Communication

Why do organisations make such an effort to seek out the opinions of those working for them, only to reject them out of hand? Perhaps it is because seeking opinion from the floor is something that undermines the myth of executive authority.

How do you tackle the fear of presenting? Here are some techniques to help you stay calm, get your audience hooked and keep in control when delivering a presentation.

Perhaps, like me, you have noticed an increase in the use of 'WE' in our language over the past number of years. If so, have you also noticed how the context of the word has changed from one which used to presume inclusion, but which now implies exclusion?

In tough economic times, organizations tend to rely on their managers to communicate face-to-face with their teams about what's going on. But this approach doesn't work, because it usually ends up being about managing fear, not change.

When we are writing to explain we should be aiming to set down our ideas as clearly as possible. Which is why I suggest you go easy on the acronyms - despite their popularity. Because though capitals may stand tall on a page, they fall short on communication.

A common voice is important for any organization's longevity. Every organisation suffers if a member of management decides to make disparaging remarks about perceived operational faults.

When I talk to managers about how they manage their remote employees, it quickly becomes clear that no-one sees the challenges in the same way. Some raise issues around communication and trust, others are more worried about those who are still office bound.

It's probably something all of us who have tried to get a message across will know from bitter experience. Researchers have proved that people only listen to what they want to hear and filter out the rest.

Where are we going to find managers and politicians who understand the value of saying what they mean and who are prepared to find the thread of meaningful words that will lead us out of the maze of lax-language that currently has us all hedged in?

Why are so many employees disenchanted and disillusioned by their jobs? The answer isn't rocket science. In fcat there are four main areas that cause friction between employees and their bosses.

Managers are increasingly using social networks, podcasts and blogs to communicate. But do such technologies simply encourage us to hide behind a babble of inconsequential chatter rather than say anything important?

As you prepare a presentation, have you ever stopped to consider that what's going on in the back of your mind is likely to have a big impact on its chance of being a success?

It's good to communicate - but if you want to get the most from your team, you need to stop having dreary meetings about things everyone already knows.

The business of presentation is uniquely positioned to continue unabated despite the recession. Because valuable ideas now fly round the world whether or not their originator flies with them.

With the cost of international travel to meetings and conferences becoming increasingly prohibitive and the workplace inexorably becoming wherever you power up your laptop, this is the moment to get your on-screen interactions well and truly taped.

In the current climate, webmeetings ought to save companies a fortune. But all too often, I've seen good companies and smart managers snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory and waste vast amounts of precious time and dollars in the process.

Tone of voice and pace of delivery won the race for the White House, because when the going got tough, those speaking with the wrong tone at the wrong pace were the ones found wanting.

If ever there was a need for verbal clarity it is now! A world in crisis needs language that can convey how serious the situation truly is. Sadly, powerful words have lost much of their impact.

In the current climate, it is vital that business leaders do what they can to help maintain employee morale through clear communication.

If you are looking for some concrete examples of how to deliver a presentation in a way that persuades even the most cynical listener to sit up and take notice, I have just the thing for you.

There is one relatively simple thing that every manager can do for employees but so few do, and that's give feedback. Normally the excuse is that they are too busy, but some studies suggest that they are just plain uncomfortable about doing so.

Mary has been promoted to head up her company's career development function. The trouble is, her VP doesn't see the need for such a function in the first place and doesn't see her move as a promotion at all. What can she do to get him on side?

There are times in life when you wish the words that just flew out of your mouth could come back before anyone hears them. This is never worse than when it happens at work. So how do you deal with it?

The imminent "official" start of the US Presidential election campaign is a good time to remind managers and CEOs just how far the use of rhetoric, imagery and metaphors can have am impact on how others perceive and act on their message.

If you want o know how to make your voice carry to an audience, the first thing you need to work on isn't vocal at all. It's your stance. And here's how to develop it.

According to a news story that I read last weekend, it seems that foul-mouthed bosses in Australia are now persona non grata.

It isn't just the the sheer number of unnecessary meetings that drives us crazy, but the endless talk and sharing of thoughts that seems to last forever and lead nowhere.

The credit crunch and economic downturn have caused CEOs to pull back from making bold, imaginative decisions and concentrate instead on the 3Cs: consolidation, communication and customer service.

