Are you planning to purchase a new communication system for your enterprise? Whether you are looking at traditional telephones, cordless phones, or a VoIP system, there are a few basic points that your should consider.

First of all, it’s a good idea to make a checklist of all the features that you need, as well as extras that you might want. Evaluate your company’s requirements for features like voicemail, conference calling, and automated messaging systems, and ensure that your system of choice will be able to accomadate these requirements.

Once you have settled on a communications system that meets all of your needs and is priced reasonably, it’s worth taking the time to fully demo the system, and possibly allow your employees to try it out before making a purchase decision. Some of the things to check are ergonomics (how the phones feel in your hands), ease-of-use (for things like voicemail and system navigation), and sound quality (especially in the case of VoIP systems).

If your system of choice passes all of these basic tests, you should ensure that it is installed in an efficient and user-friendly way. It’s also a good idea to install more wiring than you will immediately need, so as to allow for expansion in the future.

We often use metaphors in our written and spoken languages to show one thing within terms of another. It is sometimes very useful to use a different set of words and phrases to compare one thing with another. Your language can become more colorful if combined with different bodies of speech on the background of simple words and sentences. Another figure of speech which is widely used in our language is metonymy. However, metonymies are used to emphasize contiguity between two referents, while metaphors are mainly used to show similarity between two.

The use of metaphor, either verbally, or in written discourse, to describe scenes & explain events in the world around us is very common, its use enables us to understand & experience one type of thing within the conditions & terms of another, whereas metonymy is the use of one entity to refer to another that is related to it, & includes 'synecdoche' where the part stands for the whole, Lakoff & Johnson, (1980:36).

According to Lakoff & Johnson, (1980: ix) metaphor is ever-present, in language, as well as thought & action. They, along with Pinker, (1997: 352 et seq) perceive human thought processes to be metaphorical in nature; Pinker also suggests that some metaphorical concepts have grown to be so common, across the whole range of speech acts & other events that we experience, that they are no longer recognizable to the layman as metaphorical expressions, so entrenched within our everyday language use have they become. According to this insight into metaphor, it can be seen as one of the principal methods by which language evolves, Jaynes, (1990), moreover, repetition of a metaphor can bring it into ordinary language, eventually warranting a dictionary entry.

As metaphor is so deeply rooted within our everyday language use, it would be surprising if written discourse was free of metaphorical expression. In fact, on reading through various types of texts, very few, if any, can be said to be totally free of metaphor &/or metonymy, even those texts written by 'realists' who abhorred metaphor, such as Hobbes & Locke, were littered with it, Chandler, (2001). Although many examples of metaphor are not immediately obvious as such, this is generally because they have become so familiar, so prevalent, within everyday language use that they have ceased to be seen as metaphor; the connotations of these metaphorical expressions are clear because of their familiarity.

We often resort to metaphor when we encounter something unknown, or perceive something that is difficult to comprehend or communicate, according to Jaynes, (1990) we integrate these experiences to 'schemas' that are already available to us, which we adapt to cope with these new experiences. To quote Jaynes, (1990: 52) "Understanding a thing is to arrive at a metaphor for that thing by substituting something more familiar to us." From this, it could be said that if one were to attempt communication of something new or complex, without the use of metaphor, then this lack of familiar reference could inhibit comprehension, that, in fact, metaphor can increase the efficiency & intelligibility of a text.

In agreement with Lakoff & Johnson, among others, it would seem that the use of metaphor is so deeply rooted within our system of communication that it would be difficult to describe anything, either verbally, or through written discourse, without the use of metaphor, in fact, it could be said that the use of metaphor enhances the understanding of a text, adds to the significance of what is being communicated, by referring to easily understood previously

known concepts, especially when attempting to convey new information. The additional descriptive information that is established with the use of metaphor can add emotive connotations aid evaluation of a concept. Also, a less familiar metaphor may be understood due to the contextual information available & the receiver's ability to extrapolate from this.

Conversely, understanding of various metaphorical expressions may depend on the culture one is accustomed to; it is possible that certain instances of metaphor, especially novel but even conventional, which are perfectly clear in meaning within the language (culture) they originate from, may or may not translate clearly into another language or culture. A good example of this comes from a recent crime/comedy novel by Brookmyre, (2002) to quote, "the leader, 'Jarry', commenced the robbery with the words 'Alakazammy, stairheid rammy'." Brookmyre often writes using a combination of English words & Scottish colloquial terms. Stairheid actually means top landing or top floor (of a tenement) & is a metaphor for face, face being the 'top landing', whereas rammy is a violent disturbance or free for all, (Scots-online). In the text, 'stairheid rammy' refers to a face to face conflict, this is not an immediately familiar metaphor (to an English person) without reference to a Scots/English translator, but as the speaker (a Scotsman) in the text notes, "The stairheid rammy part is familiar to anybody who's ever witnessed an argument up close.", therefore, although stairheid rammy as a metaphor, is not clear (to an English person), to a Scotsman it is obviously a clear & effective metaphor for an argument or disagreement.

Metaphors are also often found to underline major theories of science & philosophy, & studies of scientific terminology by MacCormac, (1971) have revealed that the use of terms such as force & mass function as metaphors, e.g. "But at the lower particle energies […] W+, W- & Z0 would acquire large masses, making the forces they carry have a very short range." , Hawking, (1996:93) Out of context, this makes absolutely no sense at all, but within the context of the book these terms have perfectly clear meanings & are efficient in describing the concepts of weak nuclear force & radioactivity.

