Do our communication styles and the resulting behaviours impact on stress levels at work? Expressing our thoughts, feelings and needs directly, honestly, unapologetically and respectfully to others is ...

One of the most common reactions people have when I talk about my work in addressing passive-aggressive behavior is an impassioned, “Passive aggression is so frustrating! I can’t stand ...

There’s a powerful difference between getting what you want and alienating everyone in the process. That difference often boils down to understanding aggression vs assertiveness. One builds walls ...

Some of the most challenging conversations we have are with our own family members. All, too often, we can treat friends and acquaintances, even total strangers, with more respect than we treat our ...

Right now, you could probably write a list of people with whom you always have conflict. It might be mild or it might be severe, but you just can’t seem to get in a groove with these individuals. You ...

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. We learn that fact in geometry, but it can apply to communication. A clear, straightforward statement or assertive phrase is sometimes ...

I have been called aggressive many times when I was simply trying to do my job well. If you have ever run into that mislabeling, or misinterpretation, or feel like you’ve been told to watch your tone, ...

If you’ve ever dealt with a mother-in-law (or some other hard-to-please Patty!) who says something is "Totally fine!" when it clearly isn’t, been on the receiving end of the silent treatment, or been ...

Effective communication is crucial for achieving successful outcomes in any interaction, whether in the workplace or personal life. But communication is only effective if it’s received. That’s why the ...

The overbearing mother-in-law The demeaning or insensitive manager The abusive spouse or partner The manipulative friend or coworker And as much as we might fantasize about cutting these people out of ...