Virtual teams, made necessary by globalization and possible by technology, are now common in business. They’ve taken over traditional functions such as procurement, manufacturing, IT and finance, as well as newer activities such as global supply chain and global service delivery. They’re often assembled for new-product development and R&D. And they’re increasingly found at the […]
Subject: Communication
Body Language: Power Poses That Get Lost in Translation
Several studies have made the connection between body postures and feelings and perceptions of strength and dominance. Open and expansive body language has not only been found to communicate power but also to affect power-related thoughts and feelings and neuroendocrines (cells that release hormones such as testosterone to the blood). Constricted poses, on the other […]
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In the Eye of the Beholder-When Eye Contact Fails to Persuade
There is a lot of cultural lore about the power of eye contact as an influencing tool. Business leaders, salespeople and many others have long been urged and trained to engage in eye contact with their audience – whether that is an individual customer or a convention of thousands. It has been taken as read […]
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All-consuming: Brand Management in the Digital Age
The field of brand management is undergoing a metamorphosis as the pace of change in our world increases. The brand-building process we used to take for granted, particularly in terms of communication, has changed irrevocably. No longer can leaders and their marketing teams rely simply on slick advertising campaigns to market their products, boost the […]
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Using Anger in Negotiations – Real and Fake
Studies have shown that anger can be an effective management technique to spur a response from employees, and equally effective in negotiations to demonstrate toughness, ambitious goals, and resistance to making any concessions. However, in previous negotiation research, negotiators had no reason to doubt the sincerity of the anger of the other party. Stéphane Côté […]
Pricing and the Power of Red
The colour red has long been associated with pleasure, and its effects have long been the subject of research. Studies have suggested that it serves as a ‘heuristic cue’ or shortcut when people make judgments and decisions. (In 2008, for example, researchers found that sports referees assign more points to competitors wearing red than those […]
Peer-to-Peer Deference in Email Communication
Hierarchies are everywhere, and the business world is no exception; the distribution of power and status has become a defining feature of today’s organizations. What role, if any, do such ranks play in communication between members of these organizations? This was the thought underlying a recent study led by Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Alison Fragale. Alongside […]
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Conducting Better Meetings – Can Data Help?
What can statistics and data-based analyses reveal to us about meetings that are effective (leading to consensus and decision-making) and efficient (goals achieved in optimal time)? Because the science of meetings is still in its early stages, the raw data for study is still being accumulated. However, two researchers from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, […]
Political Correctness Helps Expression in Mixed-Sex Teams
In January 2011, a football commentator found himself unceremoniously fired after he made a remark about the appearance of a female match official, and questioned whether another was capable of understanding the ‘offside rule.’ Many called his comments sexist and ‘prehistoric.’ However, there were also some people that suggested the commentator’s termination was a result […]
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Embed the Strategy (Do Not Rely on Cascading)
Strategic embeddedness is a priority for companies; a strategy is much more likely to succeed if a critical mass of employees understands and accepts it. Despite this, articles on strategic alignment have tended to focus more on organizational structures, systems and processes than on employees. Why do some people understand and accept their company’s business […]
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