According to Lakoff &Johnson, (1980:4) the language of argument within the concept 'argument is war' is literal, not fanciful, poetic or fanciful. A good illustration of the concept 'argument is war' can be found in journalistic comment on political discussion.

Legislation under threat as upper house takes on the government […] forced to pay attention […] sustaining their opposition […] How far could the unelected upper house take its battle with elected MPs? […] a savvy operator who has formed a formidable alliance with the Lib Dem leader […] stayed up into the early hours negotiating. […] But the battle was a symbol of escalating tensions […] that threatens […] This week's stand-off […] Emboldened, they have stood their ground.

The Guardian, (22/11/03: 13)

All this from one article describing a disagreement between the members of the House of Lords & elected MPs. The use of metaphorical expression emphasizes the level of discord between the two groups, & without the use of these metaphors it would be less easy to highlight the intensity of this conflict. Another example of this common conceptual metaphor can be found in a scientific text book about quantum physics & is a perfect example of Lakoff & Johnson's definition of the concept 'argument is war'.

Each attack on the Copenhagen interpretation has strengthened its position. When thinkers of the calibre of Einstein try to find flaws with a theory, but the defenders of the theory are able to refute all of the attackers' arguments, the theory must emerge the stronger for its trial.

Gribbin, (1984:177)

An interesting metaphor from a magazine article about Hungary likens the country to a garment, & although this is an example of novel metaphor the connotation is apparent & Kincses' use of these additional components enriches the meaning of the text.

Next year, Hungary is set to join the EU, finally aligning itself more with the west than the east. This has long been Hungary's dilemma, says Kincses, who likens the country to "Europe's coat, where left and right, east and west, are buttoned together, where the garment is most vulnerable to wear and tear".

The Guardian Weekend, (22/11/03)

Another metaphorical concept, as described by Lakoff & Johnson, (1980:7) is that of 'time is money', this is one of those previously mentioned metaphors that are so common that it has almost ceased to be seen as a metaphor, e.g. spending time, saving time, wasting time, "I have been wasting quite a lot of time investigating these sites.", The Guardian Weekend, (22/11/03:7) "It's more about how I want to spend my time.", (ibid:25)

The following example of general use of metaphorical expression is included purely for its funniness & needs no explanation.

I once had two giggly young women asking me if they could touch my head, which they did, resoundingly, saying they had "never done a slaphead before".

The Guardian Weekend, (22/11/03)

Orientational metaphors give a concept spatial orientation, such as happy is up, sad is down, Lakoff &Johnson, (1980) "And she chooses without too much concern for the 'upward trajectory' of her career.", The Guardian Weekend, (22/11/03:25)

Metonymy is often more obvious than metaphoric concepts as it usually concerns direct physical or causal associations, it is similar to metaphor, although more focused, being referential & facilitating understanding.

Examples of metonymy seem less common in written discourse, although those that there are seem to be quite effective & understandable within the context they are presented in. "Scores of Labour MPs still plan top-up revolt.", Evening Standard, (05/01/04) Here 'top-up' refers to university top-up fees for students proposed by the government & would be obvious to anyone who reads newspapers or watches the television news. "There'll always be a place for plastic.", Evening Standard, (19/12/03) Here 'plastic' is referring to credit cards, a common & easily understood use of metonymy. "The midfielder was felled in a crunching tackle from his former team-mate Mauricio Taricco, who somehow escaped a second yellow." The Guardian, (27/12/03) The metonymic use of 'yellow' here refers to a yellow card, used as a first warning, & in this case, yellow has a 2nd (metaphoric) definition; being awarded two yellow cards in a game of football is equal to a red card, from which follows expulsion from the game, therefore 'second yellow' is a metaphor for a red card. What this example of metonymy (& metaphor) refers to here may not be clear to everyone, but would be immediately apparent to anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of the rules of football.

Some conference providers are bold enough to offer a full service conference call. With the entry of too many of them in the market today, the competition is getting tighter by the minute. The companies who choose to conduct free conference calling may be offering it as a lure for possible customers with the aim to make them become regular customers instead.

Take advantage of a good free web conference calling promotion. This can be a good move, especially if you are not familiar with how conference calls work. Using a free conference call can give you the opportunity to learn how everything works and how you can benefit from, without the associated charges.

A good free conference call should have the following features:

1. Allowance for a large number of callers. One free conference call provider can accommodate up to a hundred callers at the same time. This is a very large number of callers. Especially if the people you intend to talk to are prospective buyers. For a typical company meeting, a provider offering 20 to 25 participants should be sufficient.

2. Availability for the call length you want. Estimate how long your conference call would take. If less than an hour will do for you, then a free service should be adequate. However, if you expect the meeting to last a couple of hours, you should look for a free service that can cover you for a three hours time span. This allows for time for questions and feedback in addition to the main content of the call.

3. A toll-free dial-in number. Some free services are generous enough to allow you to use their toll-free number for your conference participants to use. Else, they might be giving you a local number where long-distance telephone charges apply. Check out what the free conference call number is. They might be adding other charges to the participant's telephone bill without you knowing about it.

