 3 your default? Three is a powerful number that makes it easier for us to understand and recall information. Three is balanced and substantive, without being overwhelming. In the most recent Talk About Talk episode, I highlighted examples and benefits of the number 3. Image by hakan istemi from Getty Images … Read More
The Power of 3 Have you ever noticed that the number 3 is everywhere? “1-2-3-GO!” “Third time’s a charm.” “3 strikes and you’re out!” Think about it… The world around us is full of 3s, and that’s because there is something uniquely POWERFUL about the number three. (But don’t take my word for it – … Read More
THREE is a powerful number that we can use to improve our communication. 3 makes things easier to understand and easier to recall. 3 is balanced and substantive, but not overwhelming. Consider the power of 3 in your communication, whether you’re categorizing, listing, highlighting, influencing, ranking or creating a framework. Make 3 your default. … Read More
How to Overcome IMPOSTER SYNDROME Need some advice on how to overcome IMPOSTER SYNDROME? Let’s back up. Did you take the IMPOSTER SYNDROME TEST that I sent you last week? (Here’s the LINK.) It’s a fun exercise. But it turns out most of us feel like imposters! image: Unsplash @ Jon Tyson Here are 3 … Read More
Do you suffer from IMPOSTER SYNDROME? Most of us do! Learn exactly what imposter syndrome is, how to avoid or alleviate imposter syndrome, and some good news: how the discourse (talk) about imposter syndrome has evolved. RESOURCES IMPOSTER SYNDROME “The 4 Ps of Preparing to Communicate with Confidence” Talk About Talk podcast episode #59 – … Read More
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT INTROVERTS & EXTROVERTS Last week we defined INTROVERT, EXTROVERT, and AMBIVERT. This week we cover common misconceptions about these terms. We already covered the first of our 3 misconceptions: We’re all one or the other, an introvert or an extrovert. NOPE! As I mentioned last week, it’s a continuous scale. In fact, most of us are in the … Read More
“Are you an INTROVERT or an EXTROVERT?” This introvert or extrovert Q is question #3 of the five rapid-fire questions that I ask Talk About Talk podcast guests: What are your pet peeves? What type of learner are you? Introvert or extrovert? What’s your media preference for personal conversations? What podcasts or email newsletters do … Read More
Introvert or extrovert – which one are you? Learn 3 common misconceptions about the introvert/extrovert scale and how to leverage this personality dimension to help you manage your energy and your relationships with others. RESOURCES Introvert vs Extrovert INC magazine – https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/are-you-shy-or-introverted-science-says-this-is-1-primary-difference.html Forbes – https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffboss/2015/09/10/6-facts-you-should-know-about-introverts-that-have-significant-leadership-implications/#390621e2182d FastCompany – https://www.fastcompany.com/90232763/5-things-youre-getting-wrong-about-extroverts “QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a … Read More
How MINDFUL are you? Are you focused or are you oblivious? Yes, I admit that MINDFULNESS is a buzzword these days. But being mindful, being intentional, can elevate our communication effectiveness and even our life satisfaction. Mindfulness & meditation coach, Swiss renaissance woman, Anne V. Muhlethaler For this episode, I interviewed ANNE V. MUHLETHALER, a true … Read More
Mindfulness can elevate our communication skills. Learn how to be mindful in specific communication contexts by pausing, communicating with intention, and acknowledging our inner critic. Anne Muhlethaler (yogi, meditation teacher, podcaster and luxury brand consultant) shares her experiences and valuable insights. RESOURCES Anne Muhlethaler Out of the Clouds podcast, AVM Consulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-muhlethaler-a1323010/ Instagram: … Read More
PERSONALITY TESTS Let’s talk about personality tests. This week it’s all about YOU! As in your individual, unique, very own PERSONALITY… (image: Unsplash @ georgeprentzas) I know this is a popular topic. We are intrinsically wired to seek to understand and learn about ourselves. PERSONALITY is one of the most searched terms on the TalkAboutTalk.com website! … Read More
“Practice makes perfect.” Right? Maybe not! (Just ask 🏀 Allen Iverson…) “Practice makes perfect” is a cliche. Practice can certainly elevate our performance, be it playing sports, playing a musical instrument, or making a client presentation. It occurred to me recently that while we talk a lot about various aspects of communication (like networking and personal branding and … Read More
