This is a good Monday morning topic – note taking. I am a Microsoft Surface user and happily so. It is an amazing tool that allows you to switch to tablet mode and take hand-written notes. But let me add this bit from Harvard Business Review (emphasis mine): Few people bring a pen and notebook to meetings anymore. Instead of taking notes by hand, more and more of us take them on a laptop or tablet. This change makes sense: Digital devices just seem more convenient, plus they let you multitask during the meeting. But research has found that there are real benefits to taking notes by hand. Studies have… Read More
Continue ReadingSimple Writing Tips
Harvard Business Review’s Management Tip of the Day covers 7 common writing mistakes. This may be the most helpful thing you read today: Affect/Effect: Affect is a verb; effect is a noun. It affected him. The effect was startling. All Right/Alright: Although alright is gaining ground, the correct choice is still all right. A Lot: A lot is two words, not one. Allot means “to parcel out.” Between You and I: Nope. Between you and me is the correct phrase. Complement/Compliment: Things that work well together complement each other. Compliments are a form of praise. Farther/Further: Farther is for physical distance; further is for metaphorical distance. How much farther? Our… Read More
Continue ReadingTexting And Lightning
The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter–it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. -Mark Twain If you would, allow me to speculate a bit. I’ve been involved in volunteer activities with high school students over the past 2 years so I have become a reluctant texter (is that a word?). I learned quickly that their preferred method of communication is texting. I didn’t even have texting on my cell service when I started. I now have unlimited texting out of necessity. I tell you this in regards to a concern I see in this younger generation. I’ve read… Read More
Continue ReadingWords To Avoid
JustSell.com offers a list of words to avoid in your qualifying activities (both written and spoken). This is a pet peeve of mine so I was elated to see such a comprehensive list. A few of my favorites, or should I say least favorite? a lot better cheap close early expensive in a minute / second / while occasionally probably soon sort of very I would add “really” to the list. Ok, why is this important? I’ll let the JustSell guys explain: Asked, “When can you have that for me?” in a business setting, a specific date and time is your best answer. Anyone in a leadership role will tell… Read More
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