LOGOS English Language Seminars

01/12/2023

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/gossip-affects-bottom-line-business-43818.html

"While a little chitchat might not seem like a big deal, gossip can quickly get out of control -- especially in a small business environment."

A really interesting read! Few would think that gossip could have monetary implications, and this article definitely puts some things into perspective. 🤔

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this article, or watercooler gossip in general, in the comments! 😃👇

From the first day the humble water cooler was invented, it has been a gathering spot for office gossips to dish the dirt. While a little chitchat might not seem like a big deal, gossip can quickly get out of control -- especially in a small business environment. When rumors run rampant, it's hard t...

29/11/2023

It's all about ➡️PERSPECTIVE⬅️, don't you think? 😃

There could be many different perspectives & viewpoints intermingling together within your workplace. The chances of disagreements & misunderstandings are high, and it's important to remember that others' perspectives may be quite different than your own.

Water-cooler gossip isn't the best way to catch up on what's going on in the office.😂

Challenge your own perspective by asking questions such as:
I. What assumptions have I made about the other person?
II. Could there be something in this situation that I am missing?
III. How could I infuse more charity into this situation?

27/11/2023

THE PHRASE OF THE WEEK 🎉:

This week's Phrase Of The Week is, "boots on the ground". 👢👞👡

Perfect for use when you want to talk about the people working on a particular project, or task. 📋📑🗃

This phrasal idiom first originated in a military setting. It was used to account for the number of soldiers in the field, but is now used across various faculties and sectors! 😊

Some more examples of how to use this are:

"We need to have as many boots on the ground as possible during peak hours to meet the customers’ demands."

"I wish I had some boots on the ground in Europe to see first-hand how my book launch is doing internationally."

Let us know below how using this phrase goes for you!! 😃👇

25/11/2023

I thought we could have another little chat about Communication Styles - specifically Assertive Communication 🤩

Being Assertive, but not overbearing is the ultimate goal when it comes to communicating our thoughts, goals & desires.😃

Within the workplace, Assertive communicators are typically the most productive. These types of communicators share their thoughts and ideas confidently, and are usually respectful and polite. Assertive communicators are comfortable taking on challenges, but can also say "no" when needed. Assertive communicators usually have a level of self awareness that allows them to know their own limits, and protect their own boundaries without being overly aggressive or defensive.

Some tendencies of Assertive Communication are:
- Expansive gestures💃🕺
- Collaborative & works well with others👥
- Expresses their ideas and feelings🧠
- Good posture🙎‍♀️
- Clear voice🗣
- Good eye contact👀

I'm currently working on the good posture portion of this (sitting in front of a laptop most days isn't helping much) 😅

In what ways are you all working on to become more assertive?? I'd love to hear in the comments😊👇

24/11/2023

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-active-listening-3024343

"In communication, active listening is important because it keeps you engaged with your conversation partner in a positive way. It also makes the other person feel heard and valued. This skill is the foundation of a successful conversation in any setting—whether at work, at home, or in social situations."

Given this weeks' Wednesday comic, I thought it might be helpful to share some more information about Active Listening! 🗣👂

Fun fact: for centuries, being able to have a good conversation with people was considered to be an art form. 🎨👥😄

Active listening is different from hearing or even paying attention. Learn the benefits of active listening, along with techniques you can use to improve this skill.

22/11/2023

I'm sure at one point or another we've all wanted to say this to someone 🫣😅

We've talked a bit about the Assertive Communication style on this page before, but I would say that this is way past the mark 😂, and has crossed over into the realm of the ✨Aggressive Communication style✨.

I wouldn't recommend saying this to anyone, but it certainly makes for a good laugh! 😹

20/11/2023

THE PHRASE OF THE WEEK 🎉:

This week's Phrase Of The Week is, "on a roll". ⚽️

Perfect for use when you want to express some successes you have recently experienced.🏆

This phrasal idiom can be used to remind yourself of personal wins, and/or to keep your team motivated by reflecting on successes!🥳🤩

Some more examples of how to use this are:

"Paul has been on a roll recently! "

"Alright team, we are on a roll - keep up the good work!"

Let us know below how using this phrase goes for you!! 😃👇

20/11/2023

ACTIVE LISTENING is "the practice of preparing to listen, observing what verbal & non-verbal messages are being sent, and then providing appropriate feedback for the sake of showing attentiveness to the message being presented"...👂🦻

So, essentially the whole process of
✨ L I S T E N I N G ✨ well...💁‍♀️

However, this communication skill definitely goes beyond just hearing the words that another person is speaking, and also includes a desire to understand the meaning and intent behind the words (ex: considering how the words are said, and in what tone)🗣🤔

Some helpful techniques that will help to hone your active listening skills are:

- Being fully present in the conversation
- Showing interest with good eye contact
- Observing non-verbal cues
- Asking open ended questions to encourage further responses
- Listening to understand rather than to respond

I guarantee practicing your Active Listening skills will make communicating with others a much more enjoyable experience! 😃

17/11/2023

https://www.benefitnews.com/list/communication-and-problem-solving-among-most-in-demand-soft-skills

"Sometimes an employee's ability to communicate efficiently with team members or their natural organizational skills are just as — if not more — important than the technical aspects of their job."

The first sentence of this article pretty much says it all! 💃

Let us know what you thought of it in the comments below! 😃👇

From leadership and following instructions to negotiation and mentoring, companies are looking for workers with expanded skill sets.

15/11/2023

The word "decisive" can be defined in a couple of ways:

☝️ Settling a matter or conflict

✌️ Characterized by or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and firmly

Non of these are demonstrated by this meme. 😂

Considering your options is definitely a positive, but it's when we get stuck in the "consideration phase" that problems arise. Decisiveness is a valuable transferrable skill for both the workplace, and life in general! 🥳

13/11/2023

THE PHRASE OF THE WEEK 🎉:

This week's Phrase Of The Week is, "think outside the box". 🎁📦

Perfect for use when you want to inspire new ideas in others (and yourself)! 🧠🤯

This phrasal idiom helps to encourage your team thinking of new and creative ideas that may, at first, appear to be unconventional 🤔🤩

Some more examples of how to use this are:

"To solve this issue, our team will have to think outside the box "

"I really like our new intern! He constantly thinks outside the box!"

Let us know below how using this phrase goes for you!! 😃👇

11/11/2023

Since yesterday's news article dived into the topic of verbal & non-verbal communication, I thought I would weigh in on the importance of non-verbal communication! 🙋‍♀️

For those of you who didn't manage to check out the aforementioned article yet 😉, non-verbal communication is defined as; Information conveyed without using words. 🤫

We can convey a message using facial expressions 😆, hand gestures, 👋or even just by a simple look👀 (how many of us can communicate with our bestfriend's with JUST a look? 😏)

Verywellmind.com said it perfectly when they stated,

"Every day, we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors, including postures, facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, our nonverbal communication reveals who we are and impacts how we relate to other people."

Did you know that Body Language is just one of EIGHT types of non-verbal communication?! 🤯

All together they are:
1. Facial expressions
2. Gestures
3. Paralinguistics (such as loudness or tone of voice)
4. Body language
5. Proxemics or personal space
6. Eye gaze, haptics (touch)
7. Appearance
8. Artifacts (objects and images)

What sort of non-verbal communication are you perceiving from this photo??🤔💃

Let me know down below, which others of the 8 types of non-verbal communication you'd like to hear more about! 👇