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNICATION Certainly, gender differences exist: “Men are direct. Women are emotional….” “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.” You’ve probably heard the comments and perhaps you’ve witnessed differences between how men and women talk. Recently a few people asked me about the differences between how men and women communicate. Like you, I’ve … Read More
Let’s focus. 2021 has the potential to be an amazing year. Certainly, there are some things we can’t control, but many things we can. It just takes a little FOCUS. Read on to learn how you can leverage your awareness and ability to FOCUS. FOCUSING can help you succeed in many contexts: focusing your New Year’s … Read More
2020 – What a year, right? With just a few days left in 2020, I thought I’d share with you some insights and recommendations, including: the top 3 trending Talk About Talk podcast episodes the 3 most clicked-on Talk About Talk newsletters 3 key communication insights from 2020 3 things we will be focusing on … Read More
On GIVING as a means of communication – It’s the season of GIVING! Have you ever considered: GIVING = COMMUNICATING We say a lot when we give gifts, advice, compliments,… Think about the implicit communication associated with what we give, to whom, and how. Read on to learn: 5 different ways we give (beyond gift-giving) what science says about giving 3 ways to … Read More
On ASKING FOR HELP This week we focus on ASKING FOR HELP, for example when you: aren’t sure how to do something, but you know someone who has the expertise are working towards a tight deadline and you need help to get it done in time need to increase your budget – you need to … Read More
This week we focus on another aspect of our personal and professional IDENTITY: our NAME! Over the past month we’ve covered ARCHETYPES 101, ARCHETYPES & FEMALE POP STARS, and PERSONALITY. Are you getting the theme here? It’s all about IDENTITY. What does YOUR NAME say about you? Read on to learn: What your name means How our names affect us … Read More
On OPTIMISM and communicating POSITIVITY – There’s a lot to be gloomy about these days, isn’t there? As one of my kids announced this week, “2020 is the worst year ever. There’s Kobe, COVID-19, murder hornets, police brutality, looting….” (This comes from a kid who hasn’t even seen that many years!) There’s no question that our collective … Read More
Competition, or rivalry over resources, encourages us to strive and excel. Meet open source strategy expert Dr. Mekki MacAulay, who encourages us to create value by adopting an inclusive, transparent, open source mindset. According to Mekki: “90% of the equation is collaboration, helping, and communicating effectively.”
This week we’re moving on from EMOTIONS and NEGOTIATIONS to COMPETITION and Open Source Strategy! Read on to learn about: Podcast #51 – COMPETITION with open source strategy expert Dr. Mekki MacAulay (Un)Healthy Competition – and what to do about it! Open Source Strategy 101 – your primer! You can skim this blog or click … Read More
Recently I had the privilege of interviewing an academic researcher about an important communication-related topic: EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIONS. So I’ve got your head ? and your heart ?covered this week. Unfortunately for some people, expressing certain emotions may be taboo. But have you noticed that people (including political leaders) are slowly starting to express their emotions … Read More
Managing our emotional expressions is critical to effective communication. Emotions researcher Tatiana Astray helps us optimize our relationships and negotiation outcomes by taking responsibility for our emotional expressions. Learn about the difference between feelings and emotions, why we should express enthusiasm, how to manage negative emotions, and all about the positivity ratio. REFERENCES & LINKS … Read More
You’ll be inspired after reading this blog! Read on to learn: How to rock it in ZOOM meetings Inspired COVID-19 projects undertaken by past Talk About Talk podcast guests ROCKING THE ZOOM A few of you asked me to share some ZOOM tips. Here are 5 Zoom pointers that stand out for me: 1️⃣ Use the MUTE Button … Read More
How to be SOCIAL While Physically Distant Humans need social interaction. You’ve probably heard that social support is correlated with longevity, right? Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, we all need to be social. Here are 5 ways you can be SOCIAL while physically distant: 1️⃣ Track your daily connections Every morning, update your list of the … Read More
This week we focus on the Introvert/Extravert scale. When I asked Dr. Nadine Kelly, the guest expert from last week’s podcast, “Are you an Introvert or an Extravert?”, she said, “I think a good solid mix of both. I used to think I wasn’t extraverted but I don’t think you can be a podcaster and … Read More
This week we focus on “the good news and the bad news.” Which would YOU rather hear first? Let’s do this! Which do you want to hear first? The GOOD news or the BAD news? Most people want to get the bad news out of the way. According to academic research, 78% of us prefer to hear … Read More
