Yes, I changed the person’s name and reworded some sentences to protect the company’s identity. No, this is not my current or any former employer. If pressed for time, skip to the bottom for some questions to think about. RE: Considering Leaving the Firm Hi Elina, I hope you and your family are doing well. Of course, Anh and I would love to catch up over dinner next month. Based on your email, I understand that you are considering leaving…
It is a common practice to build rapport before entering into a deeper conversation (Coupland, 2003). Often referred to as “small talk,” it is an opportunity for the parties to get to know each other on a personal level before getting down to a substantive discussion. It seems that many people engage in this practice automatically as a cultural norm and to get over the initial anxiety of beginning a new conversation. In a negotiation or other business dialogue, it…
It is well documented that nonverbal communication transmits a significant amount of contextual information during personal communications. When using a written form of communication those clues are absent. The result is an increase in the chance of a misunderstanding because of the missing information. Emails have a reputation for being misconstrued and read in a negative context even when it is not intended. Email is no longer the preferable digital communication method for many people. Texting and instant messaging have…
Having a strong work-life role as part of our overall identity is healthy and normal for high-performing people. However, it is easily taken too far. People may become so emotionally connected to the business that it consumes their identity until “the company” represents a huge part of the individual. On the other hand, having a weak work-life component of our identity leads to career stagnation, mediocrity, and disengagement. When we permit our personal identities to be compromised by allowing the…
