Category Archives: Comebacks

Workplace Deafness and Hostility — Foundations of Sexual Misconduct Complaints

The intensity of the MeToo movement came as a surprise to many people, especially men.  Yet, the study of sexual harassment in social science goes back a long way.  Also in the popular press.  In 1994, the cover story of the … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying, Comebacks, Confrontation, Gender Issues, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Back on the Hillary Media Watch

Today I posted a blog on Huffington Post about the return of gender insults perpetrated upon Hillary Clinton — this time particularly by CNN’s Gloria Borger. As a communication professor and researcher, I’m always intrigued by how words are used … Continue reading

Posted in Choice Points, Comebacks, Politics | 4 Comments

Meanness — Weeds in the Gardens of our Minds

Seems strangely coincidental but for me meanness is a subject that has come up in conversations this past week.  Maybe I was more alert to it.  Or maybe a lot of us are getting tired of it — sick of … Continue reading

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Speaking Like a Woman at Work

A few words on speaking like the “duck” at work — and the latitude to make mistakes on route to your own effective ways of communicating conviction and competence.   KathleenReardon – click here for video excerpt I mention in … Continue reading

Posted in Comebacks, Influence, Tutorials for Women | Leave a comment

Can You Bury Your Head in the Sand When it Comes to Politics at Work?

At HBR today this question is answered. Much as many, if not most of us, would prefer to ignore politics at work, whether for profit or not, wherever people come together with different views and in competition, politics exists.  When … Continue reading

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Can’t Get A Word in Edgewise This Holiday Season?

Social interaction increases at this time of year at work and at holiday activities.  It’s a good time to assess whether people listen to what you have to say.  Or, whether you might be monopolizing conversations. On Big Think today, … Continue reading

Posted in Comebacks, Holiday Conflicts, Unwanted Repetitive Episodes | 1 Comment

Handling Put-Downs at Work

I’ve been traveling the last few weeks, but back to home base.  My latest blog on Big Think takes a look at how to deal with put-downs.  Most of us drive home many days of each year thinking about what … Continue reading

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Complementing the Campaign to Banish the Term “Bossy”

Banning of the word “bossy” as it is often used to describe women who take charge is a goal set by Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In and a worthy one.  If nothing else, attention to the term and its … Continue reading

Posted in "Leaning in" -- Asserting yourself, Bullying, Comebacks, Gotcha!, Unwanted Repetitive Episodes | Leave a comment

The Holiday Gift of No Arguments and How To Pull That Off

We’re entering the season of URPs or UREPs if it helps to remember the “E” for episodes (Unwanted repetitive episodes) in our conversations.  As you may have read in The Secret Handshake and It’s All Politics and in the story … Continue reading

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Standing Up For Your Health

I posted a blog on Huffington Post today, “Mammogram Assault –  It Doesn’t Have to Happen to You” because it doesn’t.   Many of the blogs on this site are about what to say when things aren’t right.  When it … Continue reading

Posted in Comebacks, Managing Your Health | Leave a comment