Take My Word For It

“Hey, can you hand me that thing?” “Did you receive the thing I sent you?” “Do we have our things ready for the meeting?” The word “thing” can mean, well, anything. That’s why, as a general rule, let’s the word “thing” from our writing and speaking. Instead, replace the “thing” with the actual noun in question…

Let’s say your company had a big grand opening for a new office location. Sadly, no members of the media attended to spread the news. That’s OK. Just be sure you do this next…

If you read a moving article in the newspaper or watch a compelling story on local news, do the unexpected. Tell the reporter and earn this key contact in the media…

The best elevator pitch – in other words, a quick summary about what you or your company is all about – has two main parts: What and Why…

Ever been in a back-and-forth email chain with someone and the conversation takes too long to resolve? When is a good time to “pick up the phone” instead of emails and texts?

Let’s say you went through a recruiter to apply for a job. In the end, the recruiter emails and tells you the company went with someone else. What’s your next move?

Are you in the job market and need to set up informational interviews? Before you fire off requests via email, you must do something first…

Do you need to email someone you don’t know to seek a career opportunity? Here’s a great tip…

As we send emails to open doors in our careers, how long should we wait to follow up with people who don’t respond to our first message?

Did you know you don’t capitalize your college major or minor? While a degree in, for instance…

Have you ever received an email in which the person wrote, “Hey, did you get that yet?” To which you reply, “Did I get what?” Pronouns slow us down…

Every sentence you write has the chance to be special. The key is to explore the details around the situation and incorporate those details into your sentence. For example, you could write: In the large exhibit hall, our team secured follow-ups with many potential customers. Let’s take the sentence one layer deeper…

Want to know the two most overused verbs in business? They are “get” and “got.” Often referred to as “crutch verbs,” “get” or “got” can take the place of so many actions. “Today, I got the promotion.” “We get the chance to present tomorrow.” “They got up and left the meeting.” Do you get what I mean?

“Hey, can you hand me that thing?” “Did you receive the thing I sent you?” “Do we have our things ready for the meeting?” The word “thing” can mean, well, anything. That’s why, as a general rule, let’s the word “thing” from our writing and speaking. Instead, replace the “thing” with the actual noun in question…

Let's talk about exclamation marks in professional emails. Is it OK to use an exclamation mark...or two...or three...or 25? Well, it all depends. Here's a good rule of thumb. Don't use an exclamation mark until the other person does first. Some people find exclamation marks unprofessional. Others use the punctuation without thinking twice. But if you let other people make the first move, then you are always in the right. If they have a serious tone, so do you. If they are excited, you are too! Exclamation point. Meet people at their level, and you're always in the clear.

Here's a simple communication tip. Whenever you use an acronym in your writing, always spell it out on first reference. Why? If you start off with an abbreviation, for instance, the FDA...you assume the reader knows what FDA means. And the first rule of strong communication...never assume the reader know anything. That means would spell out FDA, as in, the Food and Drug Administration. And from then on, you can use FDA...now that the reader knows what the letters mean. A little clarity goes a long way.

Here's a professional tip: no one will ever complain you gave them less to read. Every time you write an email or document, ask yourself: Is this word necessary to make my point? What about the sentence? What about the entire paragraph? We all have short attention spans these days. Our goal as professionals is to bring the reader to the end of our message as soon as possible. Less. Is. More. I believe I've made my point. That means this radio segment is over.

Have you ever seen this grammar mistake on Facebook?A friend will write, "Happy holidays from the Miller's!"But the word "Millers" has an apostrophe before the "s." That is incorrect. We use an apostrophe to show possession. As in, "The Miller's cat got out again." "Miller" apostrophe "s" cat. Miller's cat. When the word in question is plural, add the "s" and that's it. Your grammar-loving friends on Facebook will appreciate you.

We live in a digital age and don’t often need to communicate via paper and pen. That means we cherish a handwritten note in which the person offers their thanks, condolences or congratulations. We save the notes at our desks or file them in a special drawer. We don’t throw them out. If you want to leave an impression in the business world, then buy a pack of thank-you notes, a roll of stamps and locate a pen in blue or black ink. Then send handwritten notes when the moment requires one. That’s the mark of a true leader.

Take a look at your LinkedIn profile. If you’re in a leadership role, do you see the verbs “manage” and “lead” over and over? When possible, avoid duplicate words because they water down your message. On second reference, swap out “manage” or “lead” with words like “oversee,” “guide” or “supervise.” A variety of leadership verbs will make your LinkedIn profile – or a professional bio, in general – more colorful and interesting. Word choice is a powerful tool as we promote ourselves.

