Have you ever heard somebody use the term "lean in"? It quickly became common as a business motto in 2013, taken from the title of the book. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, and Nell Scovell, a...
I recently talked with a mom who was discouraged because her attempts to try some new listening techniques hadn't worked for her. She said they felt strange and she often forgot to use them. So she gave up trying. This is not an uncommon story. And there are reasons...
Both my sons are in their 50s, still pursuing highly successful careers in IT. But I'm still trying to communicate with them effectively, being aware of moments when a particular skill will work best for me -- with my sons, my wife, my business partners, and friends....
In Chapter 4 of Connect with Your Kid, I explain how to summarize what you think you're hearing, so your child can confirm whether you really understand what they're trying to express. The skill of listening to understand is powerful, and the impacts are huge. Kids...
I guess I'm a natural introvert, meaning I spend most of my time in my head, not interacting with people. Not that I can't engage; I just prefer reflecting about the world around me. It's a pattern that has served me well in learning, researching, and writing....
As I write this, Vladimir Putin has decided that he wants Ukraine to become a part of Russia. The people of Ukraine don't want this; they want to remain their own nation, separate from Russia. But rather than enter into peaceful relations with Ukraine, Putin has...
So many of the emotional flare-ups and conflicts that arise between parent and child are triggered by the failure to communicate effectively. Instead, we react emotionally, with frustration or anger. It's only natural, but it alienates your child. It's an old story....
While each of the ten high-impact parent-child communication skills described in Connect with Your Kid are amazingly effective, their power magnifies greatly when used in combination. Without question, my favorite one-two combo is open-ended questions to encourage...
A common consequence of parenting an adolescent child: the alienated teen. It's natural for a growing child to seek more independence. After all, becoming an adult and creating a happy, successful life of their own is the goal. But you want your child to remain open...
The book, Connect with Your Kid, is a how-to manual for improving the 10 most important parent-child communication skills. And listening to understand is at the top of the list, for several reasons: When your child is trying to express something, you need to hear it....