Conversations and presentations will go better when you cut words that make people feel defensive, avoid absolutes like "nobody" or "best," and stay away from idioms that could be culturally confusing, writes Laurie Cure, president and CEO of Innovative Connections. "Start paying attention to the reactions you receive when speaking and cut out the words and phrases that are spurring a negative response," she writes.
Chunks of five to 15 minutes that aren't dedicated to a work task crop up throughout the week, and Julie Mujic, a visiting assistant professor and faculty partnership coordinator at Denison University, suggests five ideas for using that time wisely. For example, a quick read of information tangential to your specialty can broaden your knowledge, while delving into social media accounts can provide background for potential career changes.
This infographic from Ivory Research explains how marketers can apply writing tips from 15 famous writers, including Toni Morrison, Stephen King and John Grisham. The advice covers whether to revise or cut content, writing in an active instead of passive voice and making writing a habit.
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Speakers can show empathy by acknowledging what the audience might be thinking, then showing them why your point matters to them, writes Amy Boone. Addressing the question "Why does this matter?" can "show that you have thought about your audiences' lives and about what matters to them," Boone writes.
Unemployment rose to 6.1% in April as US companies added 266,000 jobs during the month, with many employers finding it hard to fill some job openings. Still, fewer pandemic restrictions, higher vaccinations rates and federal stimulus are driving a broader economic recovery.
Ford's expansion of remote working after the pandemic doesn't transfer to factory jobs, and the automaker is considering how it can make factories and other job sites more amenable. "When you finish your shift what if, rather than having to do a stop at the grocery store to pick up food for your family, we had food available that you could preorder a meal to take home to your family?" says Kiersten Robinson, Ford's chief people and employee experiences officer.
If your idea of a vacation is to head to a warm and sunny beach, rethink why that always the answer. The city of Gothenburg in Sweden has decided to accentuate the one thing that many people think ruins a vacation: rain.
