Communicate clearly

Improved Communication Skills Help You Personally, Professionally

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This is a great time to take stock of your communications skills, and make a commitment to improving where needed. The following suggestions, offered in no particular order, can help you become a better communicator in the months and years ahead. Join Toastmasters: This highly respected organization helps you improve your oral communication and presentation … Read more

Improve Your Writing: Imply vs Infer

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The best way to remember which to use can be found in this simple statement: I imply, and you infer. The sender (writer or speaker) implies something, and the reader or listener infers (concludes or deduces) from that statement.  The general manager implied that personnel changes were coming if the team didn’t start performing better. … Read more

7 ways to improve your communication skills

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This is a great time to take stock of your communications skills, and make a commitment to improving where needed. The following suggestions, offered in no particular order, will help you speak and write more clearly and confidently. Improving your communication skills pays dividends you will reap for years to come. Join Toastmasters: This highly … Read more

Effective communication hinges on knowing your audience

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Communicating effectively involves several important factors. According to Mike Thompson, these include taking ownership of the situation, staying focused, and knowing your recipient’s personality style.

Mike TThompson, a business coach with ActionCOACH in New Berlin, Wis., discussed these nuances during a recent meeting of the New Berlin Chamber of Commerce. He offers a different perspective on the art of effective communication: “True communication is the response you get.” Meaning, did he or she do or say what you hoped for?

One problem in business communications, Thompson says, is that workers don’t always take ownership of an issue. It can languish, with no action by the recipient.

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Writing well for social media is a must

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writing for social media, writing and punctuation for social mediaPeople seem to forget–or just disregard–the importance of writing well for social media, even their personal accounts. Keep in mind that what you put out on social media becomes identified with you: It’s all part of your brand. And what you put on the Web stays on the Web.

PRNews Online offers six reasons why the rules of grammar still apply. Although the column is aimed at PR professionals, the reasons apply to everyone. Social media addicts should review that list, paying particular attention to Rules 2 and 3 (Professionalism and Respect). Do you want to be taken seriously? If so (and you should) adhere to the rules of grammar and punctuation while writing for social media.

Grammar and punctuation errors on social media (and forums, for that matter) are as varied as the writers themselves. But I’ve seen several types of mistakes time and again. Let’s review these. If any apply, make an effort to improve. (Of course, if your copy suffers other ailments, work on those as well.)

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