Thinking Out Loud

Interpersonal Communication: Why Is It So Difficult?

Why is interpersonal communication often so confounding, demanding, and just plain hard? From the communication styles perspective that’s easy to answer because when you are accounting for all seven communication components of both individuals there’s a lot going on—words, tone of voice, reasoning, images, feelings, internal awareness, and more. Read More

Neat Freak or Organizer?

Each workday afternoon at around 4:10 Joan begins straightening up her desk, putting files and objects where they belong, hesitating now and then as she holds or looks through some papers. Overall, she moves energetically and seems very purposeful and cheerful as she edges toward quitting time at 4:30. Read More

Helping People Get Along Better

In third grade, I helped a kid who always got into trouble. I befriended him and coached him in how to get along with the teacher. I used eye contact, smiles, and directives about what to say and what not to say and told him when to apologize. This was an eight-year-old’s version of helping people get along better. Over the years I’ve gained more sophistication and communication skills but some of my early instincts still apply. Read More

Maine Association of Nonprofits

June 22, 2012—Bangor, Maine

Maine Association of Nonprofits offers a range of educational programs and services to nonprofits. I’ve taught several programs for them during the past couple of years on leadership, collaboration, and now:

Communication Styles and the Professional Development Conversation.

To learn more about the MANP click here.