Archive for the ‘Communication Skills’ Category

Be a kid – the value of playfulness in science and technology

Posted by Liz McKechnie

When we get grown up it’s easy to forget what fun we had and how we learned new things and and came up with new ideas when we were kids.

We learn to put away childish things and accept that they are not appropriate for the workplace.

When we get grown up we learn we have to speak in particular ways, wear particular clothes, control our emotions including enthusiasm, excitement, and joy, etc.

When we communicate at work we are taught to abstain from using adjectives and metaphors in order to stick to the facts, in the name of clarity.

We are even told to curb our gestures in case we undermine the seriousness of our intended message.

Whatever happened to nurturing our creativity?

Take a look at this great video of AnnMarie Thomas giving a TED talk on the playful side of engineering, science and technology – using play dough.

See if you can find your inner kid again. How could you bring him/her into work more often? Read more

To tell or not to tell – when values clash

Posted by Bronia Szczygiel

My aunt died recently and in typical Celtic fashion the family sat round telling stories about her – some funny, some sad. I was reminded of a time about 20 years ago when I was a strict vegetarian and we dropped in on Aunty Peggy unexpectedly.

We’d just had lunch but it didn’t matter, Aunty Peggy insisted we eat. The scene played out like one of those in Father Ted “Go on, go on, go on – just a bite” repeated till we crumbled. Well Aunty Peggy didn’t understand vegetarianism and ‘just a bite’ turned into half a cow on a plate with some lettuce and tomato. My dilemma – to tell her I was veggie, or to shut up and eat up.

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Young people today

Posted by Bronia Szczygiel

As fires rage and looting runs on around the country it’s timely to remember that far less than 1% of young people are involved so over 99% are peaceful and many are a positive influence on the world.

So I’m doubly proud to post my daughter’s blog on her experience in Manvi, Southern India where she was working with the Dalit community (the Untouchables) for the past month. These are people who truly have nothing and their young people are disadvantaged in a way most in this country couldn’t begin to imagine.

The young people on this trip and many thousands like them are living their personal brand and showing leadership qualities from an early age. Something to remember as we watch those scenes of violence around the UK.

Here’s what Guenna has to say:

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