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Soft is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure
Soft skills are the new hard according to Australian author and communications specialist, Leah Mether.
Ms Mether, who has published a book for leaders titled ‘Soft is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure’, said soft skills such as those demonstrated by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attack, were increasingly being recognised as essential for leadership success.
read more…Simplicity over complexity is vital for effective communication
Albert Einstein, the German-born physicist and celebrated genius who developed the theory of relativity said, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.”
Einstein, the man who also developed the ‘world’s most famous equation’ for mass-energy equivalence (E=mc2), understood the importance of being able to simplify his complex messages to ensure they were understood by the masses.
read more…**BOOK REVEAL** – Soft is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure
As many of you know, over the last 12 months I’ve been busy beavering away on a book to capture my thought leadership around communication to complement the workplace training, coaching, speaking and facilitation I run.
The result, ‘Soft is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure’, is set for release on 28 March 2019.
The book blurb and testimonials below will give you a great overview of what you can expect.
You can’t be a great leader if you’re not a great communicator
You can’t be a great leader without being a great communicator. It’s as simple as that.
You will never excel at leadership without this most important of soft skills, no matter how intellectually intelligent, educated, or technically brilliant you are.
Leadership is about people. To be a leader in the true sense, people must want to follow you – even when times are tough. Especially when times are tough. read more…
The system lets us down: why communication skills are lacking
I wonder how different our workplaces would be if effective communication was part of the curriculum at every primary and secondary school? What if it was reinforced with workplace training for everyone – not just for those working in customer service or human relations? read more…
Make your resolution a reality: 10 steps to setting goals that stick in 2019
Did you make a new year’s resolution?
Are you sticking to it, starting to waver, or have you given up already?
There’s a reason so many resolutions don’t become reality and it’s not simply a lack of willpower.
The problem is, many of us state our big picture dreams as our resolutions and then beat ourselves up when we don’t achieve them. We mistake our dreams for goals and in the process set ourselves up for failure. read more…
Why the shit sandwich approach to feedback is shit
It may be one of the most popular approaches to delivering difficult feedback, but in many cases the shit sandwich feedback model is just that – shit.
What is the shit sandwich approach? It’s sandwiching negative feedback between two positive points.
A slice of praise, the real feedback acting as the meat in the middle, and then another slice of positivity to round it out.
Criticism squeezed between compliments. Positive, negative, positive.
State your point clearly, don’t be vague.
Do you talk in roundabouts to avoid having difficult conversations?
Speak vaguely in the hope other people will eventually guess what you’re trying to say without you having to say it?
This laboured and indirect approach is often used by passive communicators and those who doubt themselves. It also thrives in organisations with strong hierarchies, where management is seen as intimidating or aggressive. read more…
Ten tips to improve your public speaking
How do you feel about public speaking? Are you terrified? Get a bit nervous? Cope ok, but put it on the ‘glad I don’t have to do that too often’ list?
If you’re someone who HATES public speaking, you are not alone. Worldwide studies show it’s many people’s greatest fear – even scarier than death! read more…
Boost your self-awareness with personal feedback
Two weeks ago I emailed 20 people asking for a favour. I asked them to highlight what they considered to be my personal weaknesses.
No, I’m not a masochist; I don’t overly enjoy criticism. But what I do enjoy is working to improve myself and by asking for feedback from a trusted group of colleagues, family and friends, I would be better able to do just that. read more…
Soft is the new hard
How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure
leah@leahmether.com.au | 0409 938 277
