Articles & News
22 Apr How Not to Digest the Political Sandwich of Balderdash – Doublespeak – Bullxxxx
Technically speaking, each of these three things is slightly different. Practically speaking, they are all the same in the attempt to confuse, distract, and deceive the reader, listener, buyer, and voter. We all know that each of these verbal tactics is normal behavior for most politicians and slick salespeople. They are prevalent at this time of year—election season.
During this political season, when you are facing several important decisions on issues ranging from birth and abortion to death and war, it is helpful to know how to protect yourself from being manipulated by these B-D-B tactics.
You will vote on issues, items, people, and policies based on one or more of the following things:
1) the known credibility, morals, ethics, or behaviors exhibited by a person or evidence provided.
2) the feelings and emotions that are created by that person or evidence provided.
3) the logic and experience given by that person or the evidence provided.
Your decision to vote, one way or another, will be based on one or more of those three things.
Balderdash, doublespeak, and bullxxxxare all being used frequently and passionately by politicians and others during this season. They are planned, delivered, and repeated in an effort to sway your clear decision-making. When you think about it, you’ll find it challenging to identify any politician or others from any political party or organization who do not use one or more forms of B-D-B.
The most common use of B-D-B is when an issue that requires a logical decision is presented to you wrapped in emotion (sort of a logic sandwich, with the logic encased in the middle and surrounded by a lot of emotion). This is designed to confuse and control your decision-making and voting.
What should you do? Read and listen critically to arguments for or against any issues, items, people, or policies during this election period. Refuse to consume a logic sandwich that comes wrapped in emotion. B-D-B comes wrapped in all kinds of emotion that is delivered with fanfare, folly, fun, pomposity, groupthink, and all sorts of shiny objects.
Enjoy them if you must, but remember they are only the emotional wrappings around the logic. Listen carefully, be curious, and have the courage to ask questions. Make decisions based on your personal assessment of the logic surrounding the issue, item, person, or project. That’s how smart you are.
2 Apr Ponderous Prepositions and Prefixes
Nothing is more symptomatic of our declining language skills than the increased misuse of prepositions and prefixes. People today feel compelled to tinker with proper word usage in speech by adding those handy prepositions and prefixes. Take traffic reports, for instance. Traffic on Route 1 is “easing up,” “easing down,” “easing off,” or “easing out,” but never just “easing.” What is “easing up” traffic? Is that when cars levitate? Levitating cars certainly would ease traffic.
We truly have an “up” fixation. Let’s not forget “shine up,” “smash up,” “stand up,” “fix up,” “patch up,” “wait up,” “lighten up” (this is just before we levitate), and “listen up.” We also like to use the word “of” where it is unnecessary. Why do we need to get off of the couch? Why not get off the couch?
How about adding prefixes to words to make hyphenated words? These days, we “on-load” a truck and “off-load” a truck. Whatever happened to the utilitarian “load and unload” of a truck? A favorite business word with an unneeded prefix is “pre-planning.” What does one do in “pre-planning”? Stare out the window? Twiddle thumbs? Plan the planning? Whatever that is!
So, remember to enhance the meaning and power of your speech; use prepositions and prefixes sparingly. Don’t spend time fixing something that doesn’t need fixing. Instead, consider adding those extra prepositions and prefixes purposefully to enrich your verbal expression.
13 Mar Motivating Others
Controlling the Impression You Make
What would you like other people to say about you when you are not present?
This 30-minute recorded webinar will reveal the six most frequently selected impressions that leaders of countries and companies worldwide find effective.
Advocating for Yourself
Answering Challenging Questions on Your Feet
At work, questions are continuously being tossed out to us. At times,
- We don’t know the answer and feel like we should.
- We can’t answer the question.
- We don’t have a good answer.
- We know the question will cause conflict if we choose to answer it.
Delivering Performance Reviews Confidently
If your work situation requires you to manage other people, this complimentary webinar will benefit you. One of your responsibilities is to periodically give people an assessment of how they perform their work responsibilities. This is often a sensitive and uncomfortable task.
Controlling Nervousness Before Speaking
Whether you call it ’nervousness” or “anxiety’ or “fear of speaking,” it is a widespread experience for many people worldwide; you are not alone. The good news is that it can be controlled. This complimentary webinar will discuss the ‘real causes’ of this experience and some tools and techniques to control the nervousness.
Persuasive Storytelling
Telling a story is a powerful way to win over the heart and mind of your listener whether you are presenting research/data, sharing your value proposition or selling a service or product. In this complimentary webinar we will review the best practices of when, where, why and how to use storytelling for persuasiveness.
Projecting Executive Presence Online
How to Lead from the Shoulders Up
Leading requires a lot of skill and effort. In today’s remote work environment, it requires even more. We know what is effective, required, and preferred in leaders who are leading remotely.This complimentary webinar provides a clear picture of the skills you need to be an effective leader in our remote business world.
Communicating with Authority
Building & Maintaining Online Relationships
Everyone is in relationships. Whether those relationships are pleasant and productive is based on two distinct factors. In this complimentary webinar we will share the research that gave us this knowledge and how to implement it in your life.
Watch our 30-minute recorded webinar and you will learn:
- To understand the needs of your listeners
- Practical tools to implement in building relationships
- The Human Business Model.
This is a unique opportunity to fine-tune your communication skills. You will learn proven strategies you can put to use immediately with any remote employee or team to keep them focused and productive.
Speaking Business English Clearly
Navigating Language and Being Heard
Best Practices in Communication for Managers
Navigating Essential Conversations
Thinking on Your Feet
This 30-minute recorded webinar teaches you how to process and organize your thoughts quickly in a way that will help you communicate clearly and with confidence
Have you ever wondered how some people always have the right thing to say at the right time? (more…)
Selling Yourself at a Job Interview
Job interviews can be challenging. Very few people enjoy talking about themselves and find it to be stressful. In addition to having the right skills, you have to get through the job interview. This webinar will share with you a proven best practice for how to ensure that you are being as effective as possible during your interview. (more…)