How to Avoid Misconstrued Messages in the Virtual Workplace
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
With so many of us doing business online now, both the blessings and the curses of working in a virtual space have now come into sharper focus. The reality of it is that working online can be a very positive experience — or it can be completely irritating! Part of it is due to the technology — but also to how you choose to use it. Recently, I watched the video, Five Tactics The Greatest Leaders Use To Win In Crisis, by Robin Sharma, a favorite rock start leadership and personal mastery guru. In it, he talks about how each one of us has to make choices based on reliable sources of information ..read more
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Workplace Communication: The Perks of Working Virtually
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
Working virtually might not be for you, especially if you’ve been forced into it by the current global health crisis. But, as someone who’s experienced at working virtually with clients both nationally and internationally, there definitely are professional rewards. And aside from those benefits, there are also great perks. For example: Commute Time There isn’t any. That’s right! Not having to battle your way onto a bus or the subway, or sit in a long line of traffic in your car can mean some much needed extra sleep. I’m not suggesting that you sleep until noon. But the fact is, longer hours o ..read more
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Effective Business Communication: One Size Does Not Fit All
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
You’ve probably worn something like a baseball cap that usually comes in one size. I’ve done it myself and not thought twice about it because, after all, a baseball cap easily adjusts to fit your head. But, when I see that little “o/s” label inside other clothing items it makes me feel uncomfortable. How is it that one shirt, for example, can fit well on anyone, big or small? The answer is: It can’t! The website Wonderopolis pinpoints exactly why that “o/s” (one-size-fits-all) label makes me feel uncomfortable. The label implies that this item of clothing was designed with a lack of attention ..read more
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How to Excel at Business Communication: Forget What You Were Taught
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
When I was in high  school, I was determined to be a good writer — and to impress my English teachers. Naturally, I thought the best way to reach this goal was by doing what my teachers taught me. They encouraged me to make sure every sentence of every essay was perfect before moving on to the next sentence. They told me to expand my vocabulary and to use impressively long words. They said that if I followed these guidelines I was sure to excel. There was only one problem: I didn’t! The highest mark I ever got was a “B,” and usually my marks were lower than that. Every time I sweated and slogg ..read more
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How Not to Negotiate or Break an Impasse in Business
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
I love listening to great music in a beautiful concert hall. But, because of an accident I had a few years ago, I am only able to sit for a limited amount of time. Sooner than later, I need to stand. So, when I book concert tickets I make sure to get the last seat in one of the parterres, the special boxes at the back of the concert hall. That way, I know I can stand up– without interrupting anyone else’s enjoyment of the music. Recently, I had to change the date for a concert I’d already had tickets. Much to my dismay, I was told, when I called the box office, that the tickets for the parterr ..read more
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Three Tips to Make Your Business Communication Stand Out
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
You’ve probably never heard of Toby Fournier, Canada’s teenage basketball sensation. Or, as The Globe and Mail, our most popular national newspaper puts it, she’s “a fourteen-year old who can dunk.” But not only can she dunk, she dunks so well that U.S. colleges are courting her for scholarships, ever since she started posting videos like this on Instagram. One coach describes her as “relentless.” Another points out that she’s extremely eager to learn, takes constructive criticism well, and isn’t afraid to ask questions. But Fournier herself seems to have  the most insight into her own success ..read more
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How To Achieve Balance in Your Business Communications
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
Some days it feels like there are so many demands from so many different directions that it’s hard to maintain a sense of balance. But if you need some inspiration, I suggest you watch this video. I was drawn to it after reading about Simone Biles, who’s recently become the most decorated gymnast in world championship history. She’s just extraordinary to watch. What impresses me is not only how incredible her physical balance is, it’s also the kind of balance that must have been required for her to get where she is today. The endless hours of training while going to school, managing injuries ..read more
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Writing Effectively Is Akin to Planning a Successful Road Trip
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
I recently took a road trip to Montmorency Falls, one of the most notable places in Canada you have to visit before you die. The Falls are actually 100 feet higher than the famous Niagara Falls. As always, I started my planning by looking at a road map to get an idea of my destination. My GPS is great for getting from point A to Point B, but it’s not the most effective tool for looking at the big picture. Having found my destination I made some calculations about driving time, and I researched events and accommodations along the way. It’s not that I need to know every detail of a trip before I ..read more
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How Not To Sabotage Your Business Relationships
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
4y ago
As the old saying goes: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Sometimes though, it can be challenging. What follows is a prime example of what I mean. Recently, someone gave me a fancy box of chocolates. It’s fun to share that kind of special treat. So shortly after I received the gift I suggested to some visiting friends that we open the box. It was beautifully wrapped and when I opened the lid we all expected to see an array of tempting gourmet chocolates. Instead, it was just a single mass of congealed– and obviously old– brown sludge. Frankly, it was pretty disgusting. I was sure it w ..read more
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A Recipe for Annoying Your Customers: Poor Communication
The Language Lab - Business Communication
by Sandra Folk
5y ago
You probably are familiar with the expression, “Every time it rains, it pours.” But, for a friend of mine this saying is slightly different. It goes like this: “Every time it rains, my phone doesn’t work.” It’s the truth– whenever it rains my friend’s landline “craps out.” Not only that, she’s had this problem for two years! And the company providing the “service” has still not fixed the problem. Repair people have come to her house; other technicians have worked on the problem remotely, yet still no solution. Fortunately, my friend has a good sense of humour– when making plans by email to cha ..read more
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