Communication

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The #1 Thing all Great Communicators Have Mastered

By Sylvia Lafair | April 5, 2018 | Comments Off on The #1 Thing all Great Communicators Have Mastered

Silence can speak louder than yelling. If you really want to be heard, if you want to enhance your leadership skills to the next level, learn the power of the pause. The pause was underlined for me yesterday morning when I was writing one of my Inc. articles. I was listening to some classical music. It was playing…

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Leadership Strategies: Telling the truth isn’t spilling your guts

By Sylvia Lafair | March 21, 2018 | Comments Off on Leadership Strategies: Telling the truth isn’t spilling your guts

How hard do you think it is to be a transformational leader? My answer is it takes commitment and dedication to new ways of thinking and doing. The type of leadership that is transformative is disciplined, proactive, and positive without being syrupy. What I say next is necessary for you to tattoo into your brain…

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Leadership Strategies: Damn it, Listen to Me!

By Sylvia Lafair | March 15, 2018 | Comments Off on Leadership Strategies: Damn it, Listen to Me!

Over the years, I’ve heard from leaders is that getting them to listen to me is one of the hardest obstacles to success. In this article, I address 4 levels of communication that will help you overcome this block. Do you remember playing the game “Whispering Down the Lane” as a kid? Kinda old school,…

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Why can’t we all just get along?

By Sylvia Lafair | March 6, 2018 | Comments Off on Why can’t we all just get along?

Did you ever wonder why it’s so hard to just get along? Why there’s so much tension and dissension in the world? Why has behavior hit new lows with badmouthing all the way from top leadership in our country to the workplace? It’s everywhere and in all areas of our lives. Just recently sweet, chubby,…

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3 Ways To Be On Top Of The Frustration Caused by Stress and Conflict At Work

By Sylvia Lafair | October 10, 2017 | Comments Off on 3 Ways To Be On Top Of The Frustration Caused by Stress and Conflict At Work

Do you have a stupid boss? Well, maybe not stupid, just indecisive, or slow in answering? Or perhaps you have an incompetent colleague. You know, one who always messes up the report and you must fix everything? And then there is the passive-aggressive direct report.   That’s the one who says “yes” and does “no”…

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Ask Questions and Beware of Hyphens!

By Sylvia Lafair | May 9, 2017 | Comments Off on Ask Questions and Beware of Hyphens!

There’s a great story that has not been validated; however, it’s still a great story about checking up on what’s going on around you. Back in the day of Queen Catherine the Great, everyone did what she wanted.  Guess that’s why she was called “the Great!” As legend would have it, this longest ruling female…

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a man presenting in a meeting

Leadership Lessons: How Listening Changes Your Responses

By Sylvia Lafair | April 17, 2017 | Comments Off on Leadership Lessons: How Listening Changes Your Responses

Hearing and listening are related. Similar yet very different. We hear loud sounds, the wind, someone laughing or yelling. And then what? We just get on with our day. Listening, ah, another story entirely. Were you ever told to “listen up” when you were a kid? Did someone ever say “Hey, will you just shut…

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Guess Who’s Coming To Breakfast, Lunch and Maybe Even Dinner

By Sylvia Lafair | March 31, 2017 | Comments Off on Guess Who’s Coming To Breakfast, Lunch and Maybe Even Dinner

Is your company going through a growth spurt? Need more good people to participate in your exciting endeavors? Want to fill the shoes of those who have moved up with those ready to move up? Warning: Don’t overlook those seated before you. Lately I’ve been watching my colleagues combing through resumes looking for the “just…

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The Colors of Gender Thanks to Modern Marketing and Ancient Ancestors

By Sylvia Lafair | March 7, 2017 | Comments Off on The Colors of Gender Thanks to Modern Marketing and Ancient Ancestors

From the day you were born, even before conception, there are beliefs and stereotypes that are attached to gender. Let’s consider the color continuum for gender. Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Right? Where did this begin? Who decided which colors belong to which gender? Here is a brief trip through history.…

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a prince and a princess looking at each other

Spotting The Big Difference Between Charming and Sincere

By Sylvia Lafair | October 2, 2016 | Comments Off on Spotting The Big Difference Between Charming and Sincere

We live in a time of sizzle and dazzle, quips and giggles. It’s not a time to do deep dives into any subject. How do I know? I’ve fool-hardheartedly been following the Presidential election soaps on television and twitter. I’ve been wondering why and when we turned from substance to slander and superficiality. I want…

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