Communication is a critical skill that seems rarely to be explicitly taught.

Communication is an essential part of any business activity.

Certain tools and approaches can increase influence.

I had been a practicing psychologist for more than a decade when I had a critical realization. No one in my academic journey through leading psychology schools had ever addressed communication. And my experience was now revealing that communication should be one of the main topics in medical, or any, education, especially when the job entails critical personal interaction.

I decided to research the topic and eventually wrote the book Power Talk: The Art of Effective Communication. The effort changed how I approached my clients. Now, not only was I trying to understand their perceptions and feelings from a diagnostic viewpoint but also from a motivational one. I needed to understand where they were at and adjust my messaging accordingly.

It still stuns me to this day how little education there is on communication generally, given that it is an absolutely critical life skill, not just a business one.

The Universal Importance of Communication

Almost every endeavor that involves working with others relies on effective communication. One of the biggest reasons........

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