One amazing, but sadly true, fact of today's advances in communication tools is that we really don't communicate much better than in the past. Indeed one recent study determined the number one advancement in communication tools was the availability of cheap on-line airfares.
The airline trip was needed to clarify some earlier communication sent out electronically!Therefore a Manager/Supervisor must be able to clearly communicate to his/her direct reports in an effective manner.The following are 14 essential truths you must understand in order to improve your communication skills.1. Focus--When someone is talking to you, STOP what you are doing and thinking. Face the person talking, devote 100% of you attention to both the person speaking and to what is being said.2.
Listen--Don't just "hear" the words being spoken.
Listen to what and how the statements are being said.
Observe body signals and facial expressions.3. Attention--Don't let your mind wander.
Let the person finish what they are saying, then take a few seconds to think about what your response will be.4.
Paraphrase--When the person is finished speaking repeat back in your own words what you heard.
Ask the person if you have an understanding of what they said.5. Empathy--Be aware of the other person's needs.
Everybody has different needs, wants and desires.
Be cautious about substituting your needs for theirs.6.
Ask--Don't tell.
Telling quickly gets the other person on the defensive.
Save your comments and guidance until you totally understand the question and the situation.7. Be Open. --Don't criticize, pass judgement or preach.
Make objective conclusions about alternate ideas, people and situations.
Be careful of attaching or offering your values too quickly, if at all.8. Advise--Watch the temptation to "give" advice.
Only "offer" advice.
It's always better to say something like "I suggest we?" and not "Here's what you need to do".9.
Trust--Is what open and honest communication is all about.
Without trust teams can't function properly, people will loose respect for each other.
Without trust you are building a house of cards that will eventually tumble down.
With trust teamwork and cooperation are much easier to achieve.10. Equity--Both parties must feel equal.
While at first reading this may seem an unusual requirement in the Supervisor and Direct Report relationship.
However even in this situation the relationship should be equal on the personal level.
By using equality in speaking, you avoid the dreaded condescending speech.11. Comfort--While stress and tension may be surrounding the conversation learn to be comfortable with yourself and the message you are about to deliver.12. Interest--Strive to have a genuine interest in others.
Everyone has a story to tell and most of the time it is an interesting one!
Talk in terms of what the other person is interested in.
The familiar quote of "In order to be understood, we must first seek to understand others" is very true.
Practice it.13. Motivate--Always be looking for ways to motivate others.
Use positive reinforcement often.
Look for ways to offer praise and recognition.14. Humor--Take life seriously, not yourself.
Life is too short to go without a constant stream of humor.
Look for it.? 2004 TrainingConnections.ORGAll rights reserved.
Southwest Airlines Offers $49 One-Way Fares From Chicago Midway and Phoenix to Select Cities
Dallas, TX (ContentDesk via ContentDesk Direct) January 31, 2006 -- Now is the time to make your family vacation plans with Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) as it offers amazingly low fares.
Southwest Airlines is offering $49 one-way low air fares with a 21-day advance purchase, available for a limited time on southwest.com/vamonos, for travel between Chicago Midway, Phoenix, and select Midwest and Southern California cities.
To book these cheap airfares available at http://www.southwest.com/vamonos or 1-800-VAMONOS (1-800-826-6667), go to: http://www.southwest.com/jp/vamonos.shtml?src=PR_esp_mdwphxSale_13106
"If you are planning your next trip, affordable...
Why Using Courier is One of the Cheapest Ways You Can Fly!
Copyright 2006 John Navata
Unless you happen to be wealthy and have a lot of free time, chances are you wish you could fly more often than you currently can. Airfare is, of course, the most cost prohibitive element of long distance travel. Many people find themselves in situations where they know someone they could stay with in another city - so accommodations would be free - but there's simply no way of being able to get there affordably. In terms of discount travel, there are some solutions to expensive airfares that are worth looking into if you are flexible and interested on a short visit rather than a long trip.
One of the cheapest ways you can fly is called courier flying. How this works is: courier companies exist that specialize in delivering relatively small packages quickly - things like important business documents etc.