4. The availability of access codes. The provider may indicate that you can have a hundred participants, but provide less conference pass codes than that. Read the fine print--you should be able to identify this in the planning stages.

You might wonder if there is a catch with a conference call that is being given away free? The truth is that there could really be one. Therefore, it is up to you, the customer, to find out what the catches are. While some provide truly free service, some free services have numerous conditions that must be met in order to obtain the free service. Be wary of those.

For those companies that claim to give out their service free, may only be doing so for a limited time. If you are really on the lookout for a free service, you should evaluate first the level of service you will obtain, as well as continued availability of the service. You do not want your business impacted by poor choices of free conference service provider.

The bottom line here is that audio conference calls are offered free. It is just a matter of finding and choosing the best provider with which to host your call. You want to ensure that your conference call will go as intended. Remember that if your call is important enough, you may want to go with a paid service, as the level of service and features may be more in line with your needs.

Long distance phone calls used to be expensive. Remember the time when you spend up to ten cents or more a minute? Initially, the competition was not fierce and phone companies were making lots of profit from long distance calls. Soon, more competitors flood the marketing, forcing the price to reduce. Phone companies began to come out with unique packages and offers to get you to become their customer. Things have changed a lot since then, and many long distance call companies have folded. This is because the world of long distance calls has changed. It is now a service that you can get for free or very low cost.

The cheapest option available for long distance call nowadays is through internet. Using free services like Yahoo messenger, MSN messenger or Skype, you can now call your friends in any country as long as they download the free application too. The downside of such service of course is the need to have a computer and sometimes, the quality of the voice is not very good.

If you prefer to speak through the traditional telephone way, companies like Vonage and Time Warner Cable offer digital phone that comes into your home via your cable Internet connection. You can use your existing phone and keep your phone number. This type of service is cheap. Domestic calls are free. International calls are charged at a very reasonable price. For example, Time Warner cable offers long distance phone calls from the United States to Australia for ten cents a minute.

Another option available is monthly subscription. For example, Verizon offers unlimited long distance phone calls for just $20 a month. For those who make regular long distance call, this is definitely a real bargain. Such package offer is also good for those who do not have cable internet in their area.

One popular option that many people like to use is buying a long distance calling card. For $10, you can make hours of long distance call, depending on which country you call to. When buying a calling card, pay special attention to the initial charge per call. Some cards may advertise that you can make an hour long call for just 60 cents. But if you make several short calls, there may be a one time charge and these charges can easily build up and deplete the card value. If using a calling card, the idea is to make less calls but you can speak as long as you like.

If you have a cell phone that come with free nights and weekends call, you can take advantage of your contracts that give you free long distance phone calls during these special hours.

These days, long distance charges are very competitive. Every month, we receive many flyers of long distance service and often watch such advertisements on TV. Even home phone and cell phone company can provide their 'cheap' long distance package also. But the latter is more expensive.

There are so many choices for long distance calling. Then, how to compare and find the best rate with good quality? Internet is a good way. Some websites sell many calling cards together and provide price comparison. Why not use their technology to make it simple? Just go to such a calling card online store, like http://www.eecalling.com. Then begin your price comparing tour.

First, select the country you will call from, and then select the country you will call to. I.e., you will like to call Canada from USA. Then select USA as the 'from' country and Canada as the 'to' country.

Second, click 'search' button. You will see the result page that show all available calling card by price increasing. The top one is the best rate calling card. I.e., the best rate calling from USA to Canada is 0.9 cent/minute. You can change it to call to a cell phone whose rate is different. For special destination city, the rate may be lower. They will indicate you on the top if it is available.

Third, you can compare now. Besides rates, you also need to consider the terms or other charges. Some cards have maintenance fee or connection fee. You had better know it clearly before purchase. Otherwise, you will find minute reducing. Regarding these terms and surcharges, I will introduce them details in the other articles. Please read it later. After comparing, you may have a decision which card is right for you.

Last, buy online. Click the 'buy or refill' button beside the card you want to buy. Then following the instruction to open an account and select the payment method. An instant PIN# will send to your email immediately after your purchasing. If you had purchased a calling card and want to buy the same card again, just refill it.

One thing that every business needs from the outset is affordable and reliable local and long distance telephone service. And as your business grows, you will likely want a different range of features, prompting you to switch plans from time to time. Before you sign a new telephone service agreement, however, it’s good to carefully consider a few all-important tips.

First of all, and most obviously, it’s essential that you read all the small print before your sign, so as to ensure that your business isn’t hit by unexpected charges and fees.

You should also consider the time implications of a contract before signing it. Long-term contracts that lock you in for more than one year can be a disadvantage, as they prevent you from jumping at a better deal if it comes along. Before finalizing a deal you should make sure that you fully understand the cancellation policy, and how much it will cost to discontinue your service before the contract expires.

Finally, it’s important that you ask your provider of choice what their procedures are for after-hours technical support. If your phones stop working on the weekend or in the middle of the night, will someone be available to fix them? Don’t sign anything until this question has been answered to your full satisfaction.

Regardless of your profession, communication is an essential part of your day. From calming down irate customers to negotiating with vendors to giving instructions to employees, your communication skills determine your success. Communicate well and you'll sell your ideas more effectively, deal with discord better, and run better meetings. Communicate poorly and you'll leave conversations wondering if anything was accomplished at all.

