Art of Eloquence Blog — communication RSS

Here's a bonus communication lesson from young children.  How to persuade with cuteness:

Little children are inexperienced in communication, but as I will share over the next two weeks, we can all learn some valuable communication lessons from them. Lesson number one: Speak Plainly. Adults say, "The honour of your presence is requested at the...blah blah blah..."  Adults go to great lengths to use the right words, the perfect invitation and the most respectful language, but at the end of the day, it can often sound confusing, standoffish or pompous. Children say, "Wanna come to my party?"  Children put things simply, succinctly and honestly.  They don't worry about how it sounds.  They just say what they mean and because they don't know big fancy words, they don't use them.  Children don't send mixed...

Communication has evolved a great deal in the technological age.  I've talked about what kinds of communication are best for various situations, I've pointed out the pitfalls of different forms of communication and I've discussed how they each have been misused.  This week, I'd like to begin a brand new series of articles that will share the details of writing an effective email. Email is a form of communication that most people use and are familiar with, but as JoJoism#20 states, "Do not mistake speaking for communicating.  One involves an ability and the other mastery."  The same concept is just as true of the informal written word called email.  Just because we do something often, doesn't mean we do it...

For the last two weeks, I've been talking about the pitfalls and blessings of having your child on Facebook.  This week, I'd like to focus on a slightly different communication venue.  Should your child have a blog?  Just as there are both blessings and dangers with Facebook, there are slightly different blessings and dangers with a blog.  This week, I'm going to focus on the positive aspects and next week I'll focus on the negative ones.  Here we go... 1. Typing skills.  While you may only post a limited amount of characters on a Facebook post, a blog gives your child the ability to type as long as he or she would like.  This allows your child to practice a...

Home, home on the range.... Where the deer and the antelope play... Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. What is it about our home that makes it special?  It's safe, secure and supportive...or it should be.  When  your home is filled with discouraging people (or your life is), it can be difficult to become rejuvenated, rested and ready to take on the day.  The rest of the world can be against you, but if those who are supposed to support us are negative, challenging and difficult, it can make life more stressful. Do you have people in your life who are discouraging?  Do you have to deal with them on a...