. . and what these companies want is your baggage allotment on a flight. So they will offer extremely discounted fares in...
Why Using Courier is One of the Cheapest Ways You Can Fly!
Tips To Get A Discounted Airfare
Traveling by air has become an adventure and one can get the best out of it by being in the know. Fierce competition among airlines and an increased number or flights as well as options just means added benefits for passengers.
There are ways and means of making considerable savings on airfares. Here are a few thoughts:
? If you are flexible about travel dates often you can make a saving of over $100 or more. You just need to visit sites like Travelocity http://www.travelocity.com which give flexible travel date airfares.
? If you are net savvy keep a watch on fare watcher on My Yahoo and you will learn how to monitor prices on a daily basis and how to snag a low price. In this case however, you will need to know your travel dates well in advance and be open to many options.
? Benefit by signing up for being intimated by e-mail of discounted fares for unsold flights and special promos being offered by airlines.
Airfares > Tips To Get A Discounted Airfare
What's Wrong With My Website?
I ask myself that question about once a month.My website looks fine to me, but what are otherpeople seeing? And what are the Search Enginesseeing? Here's a checklist of 10 ways to keep yourwebsite at peak performance: 1. Browser Compatibility The first thing is to look at your website throughother people's browsers. I do this regularly and I'vesometimes been shocked at what I saw! ANYBROWSERhttp://www.anybrowser.com
2. Broken Links About 5% of all links on the Internet are broken. Asite that contains broken links gives a bad impressionto visitors and is a frequent cause of lost sales.Also, the major Search Engines and Directories will notlist your page if it contains any broken links or missingimages.
Here are some free link validators:LINK SCANhttp://www.elsop.com/linkscan/quickcheck.htmlNET MECHANIChttp://www.netmechanic.com/maintain.htmWEBSITE GARAGE DEADLINK CHECKhttp://websitegarage.netscape.com/O=wsg uneup_plus/index.html 3. Web Safe Colors Are the colors on your...
What's Wrong With My Website?
UK Last Minute Cheap Holidays From a UK Travel Company For Cheap Package Deals
www.goingabroad.com seeks to be the new number one destination for last minute holiday deals in the UK. www.goingabroad.com is a travel company based in London that can provide you with cheap package holidays, tailor-made holidays, business and first class fares and late availability, City Breaks, Beach Breaks, Flights Only, last minute holiday deals to Spain, USA, New York, Mediterranean, Gran Canaria, Caribbean, Europe, Far East, Dubai, Thailand, Japan, Tunisia,
France, India, Cayman Islands,
and more www.goingabroad.com now has access to a huge number of great airfares with almost all international airlines and will always endeavour to provide a competitive quotation, rather than just quoting lists of fares. UK Last Minute Cheap Holidays From a UK Travel Company For Cheap Package Deals
Airfares > UK Last Minute Cheap Holidays From a UK Travel Company For Cheap Package Deals
Southwest Airlines Offers DING! Fares as Low as $23 One-Way; Southwest Airlines Celebrates Its One-Millionth DING! Download
DALLAS (ContentDesk via ContentDesk Direct) August 15, 2005 -- Southwest's (NYSE: LUV) CEO is out of town, so the airline is throwing a party!
For one day only, Southwest Customers can take advantage of DING!-only airfares as low as $23 one-way and no higher than $94 one-way.
Almost 50 percent of Southwest's service is on sale to celebrate the one-millionth download of its newest product DING!
These fares will be customized to the DING! subscriber and will only be available Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT, so Customers must act fast.
????DING! is the first-ever "direct link" to Customers' computer desktops, delivering discounted fares to a variety of Southwest destinations. To take advantage of these super low DING! fares, go to:
Southwest Airlines Offers DING! Fares as Low as $23 One-Way; Southwest Airlines Celebrates Its One-Millionth DING! Download
Airfares > Southwest Airlines Offers DING! Fares as Low as $23 One-Way; Southwest Airlines Celebrates Its One-Millionth DING! Download
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