This week we’re talking about a topic that was suggested by several of you: “How to Deal with Difficult People.” You know – the difficult ones, the grumpy guy, the trolls, the “NO man,” the toxic-types… You can skim this short email or click the links to learn more. Let’s do this… The Podcast: “How to deal … Read More
Working with difficult or negative people can be stressful. Learn reasons why people act so negatively and what you can do about it. Human Resources expert Tamara Finlay suggests diagnosing the issue using the SCARF model, then shares specific Do’s and Do-Not’s, depending on whether it is your peer, your subordinate or your boss. … Read More
It’s November! I hope you enjoyed the extra daylight-savings hour last weekend! ⏰ Did you have a chance to listen to last week’s podcast ?TALKING MONEY? If yes, had you had any conversations with your parents or your partner or your children about money? Thanks to guest expert Kelly Harper for sharing her advice to make … Read More
Youth mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression are common. Nicole German, founder of The Maddie Project, shares her experience and thoughtful advice to parents, family members, coaches, teachers, anyone who interacts with youth. We need to step-it-up with awareness, empathy, and advocacy. “Anything we can do is goodness.” Doing little things and doing … Read More
More on IMPROV & a Monkey Toast INVITATION… Understanding WHY We Talk How to Talk When We DISAGREE and more! You can skim this short email or click the links to learn more! Let’s do this…. ? More on IMPROV & an Invitation… Did you have a chance to listen to last week’s ?podcast: Lessons From the IMPROV Stage with improv comedians, … Read More
This week we focus on “AUTHENTICITY” (a.k.a. “the real deal,” or “not putting on airs”). Authenticity is critical for effective communication, whether we’re talking PERSONALLY or PROFESSIONALLY, managing a brand. You can skim this short email or click the links to learn more! Let’s do this…. ?PODCAST EPISODE #33: COMMUNICATING AUTHENTICITY AUTHENTICITY. It seems like a … Read More
Authenticity is important for both people and for brands. But what does it really mean to “be authentic”? Ana Serrano (CFC chief digital officer) shares her expertise on authenticity, including how the digital realm has amplified the performative nature of authenticity and how inauthentic “green-washing,” “art-washing” and “social impact washing” on behalf of brands can backfire. References & … Read More
Positive self-talk can make you healthier, happier, and more successful! Tosca Reno, Eat Clean founder and master wellness coach shares her advice for positive self-talk, including the Three Es of Wellness (Eat Clean, Exercise and Emotional self-care), her rituals, her mantras, and even her tattoos! References & Links Tosca Reno WEBSITE – ToscaReno.com FACEBOOK … Read More
Here we are with the 3rd & final episode in our Talk About Talk ? series on SELF-TALK: (Self-Talk 1of3 Ep.25) – Two weeks ago, we focused on BUILDING RESILIENCE with Tosca Reno (Self-Talk 2of3 Ep.26) – Last week I summarized some research on SELF-TALK & 5 MINDSETS we should seek to adopt (Self-Talk 3of3 Ep.27) – This week, Tosca Reno is back with us, with POSITIVE SELF-TALK … Read More
I hope you had a chance to listen to episode #25: “BUILDING RESILIENCE: Sets & Reps – with Eat Clean founder & master wellness coach Tosca Reno! A few of you told me that you’ve read her books and even participated in her wellness programs. She is so inspiring, isn’t she? Well GUESS WHAT?!? Tosca … Read More
Self-Talk – we could all be more mindful. Positive self-talk can significantly affect our life satisfaction. Let’s start by adopting five positive mindsets: optimism, perseverance, self-control, focusing on relationships, and being grateful. Then, there are five things we can do right now to improve our self-talk: we can practice gratitude, we can start journaling, we … Read More
Did you have a chance to listen to episode #24“The ABCDEs of Communication” ? If not, I encourage you to do so – or, if you prefer, you might want to read about it in the LinkedIn paper I wrote. Here is your cheat-sheet again with the 5 steps: This week we kick off a 3-episode ? series on SELF-TALK. … Read More
Resilience: the capacity to recover from adversity. Meet Tosca Reno, “the woman with 9 lives,” Eat Clean founder, and master wellness coach. In this, the first in this 3-episode series on Self-Talk, Tosca takes us through the “set and reps” necessary for resilience, including seeking challenges, positive stress (or eustress), taking ownership, practicing gratitude, and … Read More
I hope you had a great week! Over the past few weeks, we have talked Supporting our Grieving Friends, Friendships, and Talking with our Doctor. This week, we talk and learn about TRUST – an absolutely imperative element of communication. Trust me! (You can skim this short email or dive in to the many links to learn … Read More
