Communicate clearly – Page 8 – Tom Fuszard's Business Builder

Effective communication skills are critical in today’s economy

May 8, 2015June 24, 2012 by Tom Fuszard

Effective communication skills help you compete

The massive layoffs in recent years and the continued soft state of the economy have caused many people to turn to job training. To be really effective, part of that retraining should involve developing and maintaining effective communication skills.

Having the confidence to look a person in the eye and express yourself in an intelligent manner can mean the difference between success and failure during an interview and later.

Consider this: Two equally qualified candidates interview for a position. One is poised and gives clear, thoughtful answers. The other slouches in the chair, laces his answers with heavy doses of “you know”, “like” “whatever”, and is constantly looking down or away. Who do you think stands the better chance for a second interview? Whom would you invite back?

Word Tip: How to use Criteria and Criterion

June 16, 2015April 6, 2012 by Tom Fuszard

How to use “criteria” and “criterion” properly Criteria often gets misused because people don’t realize it is the plural form of a word. (Data is another such word.) Use criteria when you refer to a list or group of items. The criteria for choosing the pump include delivery options, warranty, ease of upgrade, and price. … Read more

Word Tip: Healthy vs. Healthful

January 8, 2016April 1, 2012 by Tom Fuszard

These cause confusion, because healthy seems like the naturally correct word. Plus, healthful sounds, well, a little high brow. But the word has its place. Healthful, an adverb, is used when you’re describing the health-related advantages of a food item. A healthful meal consists of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, and lean meat. If healthful sounds awkward for your … Read more

Word Tip: In vs. Within

January 8, 2016March 28, 2012 by Tom Fuszard

When describing an action that takes place during a period of time (say, five days), whether you use in or within depends on how the sentence is structured. In is used when you provide a range of time for the action. Your order will be shipped in three to five days. Meaning, it will be … Read more

Some tips for effective presentations

January 8, 2016March 15, 2012 by Tom Fuszard

Attending a presentation the other day, I was reminded of some of the common mistakes presenters make. Here is what came to mind, and what you can do to enhance your presentation skills. Text heavy slides: Boring and difficult to read. There’s no need to fill the screen with your information. Use an outline format, with … Read more