As the year winds down, now is the perfect time to express gratitude. A heartfelt thank-you email can leave a lasting impression, whether it is directed to clients, coworkers, or friends. Gratitude strengthens relationships and reflects your authenticity and thoughtfulness. If you have the time and ability, writing a handwritten note will have the greatest […]
Gratitude emails build relationships Read More »
Even the most compelling email content is worthless if it’s never opened. Mastering the art of the subject line is crucial for ensuring your messages don’t end up in the dreaded Trash folder before they are read.
When deciding whether to open emails, readers look first at the sender. We all have people whose emails we will open no matter what is in their subject line. But the subject line determines whether the vast majority of emails will be opened or ignored. To get decision-makers, clients, and colleagues to actually read your messages, here are five tips for writing gripping subject lines.
Why Your Business Emails Go Unread Read More »
When you use too many business buzzwords, you might make members of certain age groups feel excluded. Worse, they might not know what you’re talking about. If the purpose of communication is to convey our meaning seamlessly to our readers, corporate buzzwords are clearly not doing the job.
Using terms that other people do not understand makes them feel disconnected from you. When people feel alienated, they are less open to receiving your message. Why write in a way that obstructs the communication goals you are trying to achieve?
The solution to this communication conundrum isn’t complex, but it does require conscious effort. Here are some strategies to improve workplace communication:
Buzzwords Block Intergenerational Communication Read More »
The managing director of a large wealth management company recently complained to me that his staff seemed unable to forge warm relationships with the firm’s clients. “They are reluctant to pick up the phone or invite the client to lunch,” he lamented. “Even their emails veer between formal and stilted or breezy and inappropriately casual.” Recognizing the need for improvement, the firm hired me to work with them, and soon, their team showed a greater awareness of practicing the language of connection.
Effective verbal or written communication is crucial for building strong relationships in the workplace. When we write at work, we aim to engage our readers and achieve a specific purpose, such as gaining approval, obtaining information, or fostering collaboration. However, if readers feel that you do not care about or understand them or that you have disregarded social norms they value, their minds may close. Then, you will fight an uphill battle to get your point across.
Here are four ways to build rapport and inspire greater loyalty and satisfaction in your readers.
4 Ways to Build Relationships With Language Read More »
Think about some of the most successful leaders you’ve known—perhaps a boss, a teacher, a Club President, or a committee chair. Chances are they share some common traits. As you develop your leadership skills, it’s helpful to reflect on leaders whom you have most respected, and try to verbalize what made them so impactful.
During my many years working as a consultant for business communications, I’ve found three characteristics that nearly all strong leaders share: a sense of integrity, the ability to respond to feedback, and strong communication skills.
The Language Of Leadership Read More »