Think about the conversations you have throughout the course of any given day. Are all of them productive? If you're like most people, they're probably not. Communicating effectively requires planning, concentration, and consideration of others. So whether you need to talk with your spouse, hash out a problem with a friend, or land that next big business deal, here are some tips to add power and productivity to your conversations.

1. Think Before You Speak Know why you are having the conversation and what you want to accomplish from it before you begin to speak. The listener will more likely remember your message.

2. Stop Talking and Listen The best way to be a good communicator is to be a good listener. Think of your conversation as a tennis match, with each person taking turns serving and receiving, or speaking and listening. When it's your turn to listen, give the other party your undivided attention.

3. Ask Questions To gain the most from any interaction, find out what people want. Ask open-ended questions that can't be answered "Yes" or "No." Then, restate what you heard and ask them to verify that you received the message correctly.

4. Anticipate Distractions Nothing you do will make others feel more important than giving them your full attention. Turn off your pager and cell phone. If there are other conversations or events going on in the same room, ignore them.

5. Be Mindful of Your Volume and Tone Your vocal tone gives the listener a snapshot of your feelings. If you want to show respect or affection, soften your tone. If a conversation begins to turn into an argument, consciously lower your volume; often your listener will, too. Keep your voice calm and even whenever possible.

6. Handle Disagreements with Tact Disagreements are inevitable. Be sure you clearly understand the issue and ask questions. Stay calm and think of disagreements as a difference in opinion, not personal rejection. You can understand another's point of view without agreeing with it. Everyone has a right to an opinion, so respect that and work at finding your common ground.

7. Be Open to New Ideas Don't assume you know everything about a given topic and close off your mind. Instead, relax and allow time to receive vital input from another person. Listen attentively and consider how new ideas may apply to things you already know.

8. Take Notes Always carry a PDA or a pen and notepad to jot down indeas. Record new ideas and items on which you must take action.

9. Watch Your Body Language Studies show that 93% of communication is non-verbal. Make sure you make good eye contact, stand tall, and keep good posture. Make sure your message and your body language match. If there is any discrepancy, people are more likely to believe what your body language is saying than your words.

10. Eliminate Audible Pauses There's no need to fill every second of a conversation with sound. Verbal fluff ("ah," "er," "um," "like," "you know") obscures your message and reduces your credibility. If you feel you are about to use a non-word, take a breath, hold it a moment, and then resume speaking.

More Power to You Communication and success go hand in hand. The more effectively you communicate your ideas, the better your outcomes will be. So practice these communication tips and apply them every day. When you do, you'll communicate powerfully and with confidence and achieve the results you desire.

Language: The Key that Opens or Closes that Important Door

What prevents people from using their native language or secondary languages confidently comes down to seven traps that most people fall into.

Language is one of the things that sets us apart as beings, one of the things that essentially defines us as humans. When language is used well it can elicit very deep feeling in others, motivate others to action and define the nature of our relationships. Sometimes in poetry the juxtaposition of two words or a certain phrase can bring tears to the eyes, call up a whole host of imagery and move us deeply. We have seen language recently used in the politics of persuasion, used for good or ill – depending on your viewpoint. When we use language to express our true feelings to someone it can open and deepen the connection between us. Language is a very powerful tool. How we use language shapes our world both internally and externally. How you use self-talk – what you say to yourself about yourself and about the world directly shapes your experience of both yourself and the world. How you deliver communication shapes the way the world responds to you. We can use language more effectively in both spheres: internal and external and directly influence the health and power of our personal relationships and our business relationships.

Connie Glaser, a leading expert on patterns of communication has come up with 7 self-sabotage traps that diminish the power of our speech. I want to speak about each of these traps and help you identify which ones may be just unconscious ways or habits you have developed to communicate. In my work as a coach I always see that when we can make an automatic habit conscious and see it clearly we have much more leverage with which to change it. We have choices!

As I looked at the 7 Steps that Ms Glaser outlined I realized that they were an acronym – I am always looking for these when I teach because it makes it so much easier for people to remember. What happens when we don’t use language effectively is that we deflect the power of it – we diminish the impact of it- we in fact don’t get our real message across.

DEFLECT: The seven traps that derail our message

Disclaimers: “You may think this sounds stupid, but…”

Effusive Apologies: “I’m sooooo sorry…”

Fumble: “kinda, sorta like….”

Long- Taking too long to get to the point – wrapping a point in so much other information that people lose the train of what you are saying.

Emotions get in the way: Perhaps crying when you are really angry, being afraid so not communicating at all…..

Credit- Not accepting credit.

Tag Questions: “That was an excellent report, don’t you think?”

Each of these “habits of speech” serves to deflect the power or clarity of our communication.

ü Disclaimers take the legs out from under what you say so there is no foundation. The person is asked to agree that what you are saying is stupid.

ü Effusive Apologies tend to obscure what you are saying, your communication gets lost in all of the apology and the underlying message is that you are inn error.

ü Fumbling in your conversational style is a habit that communicates that you do not really know what you are talking about or that you would really rather someone would ignore it.

ü Taking too long to get to the point hides your real message in an avalanche of words- the essential message is hard if not impossible to discern.

ü When emotions get in the way people sometimes don’t deliver what they are really trying to convey because they are afraid of the outcome, embarrassed by what they want to say or wrap the communiqué in the opposite emotion i.e. they are really angry but break down instead.

