Communication Skills Archives | Van Hooser Associates, Inc

May 9, 2023

Hate Being Interrupted? Here’s How to Feel Valued and Heard

Have you ever felt annoyed by someone that seems to constantly interrupt? Maybe it happens in meetings, one-on-one interactions, both publicly and privately. Regardless, if you find yourself frustrated when interrupted, here’s a results-focused solution that created a breeding ground for relieving frustration and ensuring all people involved feel valued and heard. Remember — if […]

Mar 23, 2023

Want to Fix Accountability Problems? Start With Expectations

Photo by RODNAE Productions Accountability Issues? You’re Not Alone Is accountability high on your list of desires among your team? We continue to hear this from executives across the country, day after day. Just last week, we were on a discovery call with a new client who emphatically said, “We need our leaders to be more […]

Mar 3, 2023

A Sure-Fire Way to Engage Employees

Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash Why You Need to Engage Employees The need to engage employees is paramount for managers and supervisors in any industry, every day. Employee engagement literally impacts how we do our jobs safely, productively, profitably, and with an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. But employee engagement can be difficult. Why? Because engaging […]

Feb 8, 2023

Build a Stronger Team with Hard Conversations

Building a Stronger Team…What Works & What Might Not Consider this… When I worked on teams in the retail, food service, and financial industries, there were so many well-intending leaders who tried many different options to build a stronger team. Options like personality tests, games, after-hours events, and more. While the intention was great, the ROI of […]

Jan 24, 2023

Need to Communicate Better? You Gotta Work for It!

To Communicate Better Is Like Weight Loss Every new year, millions of people resolve to lose weight. Their motivation may range from improved physical health to heightened emotional security. But whatever their reasoning, very quickly into the process they understand that losing weight is hard work! It takes effort, sacrifice, personal discipline, and long-term commitment. […]

Jan 12, 2023

Why Leaders Should Rethink the Golden Rule

In American culture, we’re taught from a young age “the Golden Rule”— to treat people the way you want to be treated. And while I could not agree more with the goal of that statement, most leaders operate with the intention of getting it right, but their execution is wrong — primarily due to a […]

Oct 5, 2022

How to Get Your Boss to Listen to Your Ideas

Got a Great Idea But You Boss Isn’t Listening? In a recent corporate leadership development session, I was asked the following question. “How do I present an idea that I think has great benefit for my organization to my leader who doesn’t typically invite my input?” Whether you are an emerging leader trying to create influence for yourself […]

Sep 23, 2022

Why You SHOULD Have That Difficult Conversation at Work

© Can Stock Photo / gstockstudio Is a Difficult Conversation Really the Best Strategy? Most of us were taught early on that honesty is the best policy. But as we grow older and assume more personal and professional responsibility, the scope and breadth of problems we encounter grow more complex. The problems we are responsible […]

Aug 5, 2022

How Great Leaders Handle Gossip

How to Handle Gossip in the Workplace Workplace gossip can be irreversibly harmful to teams. But when it comes time to handle gossip in the workplace, most leaders won’t deal with the issue head-on. Why? Because it can be really uncomfortable and awkward. But if you don’t manage it, who will? Listen to this episode […]

Communication Skills