Do you have a big meeting on the horizon in which you’ll be in charge? Here’s a critical piece of advice: set the agenda ahead of time. Don’t walk in the room ready to wing it. Map out the discussion, put the agenda items on paper and think through how you plan to budget the time. For instance, consider lighter topics at the beginning so you make more time for weightier issues and broader discussion. Bottom line: have a plan. Run an efficient meeting. And let everyone go back to their desks. Office meeting hero.

Today, let’s mark the official retirement of a worn-out expression we hear too often in business. “I don’t disagree.” What is so hard about saying the opposite – “I agree.” It’s OK to let others be right. In fact, when you validate someone’s opinion, the approach allows the person to feel important. And, in turn, it makes the person respect you more. When you say, “I agree,” everyone wins. “I don’t disagree”? Welcome to retirement. Your work here is done.

Do you have a big job interview on the horizon? Before you step into the room, there’s one page on the company’s website you need to review. Why? 99% of job seekers will never check the page, and the extra effort might land you the job. The page? Press releases. Read about the company’s latest achievements. Be prepared to talk comfortably about what you learned. The employer will be impressed you took the time to care about the company – and didn’t just make the interview about you. Press releases. Find the page and watch what happens.

Are you a freelancer or looking for your next big gig? Here’s a crucial tip for email outreach that will boost your response rate. In your email, make sure you prove you’ve done homework on the company where you want to freelance. That means visit the company’s website and, in your email, highlight a blog post or piece of news that stands out to you. Make your email 100% customized. Take an interest in the employer first. That way, the employer will be more likely to take an interest in you.

Ever seen this move on Facebook? Someone will post an update like, “So sorry to leave my job, but can’t wait for my amazing new opportunity – exclamation mark prayer hands emoji.” Then every single person who reads the update has the same question: “Well, what’s the new job?” When you share big life moments on social media or through email, remember to actually share the life moment. Tell people about the new opportunity – your job title and the role you will play. Never leave your people in the dark.

Raise your hand if you have a boss who is too blunt over email. Actually…if you’re driving…please, keep your hand on the wheel. Busy people are often too short in their emails, and the tone can feel cold or distant. Instead, imagine you spoke to the person face to face. Would you only give a one-word response, or would you make the conversation feel more natural? Take a few extra seconds and turn your message into a human exchange. The person on the receiving end will appreciate it.

Did you know we don’t capitalize seasons? As in, spring, summer, winter, fall. It seems like the seasons would be upper case, right? We live by the four parts of the year. But no…seasons are lowercase words. That’s the funny thing about capitalization…so many words we’re certain are upper case…are actually lower case. Next time you tell someone, “Have a great summer” or “See you in the fall”…remember this little tip. Proper capitalization is one more way to show you know the finer points of communication.

Let’s talk about exclamation marks in professional emails. Is it OK to use an exclamation mark…or two…or three…or 25? Well, it all depends. Here’s a good rule of thumb. Don’t use an exclamation mark until the other person does first. Some people find exclamation marks unprofessional. Others use the punctuation without thinking twice. But if you let other people make the first move, then you are always in the right. If they have a serious tone, so do you. If they are excited, you are too! Exclamation point. Meet people at their level, and you’re always in the clear.

Here’s a professional tip: no one will ever complain you gave them less to read. Every time you write an email or document, ask yourself: Is this word necessary to make my point? What about the sentence? What about the entire paragraph? We all have short attention spans these days. Our goal as professionals is to bring the reader to the end of our message as soon as possible. Less. Is. More. I believe I’ve made my point. That means this radio segment is over.

Have you ever seen this grammar mistake on Facebook? A friend will write, “Happy holidays from the Miller’s!” But the word “Millers” has an apostrophe before the “s.” That is incorrect. We use an apostrophe to show possession. As in, “The Miller’s cat got out again.” “Miller” apostrophe “s” cat. Miller’s cat. When the word in question is plural, add the “s” and that’s it. Your grammar-loving friends on Facebook will appreciate you.

Here’s a simple communication tip. Whenever you use an acronym in your writing, always spell it out on first reference. Why? If you start off with an abbreviation, for instance, the FDA…you assume the reader knows what FDA means. And the first rule of strong communication…never assume the reader know anything. That means would spell out FDA, as in, the Food and Drug Administration. And from then on, you can use FDA…now that the reader knows what the letters mean. A little clarity goes a long way.