ü Not accepting credit for something - saying things like “Oh it was nothing” or “Really I don’t deserve the credit” etc. deflects attention from you and tends to communicate that you would rather not be noticed.

ü Tag Lines or asking a question at the end of a statement robs that statement of any power. It is sort of like blowing up a balloon and the moment you give it to someone insert a pin in it.

Often these are habits of communication, patterns of speech that we have learned and have become habitual. If we can identify the habit we, of course, can make different choices in how we communicate. Spend some tine observing your “favorite” trap and experiment with another more powerful approach. Drop the tag line and make a declarative statement, stop for a moment when someone gives you credit and allow it to sink in, make a direct statement without a disclaimer. All of these shifts brings power and clarity back into your communication.

As in all daily interactions, it is important to remember you will converse with people from various background and life experiences. Speaking and listening effectively are crucial to creating an atmosphere of respect with others. Showing respect to everyone, and encouraging open communication can help bring you a motivated and congenial staff while impressing your colleagues.

Improved communications + better results = more success

Three important communication techniques:

1. Create safety in the conversation by encouraging others to participate and express their concerns and objectives.
2. Establish mutual purpose by understanding what the others view point might be and paraphrase back to establish clarity in the conversation.
3. Communicate with respect by actively listening to the other person. Give total attention to the conversation and encourage participation.

Building rapport

My 22 years experience in business management has taught me that building rapport and respect for people with different personalities and different viewpoints is imperative.

A main objective is to develop positive communication style by building the rapport with others. This is a large part of getting the ideas across in a constructive, collaborative manner with mutual respect.

10 ways to maximize communication results

1. Deliver clear and consistent messages in your conversations
2. Manage communication problems with knowledge and awareness of conflict management
3. Work on you first. Don't try to change the other person.
4. Handle all conversations with respect and you will receive respect in return
5. Stay within your boundaries and values, and keep emotionally balanced during conflicts
6. Inspire, energize and motivate others
7. Actively listen.
8. Never make the other person wrong
9. During a conflict, find mutual ground, then resolve the issue with that in mind
10. Don't be a victim or play the villain in a conflicting situation

The concept of communicating best when it matters most is intended to ultimately guide a greater appreciation and respect for others, while maximizing the outcome of conversation.

Communication and leadership are inseparable.

Our ability to energize, inspire, and motivate people to high levels of performance is directly related to our ability to communicate well. Be ready with your conflict resolution skills at any time. By communicating with empathy, yet with strength and diplomacy, you will model effective communication to all around you, and the results will happily affect the bottom line.

About conflict:

* Conflict is inevitable
* Conflict develops because we are dealing with people's lives, jobs children, pride, self-concept, ego and sense of mission or purpose
* Early indicators of conflict can be recognized
* There are strategies for resolution that are available and DO work
* Although inevitable, conflict can be minimized, diverted and/or resolved

Conflict Indicators:

* Poor and disrespectful communication
* Individual seeking power
* Dissatisfaction with management style
* Weak leadership
* Lack of openness
* Change in leadership
* Certain body language
* Disagreements regardless of issue
* Withholding bad news
* Surprises
* Strong public statements
* Airing disagreements through media
* Conflicts in value system
* Increasing lack of respect
* Lack of candor on budget problems or other sensitive issues
* Lack of clear goals
* No discussion of progress, failure relative to goals, failure to evaluate the superintendent fairly, thoroughly or at all

When you are not aware of what the other person's needs or if you are not listening carefully to the message the other is stating, conflict occurs. This unconscious behavior is what stops you from maximizing the results in conversations. When a person actively works at these different communication habits and skills, better results and less stress occurs in the conversation process.

Conflict is destructive when it:

* Takes attention away from other important activities
* Undermines morale or self-concept
* Polarizes people and groups, reducing cooperation
* Increases or sharpens difference
* Leads to irresponsible and harmful behavior, such as fighting, name-calling

Conflict is constructive when it:

* Results in clarification of important problems and issues
* Results in solutions to problems
* Involves people in resolving issues important to them
* Encourages authentic communication
* Helps release emotion, anxiety, and stress
* Builds cooperation by people joining to resolve conflict
* Helps individuals develop understanding and skills

Techniques for avoiding and/or resolving conflict:

* Meet conflict head on
* Set goals
* Plan ahead and communicate frequently
* Be honest about concerns
* Agree to disagree; understand healthy disagreement builds better decisions
* Get individual ego out of management style
* Let your team create; people will support what they help create
* Openly discuss differences in values
* Continually stress the importance of following policy
* Communicate honestly; avoid playing "gotcha"-type games
* Provide more data and information than is needed
* Develop a sound management system

Contagious decision controversies:

The controversies usually involve:

* Changes in the way "we've always done things"
* Notions of fundamental values
* Determined, articulate advocates for every side
* Inability to compromise
* Rampant rumors
* Board election

Resolving Conflict:

Searching for the causes of conflict is essential to be successful in resolving the conflict.

