Good manners start with good intentions. Etiquette experts postulate that writing thank you notes increases the frequency and quality of gifts you receive. But what if you’re stuck and don’t know what to write? The Thank You Note Samples site covers nearly every imaginable topic to give thanks for, from acknowledging the receipt of charity donations to expressing appreciation for hospitality arrangements to thanking your potential employer for an interview. Multiple letter formats are available to add variety (especially if you’re spending the night writing the same monotonous notes due to a recent wedding). Additionally, the suggestions go a step beyond just the written word. Why not give thanks, for example, with a gift basket? If you want to express your gratitude and feel like you are not inspired, the Thank You Note Samples site will definitely get you back on your toes and you’ll be filled with ideas for expressing appreciation.
Thank You Note SamplesA recent survey shows that one in seven people have suffered the same fate as Kevin Federline and been dumped via text message, Reuters reports today. The survey said 15 percent of the 2,194 people questioned had been dumped by text or email, although a quarter of those in the most tech-savvy 18 to 24-year-old age group would choose the traditional method—a letter.
Sounds like a high number to me, so it begs the question: Of course it’s easier to not look the dumpee in the eye and better than just stopping communication completely, but next time you’re considering giving your sweetheart the old heave-ho, do choose the message delivery medium wisely.
Lovers turn to text message to say it’s over� [Reuters.com]Ah, the holidays—the only time of year the boss ponies up for an open bar and your co-workers get drunk and stupid together after hours. The Dumb Little Man weblog details how to avoid slinking into your cubicle humiliated and hungover the day after the company holiday party. All of this is common sense advice that may seem unnecessary, but a reality check before you face all that free eggnog, holiday cheer, and that cutie three cubicles down dressed to the nines might help. How do you enjoy yourself with your co-workers at the holiday party without losing your job? Tell us in the comments. Avoid Ending your Career at the Holiday Party [Dumb Little Man]
Blogger Brett Kelly says you should stop wasting your callers’ time and shorten your voicemail greeting to the bare essentials—no music, no cutesy stuff, no obvious information like “I’m not available to take your call right now.” In the end, he recommends simply saying your name and phone number. While I’m just as cranky as he is about time-wasting greetings, that seems a bit too curt. What’s in your voicemail greeting? Let us know in the comments. (If long greetings drive you nutso, there are ways to skip long greetings and get right to the beep.)
How to Make Your Outgoing Voicemail Message Not Suck [The Cranking Widgets Blog]Zen Habits has a nice writeup today of tips for overcoming your shyness and learnign how to make it easier to interact with people when you meet them. A lot of them are quite basic (introduce yourself, ask questions, show interest in others) but there were a couple of really good ones. Resist the temptation to show off was a good one, but this was my favourite:
Be Generous. I’m not talking about buying drinks or a meal, but rather being generous in your opinion. It is all too easy to judge someone who says the wrong thing or acts a little differently from what we expect. However we have all had days when we make a terrible first impression by making an off joke or just saying the wrong thing because of nerves or a simple slip of the tongue. If you reserve judgement and spend time making that person comfortable you will not only spread some good karma around but will earn their eternal gratitude.
It’s so easy to say something dumb when you’re nervous or not sure what to say to someone, so the above advice really rang true.So do you have any tips for making it easier to meet people or strike up conversations? Leave them in comments please!
Eight Essential Tips for Overcoming Shyness and Making a Good Impression [Zen Habits]
The BBC Relationship channel has an intriguing article on how to argue productively by sticking to predetermined guidelines. For instance, it’s not a good idea to bring up absolutes: Don’t use absolutes – never say “never”, “always”, “should” or “shouldn’t”. They’re irritating and often inaccurate. For example, “You never wash up” will almost certainly get a response of “What about when…?”
Arguments are never fun, but at least with these guidelines, you can hash out what you need to hash out without walking away with hurt feelings (hopefully!). What are your best tips for a productive argument? Let’s hear in the comments.
Productive arguing [BBC]You can easily improve the quality of your conversation (and improve the likelihood that people will actually listen to what you have to say) by dialing back on the quantity. Self-improvement site The Positivity Blog has more: Going on and on about something may be a way to show off your cleverness. Cleverness is overrated. It’s mostly a good way to feed your own ego…If you keep it simple and clear and if you focus on the people you are talking to you’ll become more free to say what you want. It might not feel as good at first since you are not stroking your ego or reinforcing your cleverness. But I have found that in the long run it makes things easier and reduces some of your own inner limitations.
This would certainly cut down on superficial chatter, but there’s a fine line to walk between being succint and being blunt. How have you improved your conversational skills? Let’s hear in the comments. 5 Reasons Why You Should Simplify What You Say, and How to Do It [The Positivity Blog]
Blogger Gretchen Rubin lists seven topics of conversation to avoid if you don’t want to be a bore. She writes: Unless you get a truly enthusiastic response from your interlocutor—which is possible—be very wary of recounting…
1. A dream.
2. The recent changes in your child’s nap schedule.
3. The route you took to get here.
4. An excellent meal you once had at a restaurant.
5. The latest additions to your wine cellar.
6. An account of your last golf game.
7. The plot of a movie, play, or movie—in particular, the funny parts.
Couldn’t pass this one up because it is spot on, if aimed at wine cellar-owning, golf-playing types. Any other topics of conversations that make you want to nod off? Let’s educate the bores! Post ‘em up in the comments.
Seven topics to avoid if you don’t want to risk being a bore. [The Happiness Project]You can avoid many possible miscommunication issues with the people you work with simply by checking in frequently. Productivity blog Bootstrapper has more:
Whether it’s a simple e-mail once a week or a quick phone call every few days, constantly checking in with your clients will actually save you time over the long run. Handling little tasks as they come up means that you won’t have to deal with huge problem later on because you weren’t attentive enough.
It’s that old “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” principle. Have you seen this work in your own dealings with clients and/or colleagues? Let’s hear how it worked out in the comments.
101 Little Hacks to Help You Get Your Work Finished More Quickly [Bootstrapper]Weblog Pick the Brain suggests that you overcome your bashful obstacles by focusing on your assets as a contributing member of society. The author reminds the shy set that most people, after all, are not very different than you are.
By and large, people are friendly and interested in connecting with others. They’ll respond favourably to your attempts at communicating. In most cases, people will be thrilled that you took the initiative to break the ice.
What’s more, the post emphasises that you should not let negative criticism get you down and let go of bad experiences that may have contributed to your shyness to begin with. Share how you’ve overcome your shyness in the comments.
Overcoming Shyness [Pick the Brain]
