Archive: Communication
Be Persuasive: Present Your Request as a Future Commitment
If you want to persuade someone to do you a favor, you’re more likely to succeed if you present it as something that is a few weeks or months away. People usually don’t think clearly about future obligations. The issue is psychological distance. People have a...
Know When to Capitalize
Excessive capitalization is widespread in business, particularly in job titles. Know when it’s appropriate to capitalize. People frequently uppercase a word because they saw it capitalized elsewhere, because it “looks right,” or because they just...
A Simple Thank You can Motivate Others
A simple “thank-you” can go a long way. It is more than a polite gesture; it makes the other person feel more valued and competent. We tend to think of gratitude as an emotion that affects the receiver: The person’s face lights up because you were...
Being Persuasive: Asking for Less can Lead to More
People eager to have their request approved often make the mistake of asking for too much at the start. Asking for less initially often leads to a better result. Let’s say you want management to approve a costly new training program. Rather than ask for the full...
How to Get Multiple Questions Answered in an Email
Asking a reader two or three questions in an email and getting only one answer is frustrating, but there is a reason it happens. You need to alert the reader early to the fact that you have more than one question. Give the reader a clear path. Not all messages...By Ken O’Quinn
Focus on Them
Perfect Phrases for Business Letters (McGraw-Hill)
TD at Work — Business Writing for Managers
As a contributing author in this book on leadership, Ken offers insights and tips for managing difficult conversations, providing effective feedback, and being authentic. Order here.
Perfect Phrases for Business Letters (McGraw-Hill)
Provides the right words and phrases for any situation - quickly. The book was reprinted in Japanese because of high-volume sales there.
TD at Work — Business Writing for Managers
The Association for Talent Development invited Ken to write this 22-page booklet for the TD at Work series.
Current Blog Post
Accomplishments or Potential to Achieve: Which is More Persuasive?
If you want to persuade your superior to promote you over someone else, you could emphasize what you have accomplished, …