Eight possible causes of conflict include:

1. Conflict with self
2. Needs or wants not being met
3. Values being tested
4. Perceptions being questioned
5. Assumptions being made
6. Having minimal knowledge
7. Expectations are too high/too low
8. Personality, race, or gender differences are present

Active listening

Acknowledge the feelings and view point of the other person. Compassionately allow people to feel whatever they feel and discuss their concern. This sets the example for others to hear & accept your feelings also. As you actively listen, give respect to the other person as they express their idea. This results in a better outcome for the conversation. Ask more "open-ended" and creative questions: "How did you like that movie?" is an open-ended question that invites a wide range of answers. "Did you like it?" suggests only "yes" or "no" answers and does not encourage discussion.

Many people lately appear to be confused as to what all these new local phone services mean to them. Yes, there are great rates and deals floating all over the place, but there are definitely some issues that need to be cleared up and some questions to be answered. Few even think to ask half the questions to the answers that will be presented here in this article.

New Service Installation

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about many of the local phone services offered out there today. The thought is that these services can be installed into their homes without any current phone service previously installed. The majority of local phone service offerings are “Switched Services”, not for new installations.

A qualifying customer must first have local phone service from a Bell Carrier (SBC) or other qualifying regional carrier in place before going through a discounted provider. The services these other local phone companies provide are “Switched Services” for the sole purpose of switching you from your current provider. They in no way install new services.

DSL Lines

If you have DSL this is very important. Switching local phone service while having DSL service can cause automatic cancellation of your DSL triggering cancellation fees and discontinued service. Many switched local phone providers are aware of this and will not switch your service if DSL is present, but some may not check and this can cause quite a few problems.

If planning a switch, contact your DSL provider to see what you may be able to do. There may be different solutions negotiable with your DSL provider to enable the switching of your phone services.

There is a new DSL service that offers DSL without having to have a phone line installed. SpeakEasy offers this service and is a highly ranked DSL provider in the broadband community. This is perfect for broadband phone subscribers.

Past Due Phone Bills

Many consumers now believe with all of these new phone options that they can forget their previous obligations to the last carrier and move forward with a new one. Stop! All switched local phone providers do a check with your last local carrier before providing services. If you even have one month behind on your previous service, you more than likely will be denied. All bills must be paid up and current before you switch.

Credit Checks

All local phone providers do a credit check. While it cannot be said entirely everything they check for in your credit, you can be assured that any previous due balance to a long distance carrier will be counted against you.

If you know you have bad credit, you might want to start working on repairing it for yourself. There should be credit repair counseling services in your area that are free of charge. Take advantage of these services, credit checks are only gaining popularity and can only further limit your purchasing power as a consumer.

Phone Numbers

If you were planning on keeping your old phone number, expect to pay your current local carrier some extra charges before the switch. Costs vary, but if you don’t mind carrying a new phone number then this is nothing to worry about.

One Size Bundled Services

One size doesn’t always fit all, especially if you’re on a budget. Almost every switched local phone provider offers lower cost alternatives to their main bundled packages. So if an unlimited long distance calling plan is too costly for you, there usually are other options that give you a preset amount of monthly minutes at a lower overall package cost.

Do your research, including on your previous bills to see what amount of local and long distance usage you typically use. If it makes sense to buy into a lower package, you can really save as long as you stay within the limits of your calling package.

Business Packages

If your business has more than 5 business lines you will not be able to switch your local phone services. However, check with the carrier to make sure. You may still find an option for your business that works for you.

PIC Freezes

If you had a PIC, which basically is a lock on your long distance service, you will need to unlock the service for it to be removed for your switched local phone package to be installed.

Hopefully this article has helped you understand what may stand in your way of switching your local phone service. While the opportunity to save and consolidate bills is great, make sure you have taken care of and understand all the above issues and you should have no problem switching to a great new level of service and features.

How many animals of each SPECIES did Moses take onto the ark?

Some months have 31 days; some have 30 days. How many have 28 days?

You go into a log cabin with one match in a matchbox. In the cabin is a wood-burning stove, a paraffin lamp and a candle. Which do you light first for maximum WARMTH?

Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain on Earth?

How far can a three-legged tiger run into the woods?

For the answers, read on ...

How many opportunities do you have in your life to make a difference with your power of communication? Thousands! Dealing with your family, your friends, your business colleagues, suppliers, doctors, dentists - the list is endless. When you can communicate your messages to these people powerfully, persuasively, and passionately, your success by any definition will be assured.

In more than 20 years of research into communication, fascination with the subject, and practical application in my own life, I've discovered that all great communicators share certain distinct secrets in common. Begin using these secrets today and your communications will take on a degree of power and effectiveness that will absolutely amaze you.

The biggest such secret is actually listening.

Studies have shown that it is the great listeners who get the raises, promotions, and perks in life, not necessarily the great talkers.

Look, the purpose of the quiz at the start of this article was to illustrate this. If you haven't figured them out already, here are the answers:

It wasn't Moses who went onto the ark - it was Noah.

All the months have 28 days.

You'd need to light the match first!

Everest was the highest mountain on Earth even before it was discovered.

Halfway is the answer, because after halfway, it will be running "out" of the woods!

Any surprises? That's because in most of those questions I was using a technique that I call "sleight of voice." You've probably seen a stage magician, perhaps on TV, use sleight of hand to misdirect your attention. The same technique can apply to spoken or written communication. For example, when you looked at the emboldened word SPECIES, perhaps you didn't notice the name Moses quite as much as you might have if the word hadn't been highlighted.

