Ghosting at Work

The term “ghosting” originated in the dating world, in which, to avoid the awkwardness of saying, “No,” the person just goes silent: stops returning calls, emails, and texts.

Alas, ghosting has metastasized into the work world. As my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer the Ghosted's 3-Step as a way to respond to getting ghosted, as well as offer a tongue-lashing for ghosters.

Six Short Videos Sharing My Favorite Tips...Hopefully with Humor

I asked Robert Reich what his next project is. He said, "While I always think about writing another book, I realize that people now are more likely to adopt my views if I present them in a 2-minute video that's funny."

I figured if it's good enough for Robert Reich, it's good enough for me. So I've made a half dozen short videos that offer some of my most helpful tips. At minimum, I hope they put a smile on your face.

Here they are:

Good Communication Skills Reduces to One Word

The word is courtesy:

The courtesy to talk at the right time: "Do you have a moment?"

The courtesy to speak in pleasant tones: slowly, with pauses to give people time to assimilate what you're saying, near the bottom of your pitch range, but when emphasizing a key point, increasing pitch and volume and decreasing speed.

The courtesy to be brief: 10-60 seconds per utterance. That doesn't overwhelm the listener.

The courtesy to ask permission before criticizing: "Would you mind if I offered a suggestion?"

The courtesy to criticize with minimal impact on their self-esteem: "I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to (insert suggestion). What do you think?"

Courteous communication is invaluable to enhancing your credibility and likeability.