Communicating in a Masked World (Continued): What Else Gets Muffled?
Posted On September 25, 2020 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. In Dean’s recent post about the impact of masks, he addressed new challenges to conversational communication. Indeed, the combination of muffled voices and invisible lips makes it far more difficult to catch every word that is said – especially for those […]
Check on Your People, People
Posted On September 18, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
We are now six months into a health crisis that has changed everything we do… the ways we work, go to school, socialize, shop, vacation, walk past others on the street… there are very few things that are the same as they were in early March 2020. When we all “went home” from work and […]
Great Business Communication Is Not About You
Posted On September 16, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
The hardest thing for any subject matter expert (SME) to do is to explain his or her area of expertise in simple and clear ways. When we are “in” it, when we are living the topic every day, and when we know a lot about it, it is really hard to distance ourselves from it and […]
The Flag on my Front Porch, and the Currency of Vulnerability
Posted On September 11, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
I love the quiet of the early mornings. One of my favorite things to do is wake up early, pour a cup of hot coffee and just listen to the silence. I start my day that way as often as possible. It centers me. And it is even more powerful on important days and anniversaries […]
In Praise of Teachers
Posted On September 4, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
This blog and our company are all about communication skills. And one of the most important elements of communication is gratitude. So, here we go. Time for a little gratitude. My colleagues and I know good teaching when we see it. Not only do we teach communication skills every day. But we have a lot […]
Sharpen the Tools of Reflective Listening
Posted On August 28, 2020 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. I have gotten to that phase of life where people are sending me articles about how to manage teenagers. I have a 12.5-year-old and we’re doing fine, but we all know what’s coming. The most recent article was about why teenagers […]
Agreeing to Disagree
Posted On August 17, 2020 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. In our work, we focus most of our efforts on helping people to build consensus, create alignment, and get others on board with their approach or initiative or idea. We help individuals reflect upon their own goals and their audience’s goals […]
Don’t Be Afraid To Be A Follower
Posted On August 10, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
We all want to be leaders. Our corporate culture wants us to want to be leaders. We seek out training, we dress the part, we jockey to take the helm of a project or a team. No one wants to admit to being a follower, and few people ever talk about the essential qualities that make […]
America… Don’t Forget to Listen Once in a While
Posted On July 20, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
These are fascinating, and scary, times that we live in. I talk to my kids all the time about the “fascinating” part. I have not yet ever discussed with them the “scary” part. There will be plenty of time for those conversations. And hopefully, for all of us to get better at a few things. […]
The Message Makeover Minute: How Being a Good Listener Sets You Apart
Posted On July 17, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
In a noisy, uncertain, opinionated world, being a good listener has never been more important. Good listening opens doors of communication by creating understanding, fostering empathy, and helping you connect with your audience. Those key elements allow great communication to occur, paving the way for the outcome you’re looking for.