Sometimes your boss just has a dumb idea. Of course, if you are like so many modern workers, you probably believe this happens more often than not. But how do you explain to someone who has control over your job and career that they're just wrong?

Faced with the prospect of giving a speech or presentation, many of us are gripped with panic. But there's no need to be paralysed. Here's how to overcome it and return to normal.

Is it just me, or are people increasingly disinclined – or unable – to just say "NO". This behaviour appears to have become a social and cultural phenomenon which has permeated throughout our lives, both at work and outside it.

You may think you're a good listener, but how often do you really listen before reacting? How long does it take until you jump in with a quick solution or retort?

A presentation , like any performance, requires its practitioners to know their stuff; pull out all the stops; make contact with anyone watching and listening and quit while the going is good.

Not all business-speak is jargon – some of it can even be useful. The trouble is, there's so much nonsense spoken in workplaces these days that it's easy for valuable concepts to be tarred with the "office-speak" brush.

Misunderstandings at work cost businesses in the U.S and UK a staggering $37bn a year. So where does the problem lie?

Many meetings are not dialogues. They do not invite contributions. Their style discourages openness. Their structure does little to capture collective and individual opinions. Here are some practical ways to get out of the meeting rut and have meetings them matter.

The first concern of any presenter must be to find a way for as many members of an audience as possible to get hold of your package of ideas with ease and discover what's inside.

Thanks to the internet and other technology, doing business in other parts of the world is easier than ever before. But if you don't know the culture or the language of that country, you could end up in big trouble.

Middle managers are a much maligned as a breed. But they serve a vital role in keeping deeply distrustful workers and senior management talking to each other.

Mary has recently moved into a management position where she is plagued by a colleague who bad-mouthed the previous person in her position and now she is saying the same things about her. Charles Helliwell has some advice.

Few of us has a problem with shouting at sports events, singing along with bands or talking animatedly across crowded bars. But when it comes to giving a presentation, most of us drop through the floor with embarrassment.

Diane's unit is plagued with poor morale and disorganization – a large part of which is due to her lazy boss. Dr Rob Yeung has some suggestions to help her deal with him without upsetting the applecart.

When you're not experienced, being on the receiving end of a heated conversation can be tough. But verbal challenges can be addressed tactfully and professionally as long as we've thought through a process for how to do it.

Open and honest communication is far more valuable than cash when it comes to keeping staff happy.

After an incident with a member of her staff, Katy is being given the cold-shoulder by her team as well as staff from other departments. Penny de Valk, CEO of the Institute of Leadership & Management, has some tips on how to handle a tricky situation.

It's no good ranting and yelling if you want to win an argument. What you need is a strategy.

We all need help to prepare and deliver better presentations. One effective - if unexpected – way to do this is to harness the energizing power of day-dreaming.

Here's a wonderful life-and death story with a difference which underlines that however hard you try to achieve something, it can often be impossible without good communication.

New web technology has the potential to transform the dull old office intranet, if only employers were brave enough to let their workers loose on it.

As every good actor knows, it is only by whipping your facial expression, speech patterns, articulation, inflection and stance into shape that you will ever tame the terror of talking.

The knowledge economy is being replaced with the networked economy. If you want job security or a meteoric career, building effective networks is one of the best ways of getting them.

I received a handwritten postcard recently from a supplier of mine last week. It had a real impact on me and reminded me that sometime, doing things the old way is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

Bibles, visits to strip clubs, haircuts, even betting slips – there is no end to what employees will try to claim as genuine work expenses.

Bullying others into submission is no way to go about being a manager. What you need to learn is how to get people on your side with a bit of gentle persuasion.

It's a fact of life that almost every audience will contain people who simply do not take to the presenter. So to minimize this problem, you need to find out about the mindset and culture of each group before you meet them.

Paula's boss simply refuses to deal with any problems or issues that arise in the office. What can she do to break down the wall of silence and start some honest communication?

It's not just sneezing or yawning that can be catching. Many managers perform poorly when trying to deal with staff who are difficult or not delivering.

The web is full of stories of managers doing dumb things, but one that stands out is this tale of a manager who is addicted to clichés.

The hatred of the business meeting seems universal. But there are ways of becoming ameeting master - and they don't take years of zen-like study to achieve.

What's your story? Study just about any inspiring leader and you will find someone who can tell a story that drives home a point – all the way down to a person's core.