Chris Stout asked:


Communicating in college is crucial. You have to be able to voice your opinions clearly and effectively on a daily basis. Here five tips for sharpening your communication skills in college.

1. Speak up

If no one can hear you, it won’t matter what you say. Make your points like you mean it. Clear your throat and address the class confidently. Be certain that you’ve thought for a moment before you opening your mouth. Once you’ve mentally organized what it is you want to say, execute the verbal expression of your thoughts as clearly as possible. Don’t go overboard with the volume (you don’t want to be a disturbance), but be sure that you can be heard by everyone.

2. Outside of the classroom, practice reading aloud to someone.

This tactic works wonders. When you read aloud to someone, you practice so many things. You get to hone your ability to speak loud and clear. You gain comfort you’re your ability to vocalize the text, and you can calm any concerns you may have about speaking in public. This latter part is why you have to take turns reading aloud to another person. Reading aloud by yourself is too easy. With another person present, the reading becomes a practical presentation.

3. Become well-informed.

Do you are homework as instructed, and read the assignments before you get to class. Communicating in your classes is difficult when you haven’t properly prepared. The more informed you are, the more pertinent you analysis will be. Don’t just speak so that you can hear yourself talk, have something valuable to say. The more work you’ve done, the more comfortable you will feel expressing your ideas.

4. Have educated debates outside of class.

Discuss what you are learning with others, and let others share what they have learned. You are not going to be able to take every single class that you want, so learn form other peoples experiences. Ask questions and exchange ideas. Practice articulating your positions in a comfortable environment. This way, when it’s time for you to speak up in class, you’ll have already had experience articulating you thoughts out loud.

5. Meet your professors during office hours.

If you want a better handle on the material you’re studying, go see your professor during office hours, You’ll learn added insights and extra contexts. You’ll be able to frame your ideas more effectively, because you will have added familiarity with the subjects you are studying. If you can debate your professors in their office, you can certainly voice your opinions in class.

Take college as an opportunity to hone your communication abilities. Practice writing, arguing, sharing and defending your ideas outside of class so that you can be a more effective communicator during section and lectures.

Jonathan Senior asked:

Being a new manager In the UK at least, people tend to be promoted on the basis of technical knowledge rather than management skill.

Quite often you hear from ex soccer players who have gone from playing to managing say that it is a big change going from “one of the lads” to telling someone they aren’t in the team for the cup final.

So how can a new manager get started with a management career without alienating previous colleagues and friends?

1. Remember the relationship has changed forever and there is no going back. People will look to YOU to bail them out of problems.

2. Don’t go mad celebrating. Some colleagues may have failed miserably at the interview or even worse, may not have been given an interview.

3. Think about how you talk to these people and how they reply. Depending on the nature of your workplace, shouting over the office may no longer be acceptable. You might have a desk or even move offices completely. Never under estimate the power a desk or office move!

4.Think about how and where you socialise with people who still do your old job. Getting drunk every Saturday night is probably not all that clever if you want respect on Monday morning (but that depends on the jo you do…)

5. Try to sport when they are testing you. Like it or not, people you used to sit alongside will try to test you out. Will you let everyone go home early the day before the holidays start? Who will cover the office if you do?

6. Work out a plan to deal with being “tested”. Your new staff will “test” you – work out (even subconsciously) how far they can push you. You must work out how to cope with this or they will take control from day 1. You could pick several issues which you will not move on. These could include, office cover after 5pm or maximum number of tea breaks. Don’t tell anyone what these are though and they won’t work you out as quick.

7. Make sure your subject matter knowledge is up to date. “If you don’t know something, know where to look” You will get tested on this also.

8. Praise in public, criticise in private. This is basic and you will need to be on your guard not to be drawn into a public debate or discussion on a controversial subject or one you are not confident discussing.

9. Don’t take everything on yourself This is easier said that done (especially if the ). Pause a while- (if the vacancy HAS been there some time, another couple of days won’t make much difference. If you work out what needs to be done BEFORE jumping in, YOU are likely to remain sane and healthy rather than buckling under the pressure with a few weeks.

Being a new manager is exciting, daunting but very rewarding. To summarise,the key thing is managing the changing relationship between yourself and your former colleagues.