Archive: Communication
Should You Ditch Laptop Note-Taking?
A psychologist says that we remember more when we handwrite because the brain has time to absorb the meaning. Business professionals and students are increasingly using laptops to take notes in meetings and classes, because it’s faster and because everyone is...
Use Judgment when Texting to Candidates
Using text messaging as a communication tool in hiring might be practical, but remember that writing leaves an impression. A recent story in the Wall Street Journal said some companies are turning to texting to communicate with prospects, because it is more convenient...
Being an Effective Communicator Demands Good Listening Skills
Being a good communicator is not just about speaking and writing; you also need to be an attentive listener. We assume we must have the ability to listen. After all, we have been listening to people since we were born, or at least, we think so. It’s more likely that...
Hyphens and Dashes: Know the Difference
Dashes and hyphens look to be similar punctuation marks, but they play different roles. Knowing the difference can add clarity to your meaning. A dash sets off information that needs emphasis; a hyphen joins words that are used together to form an adjective. The dash...
Stop Over-Capitalization in Your Writing
Avoid the widespread tendency to capitalize common nouns. Not everything has an official, formal name, but many writers think that if it’s something special, it should be upper case. Writers routinely uppercase names of committees, projects, departments, titles...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
Persuasion: Make Your Expertise Known
If you are trying to persuade someone on a topic that you are knowledgeable about, convey your expertise up front. …