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levels of intimacy, you'll develop your sense of what's better said and left unsaid in spur-of-the-moment situations. |
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Read widely. You'll build your vocabulary, you'll pick up nuances of meanings, and you'll even learn to differentiate between the "tones" of various authors (sarcastic, condescending, motivational, straightforward). |
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Select tips to follow and practice. If people don't seem to give you appropriate advice, for example, memorize the associated tips in this book and then try them out on your next perplexing situation. The more you practice these guidelines, the more confident you will be and the less mechanical the techniques will become. |
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Use the book as a refresher. If you're attending an upcoming convention or cocktail party where you fear you'll be ill at ease in chitchatting, reread the tips associated with small talk, such as topics of conversation and exit lines for leaving a small huddle to join another. |
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How do you know if you're successful at communicating? The response you get. Are you having the desired effect on people? In other words, are you making them think, feel, or do something you want? What seems to be their impression of you? Do others try to dominate you, control you, ignore you, abuse you? Can you work effectively in groups? Does your team accomplish its goals with a minimum of clashes? Do you weigh others' words and understand and evaluate their messages appropriately? Effective communication involves the messages you send as well as those you receivewhat you say, what you hear, what each of you thinks the other said and heard. |
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Failure to communicate is the frustration of modern management. All human relationships depend on communication. Personally or professionally, it's a life-or-death issue. |
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DIANNA BOOHER |
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