How do you know whether to trust someone? How do you communicate that you are trustworthy? Trust is imperative. If you don’t have trust, you have nothing. And that goes for both interpersonal relationships as well as for brands. Baron Manett, marketer and founder of Per Se Brand Experience shares his insights on the significance … Read More
I hope you had a great week! Based on last week’s blog & featured podcast (“FASHION & STYLE“) – Did you donate any clothing yet? Did you buy anything you will keep for >10years? In this week’s Talk About Talk email blog, we talk and learn about POSSESSIONS (our STUFF!). (You can skim this short email or … Read More
What do our possessions say about us? Award-winning marketing professor Russell Belk talks about how our possessions (including our clothing, cars, people, collections, gifts, social media pages,…) become part of our identity –or our extended self. Professor Belk highlights the significance of the sharing economy and de-materialization, cultural differences, and our evolving identities in relation … Read More
This week we Talk and Learn About CREATIVITY (including the benefits of creativity and how to experience flow) (You can skim this short email or dive in to the many links if you would like to learn more!) ?FIRST – THE CREATIVITY PODCAST This week’s podcast is a little different than previous episodes. Sure, you will LEARN … Read More
Learn about creativity: Listen as Jenn, Daryl and Lori share the benefits of being creative, including experiencing happiness and flow, slowing down and being more mindful, being more open-minded, creating something you are proud of, and travel! Learn about creativity and how creativity is a catalyst to grow and to experience life. References & Links … Read More
Based on the storytelling podcast with Jerry Zaltman: metaphors, memes vs. GIFs, and 5 fascinating facts about stories (You can skim this email or click on one of the many LINKS to learn more!) ?FIRST – THE PODCAST For this week’s podcast, I am thrilled to introduce you to one of my favourite professors of … Read More
How’s your storytelling? In this podcast, Harvard professor & author Jerry Zaltman shares his expertise on what makes for great storytelling, the power of metaphors, and how, in addition to reading, writing and talking (yes!) can also be powerful modes of discovery. References & Links Professor Gerald Zaltman Email – gzaltman@hbs.edu HBS website – … Read More
This week we Talk About COLOUR – colour theory, trends, how we communicate with it, five fascinating facts, colour of the year, and quotes! (you can skim this blog or click on the many LINKS to learn more) ?FIRST – THE PODCAST For this week’s podcast focusing on COLOUR, I interview three talented guest experts whose careers all … Read More
What are you saying with the colours you wear? How do the colours on your walls affect you? Learn about how colours affect our moods and perceptions, our purchase decisions, and even our level of aggression. Listen as Dr. Andrea and the three experts she interviews (quilting store owner Daryl Aitken, decorator Jenn Purkis, and … Read More
This week we Talk About BRANDS (your personal brand, brand management frameworks & the top brands!) ?FIRST – THE PODCAST For this week’s podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing CEO and team performance expert Michael Boydell. Sounds intimidating, right? But Michael is very down-to-earth and honest–AUTHENTIC. He describes several exercises that anyone can run through … Read More
Are you actively managing your professional and personal brand? Can brand management frameworks help us manage our own careers? CEO & team performance expert Michael Boydell suggests we start with a blank sheet of paper. If it feels uncomfortable, we’re on the right track! Ask yourself: Where & with whom am I most joyful? What … Read More
This week we Talk About Coaching! ?FIRST – THE PODCAST Getting an hour of Elite Camps founder Stephanie Rudnick‘s time for a podcast interview was a coup. Stephanie agreed to do the interview when our sons were practicing basketball at a high school. We looked for an open classroom in the high school, but alas, the … Read More
Good coaching means effective communication. Elite Camps founder Stephanie Rudnick shares advice about ego, consistency, managing the ups-and-downs, and playing favourites. For parents, we learn about the ill-effects of helicopter parenting and how young athletes prefer to hear about our epic fails. Whether you’re a coach, a teacher, a manager and/or a parent, Stephanie has some … Read More
WHY do people say what they say? Why do people rant about their contractor? Why do they take the time to write a restaurant review? Focusing on consumers’ word-of-mouth, Dr. Andrea shares her research and insights to help us understand the 4 main reasons why people talk. (Here’s a hint: It’s not just all about … Read More