This confusion or misdirection often occurs in everyday speech, sometimes deliberately, but usually the speaker is simply unaware of the effect of his or her words. Unfortunately, it is often the listener who is at fault, by engaging the "filters" in the brain and consequently mishearing what is said. Those filters are the paradigms through which they hear the world. Generalization of information and deletion of information are two other common filters that impede our ability to effectively listen, and therefore to successfully communicate.

One of the simplest and best methods for keeping your filters in check and improving your listening skills is called Rapid Repeat.

It works like this:

When someone talks to you, simply repeat what he or she says in your mind, as the person is talking. You'll hear a slight echo of the words, but in the sound of your own voice.

This has a number of benefits. Some scientists claim that every 11 seconds we engage in self-talk. It's no wonder that we don't always hear what someone else is saying.

When you use Rapid Repeat, you give your mind something to do. It doesn't need to wander off thinking about next year's vacation or whether you put the cat out before going to work.

Buying telephones online offers a real cost saving compared with buying direct from BT or other stores. So what are the catches? by Frost Telecoms

UNTESTED - Lets be honest, it does not take much to test a phone so if someone is offering something untested 9 times out of 10 it really means 'tested but faulty'. For example an untested phone may be worth £5 but by offering it tested the value is probably £15. No sane seller would lose £10 just by not testing it. So BEWARE - untested probably means FAULTY. You get what you pay for!!

NEW/USED - Catalogue returns are a large proportion of phones that are sold on through websites and EBay. Some sellers cheekily call these NEW when they obviously aren't. If the item is missing the original box or user guide then there is a very slim chance of the item still being New.

USER GUIDES - Sometimes these are original or sometimes offered on cd or online. Read the ad fully to make sure you are getting some kind of user guide. With todays technology there are so many features you will not be able to use or simply not know about without a user guide.

CAN YOU TRUST THE SELLER - Feedback on Ebay is a great way to check out a seller, but remember to scroll back a few pages. With many sellers selling 10+ items a day it is always worth taking a good look to get a proper idea of what other customers thought. Also, always ask the seller a question before your purchase. If their customer service is any good then you will receive a quick & helpful response - if not, simply don't buy from them. Can you imagine how bad the customer service will be after you have parted with your money? (Exclude weekends from this trial as many sellers work Mon-Fri)

DELIVERY - If the item is cheap, have you checked the postage costs. I have regularly seen items that I offer to post for £4 being offered with £10 postage. This simply is not fair and is a way of conning people.

SMALL PRINT - Yes the item might sound amazing and you are hastily reaching towards you wallet - but slow down and read the small print. Here you will find the real truths about your item. It may be that there are big scratches, a handset is missing, the item will take 3 weeks to be delivered, the item is untested, you need to add VAT on the final price etc etc. The list is totally endless and I have seen some very scary things listed in the small print of some ads. Be Careful!!! If a seller is advertising thing with tiny tiny small print well below the main ad then you need to wonder how good the item is.

PHOTOS - Lots of sellers use stock photos of their items (including ourselves at Frost Telecoms) however some people could be using this as a way of disguising a rough item. The best way of finding out the true condition of the item is to ask the seller for a picture. Everyone nowadays has a digital camera or phone so there should be no excuses why you cant be sent a photo of the item. Again, if the seller won't oblige, can you really trust him.

WARRANTY - If there is no mention of a warranty then you sure won't get one. If the phone breaks in a week I really can't see you getting a refund. If you really want the item then ask the seller how much warraty he is willing to offer. If the answer comes back none or a week or two , then you really need to consider whether the item is likely to work for more than that time.

Reverse cell phone lookup is the last in line of personal information gathering technologies available to regular people just by browsing the web. Reverse look up enables any one of us to research who is the owner of a particular phone number no matter whether it is cell or regular phone. So what are the possible future implementations of reverse phone number lookup?

It is obvious we have made tremendous advance in communication technology over the last 50 years. Your author is now 35 years old and my generation takes phones, both the cells and regulars, for granted, but to my mom it was not so. She can remember the time when you have to ask the operator to connect you, and then those operators had to make manual switches if you wanted to talk.

Today you can call your spouse, mother, father, child or just about whomever you want from the top of Mount Everest. In addition, just as little as 15 years ago cell phones where not something anyone had or could afford to have. These days cell phone service providers are practically giving them away for free.

Computer chips have made it possible for technologies like reverse cell phone lookup to track down cell phone numbers location with the help of a GPS system. Nevertheless, some of us are asking whether we should use technology like this.

There is a legitimate question of loosing ones privacy, and now more then ever we are close to having technological gadgets until recently seen only in SF movies and books.

However, as we now have the ability to track the mobile systems information, then in the following years we can certainly expect to see fast rise of services offering such information for a price. Naturally, we hope that government will impose a strict control over services such as reverse cell phone lookup in order to prevent misuse of information these services provide and to protect our rights as individuals.

US government already has a number of strict privacy protection laws that maintain your rights and prevent your most private information from being available to the public. However, with rapid advancement of technology it is hard even for government to keep up with it and pass the laws that can protect you completely.

In the recent years more and more people has begun to take precautions about identity theft and about privacy protection in general. In the end the more thought we give to legal protection of our rights, the more services as reverse cell phone lookup will be useful for everyones legitimate purposes.

