The Art of Introduction

By Caroline M. Cole Poking others on Facebook and sending connect invites on LinkedIn, we have more opportunities to extend our social and professional networks. Yet while connections and interactions increasingly take place online, there are times we need to … Continue reading

Everyone Can Use the “What Are Your Weaknesses?” Question to Advantage

By Caroline M. Cole Wanting to gain an edge in interviews, job hunters solicit advice on how to answer the token curve ball questions that recruiters and hiring managers increasingly ask: If you were to eliminate one of the planets, … Continue reading

R.S.V.P. and Enhance Your Reputation

By Caroline M. Cole Those familiar with Jane Austen novels have inevitably read about the importance of an invitation. Whether to a private ball, a wedding, or an afternoon tea, invitations were a token of the sender’s esteem for their … Continue reading

Connection, Communication, and Intimacy Among Strangers

By Caroline M. Cole A yeshiva student with his hand on the wrist of a fish market worker, who’s touching the student’s shoulder. A young African-American male wearing a yellow bandana and baggy clothes clutching a Caucasian bride. A towering … Continue reading

What Racking Wine Can Teach Us About Communication

By Caroline M. Cole Among the steps in making wine, fining or “racking” is one of the most important. Known as soutirage (in France), Abstich (in Germany), travaso (in Italy), racking is the process of separating the juices from the sediment … Continue reading

Letter Format Find and Fix Exercise, Part II

By Caroline M. Cole In “Letter Format Find and Fix, Part I,” readers had the opportunity to identify format and layout changes they might make to a sample letter to improve its appearance. This discussion examines how traditional American business … Continue reading

Letter Format Find and Fix Exercise, Part I

By Caroline M. Cole Though less important than the actual message, a document’s format (the way text is typeset) and layout (the way text is arranged on a page) contributes to the reader’s impression and, hence, reception of the information. … Continue reading

How to Stand Out Even Among the Best and Brightest

By Caroline M. Cole You’ve made it. Maybe you were accepted into your top-tier school, possibly you just landed your dream position, perhaps you survived the company’s latest reorganization, or maybe you were recently promoted. Basking in the moment, you … Continue reading

Document—and Celebrate—Your Contributions in the Sweet Spot

By Caroline M. Cole At this time of year, many of you may be embarking on a new professional adventure in the form of a full-time job, an internship, or a volunteer opportunity. Or, perhaps, you’re gearing up to change … Continue reading