Words have power. The words we choose have a great deal of influence on the meaning that we create, and the meaning that we hide. Mark Mullaly looks past labels to explore how they are used—and misused—and what we can to create better meaning.
On Storytelling
Story matters. While we recognize the importance of story, we also often downplay it. We are taught that data is king, that facts and rationality and objectivity are the way the world works. The problem is, that’s not exactly true. Facts do play a role. But story matters more. Crafting good story is an essential skill for anyone who needs to enrol others in a course of action. That would be all of us.
Bullet Points: Mastery or Madness?
Bullet points dominate business communication. That’s a problem. It opens presenters up to cognitive biases, as well as their audience. Effective communication means that we need to think and communicate differently.
That’s Not What I Meant
Communicating well is necessary, but challenging. Misunderstanding and misinterpretation is common. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Collaboration Tech on Projects: Opportunity or Challenge?
Social and collaborative tools are ubiquitous. Which doesn’t mean that they are used well. Thinking about social and collaboration software in the right way—and adopting the right tools—is fundamental to success.
Communicating Bad News: Practical Proactive Protocols
No one likes bad news. And we are not fond of being the bearer of bad news. It is a necessary role, however, and if we are to not be sacrificed we need to learn to do it well.