The Importance of Empathy When Having a Difficult Conversation by Violet Dhu

One of the reasons why people don’t achieve their goals in having difficult conversations is because we tend to focus on the other person and what the other person has done wrong and our own needs. We forget that in difficult conversations, that the other person also needs to feel listened to and validated. When we are anxious about having …

Experts repeat the question before answering, ensuring that the people hear both the question and response, resulting in clear messaging.

Please Repeat The Question When Answering Questions By Peter Dhu

When doing your question and answer session, make a habit of repeating the question before moving on to answer it. This should be a standard rule for all trainers, speakers, presenters and people doing media and press conferences. In the current climate of COVID-19 we are seeing a lot of live press conferences and media appearances by our politicians and …

Many of us don’t realise the importance of off-the-cuff speaking until it becomes a recurring problem at work, job interviews, or even in our daily life.

Why is Thinking and Speaking Off the Cuff Important by Peter Dhu

Often, when people are asked to speak unprepared or off the cuff, they end up beating around the bush, dodge questions, sound like a broken record or sound like they don’t know the answer. Many of us don’t realise the importance of off-the-cuff speaking until it becomes a recurring problem at work, job interviews, meetings or even in our day-to-day …

Why Setting Boundaries Is Important In The Workplace by Violet Dhu

“When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated.”  ― Brené Brown As a communications consultant, trainer and an experienced Social worker, I consider setting boundaries in the workplace as an essential skill for people to have. It is also a necessary skill for leaders and managers to master. At the same time I see, far …

Always remember to reframe because in solving an issue or a conflict, it’s not about reacting; it's about choosing how you respond.

Reframing Your Words Can Make a Conversation Less Difficult by Violet Dhu

One of the most powerful tools that you can use to lead difficult conservation and keep it on track is Reframing.  This means taking the heart of what the person says and interpreting it into a framework that is more helpful. The way an issue or problem is phrased can influence your attitudes and your colleagues. The meaning we attach …

5 Reasons Why You Should Perform an Audience Audit Before Every Presentation

“Never criticize a man until you’ve walked a mile in his moccasins.” American Indian Proverb “Never speak to an audience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes” adapted by Peter Dhu An audit of your audience should be one of the first steps that you undertake when preparing to speak or present to them. This can be via research, …