Erica Jong, author of the revolutionary book The Fear of Flying, once said, “Men and women, women and men. It will never work.” Well, I have more faith, and more experience in the business world than Ms. Jong. I know we can make it work, at work! - and at home, too. One of the top five challenges facing women’s advancement involves communication differences between women and men in charge. But communication is also a challenge for many men – whether they are in charge or not.

I want to emphasize that both men and women would be well served to use each other’s communication style – in moderation. By no means should women use a masculine style exclusively, or vice versa. One of the most damaging behaviors many women adopt is trying to become “one of the guys” to fit into the traditionally man’s world of business. Doing so suppresses their authenticity and in the long run, this does much more harm than good.

For those who may bristle at the suggestion to ever use a style other than their own, I suggest you just simply re-frame the perception.: Isn’t this a twist to the Golden Rule – treating others as you would like to be treated? I.e. – if you would like to be communicated with in your style, assume that others would also prefer you communicate with them in their style.

The following are communication and behavioral tips for both men and women that will help improve their productivity, working relationships, and chances for advancement.

TIPS FOR WOMEN COMMUNICATING WITH MEN (or feminine style with masculine style)

- Be succinct, to the point, but not abrupt.

- Hold details for back-up.

- Avoid tag questions, apologies, disclaimers (“This is a good report, don’t you think?”), (“Well, this is just my opinion, but…”).

- Take credit for your accomplishments. (Or someone else might!)

- Give updates whether asked for or not. (You are not bragging! If you don’t communicate your successes to the powers-at-be, no one else will do it for you and your skills may be underestimated.)

- Reduce personal disclosure and problems. (Men don’t bond and process the same way women do. This behavior makes them uncomfortable and they may view it as weak and unstable.)

- Handle conflict directly, politely, with empathy. (Be clear, to the point, but not rude or abrupt. If you are nervous about an upcoming confrontation, write out your thoughts to clarify and focus them.)

- Make some decisions independently. (Rather than consistently asking others for their opinion for consensus’ sake. Men see this as indecision and lack of confidence.)

- Avoid strong displays of emotions. (Men see this as weakness - “too” emotional and not managerial.)

- Avoid saying “I’m sorry.” (It communicates that you were wrong and is often perceived as weakness and powerless behavior.)

- When interrupted, be direct and courteous, not sharp, but take back the floor. (“Hang on a second please, thanks.” Put your hand up to signal “stop” if you have to.)

- Remember you don’t have to like someone to get the job done.

- Don’t get mired in details; delegate, delegate, delegate. (Evaluate if the detail is truly necessary. If you get stuck with a big detail project, form a team to help you.)

- Communicate your vision for the company/department to men/people-in-charge, and your ideas for achieving this vision. If you don’t have a vision, get one!

- Be flexible and keep a positive attitude about differences. (Different is not right, wrong, bad, or good – just different!)

TIPS FOR MEN COMMUNICATING WITH WOMEN (or masculine style with feminine style)

- Don’t assume women’s softer style means less competent. (It’s just different than your style!)

- Be personable and insert a little personal disclosure. (Research regarding employees’ preferences for a masculine or feminine style of management consistently shows the latter is more effective and preferred by both men and women.)

- Maintain direct but not constant eye contact. (Women perceive lack of eye contact as intentional avoidance and disinterest in listening.)

- Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ more; use demands less.

- Avoid interrupting; use active listening skills. (Demonstrate that you are indeed hearing what she is saying.)

- Offer more details, more often.

- Ask women for their input and opinions. (When you don’t, women think you don’t value their thoughts and contributions.)

- Watch nonverbal language for confusion or upset. (Women often don’t want to ask questions.)

- Recognize that her intentions may be different than your perception of her words or behavior.

- Say, “I’m sorry” more often. (Including for small blunders or omissions.)

- Be empathetic but not afraid of women’s tears. (It’s just a different way of expressing emotion. She’s been told her entire life that it’s acceptable and even good to cry.)

- Don’t underestimate a woman’s capability just because she doesn’t talk about her accomplishments.

- Be flexible and keep a positive attitude about differences! Different is not right, wrong, bad, or good – just different!

With these tips, , I think we can continue to disprove Erica Jong’s assumption that men and women together will never work. It will take commitment, consistency, and practice by both genders, but we can all eventually do it – because many are working hard at this - and succeeding already!

By Jane Sanders, 877-343-2150; www.janesanders.com.

Jane Sanders, president of Authentic Leadership Resources, is a speaker, trainer, facilitator, and coach in the areas of leadership for women, strategic life planning, gender communication, presentation skills, and facilitation. With Fortune 500 clients nationwide, Jane Sanders is a powerful and respected speaker, trainer, and consultant with 17 years of corporate experience in sales and marketing and 11 years as president of her own successful company. Her academic background is in business, communication, and psychology, including an MBA from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Clients and audiences alike describe Jane as highly results-oriented, inspirational, down-to-earth, fun, and passionate about her topics.

Jane presents keynote speeches and workshops for many companies including MassMutual, Prudential, CIGNA, Ford Motor Co., Toyota USA, Chevron, PBS, Anheuser-Busch, Ralston Purina, Xerox, Nestlé, Boeing, and many more. Her association clients are many and involve several different industries. Jane also facilitates strategic planning sessions and retreats.