Relief panel of two figures engaged in an offering ceremony (Courtesy metmuseum.org)

It Will Work for Those Who Work at It: Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic

When my little angel was born, her first cry to kick-start lungs was unending. The obstetrician was suctioning her mouth and nose to clear away any mucus, and she was continuously crying. The nurse then cleaned her and she cried louder. Finally, the doctor covered her in a blanket, placed her close to my arms and she immediately stopped crying. I wondered if it was the first sense of security that she developed in this familiar touch when in the fetus, which made her stop crying. I realised that the communication between me and my daughter had started long back. In her growing years, it was amazing to experience how this skin-to-skin contact further built trust between us. Every nurturing touch strengthened her physical and cognitive abilities and her overall well-being. Later, it became the foundation of building a strong attachment between us. Continue reading It Will Work for Those Who Work at It: Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A place of our own

Strange Times

As we get ready to publish the fall issue of the Bulletin, the COVID-19 cases are surging in all the spots on this planet that experienced major lockdowns back in spring. The difference is that the authorities are too precautious to name anything like a lockdown and the public seems to be ignoring both the medical advisors and the virus itself. Some of these responses might be the outcome of this prolonged crisis—both medical and economic. The other culprit is the limited capacity of human kind to stay in an exalted state in the face of an invisible threat that is so close and yet nowhere to be seen with the naked eye. Continue reading Strange Times

First-Time Attendee Impressions: Maximizing the ABC Conference Experience

As a 2019 first-time attendee of the Association for Business Communication international conference, I left Detroit with ideas for research and teaching plus connections with professionals in the field. However, I was able to derive such significant value from the conference by maximizing several opportunities. What follows are the auto-ethnographic impressions of a first-time ABC conference attendee, which include actionable suggestions for future newcomers. Continue reading First-Time Attendee Impressions: Maximizing the ABC Conference Experience

Woman experiencing Zoom fatigue

Perspective: Managing Virtual Team Conflict

High performing teams are good at managing conflict. We know that every team will face differences of opinions or perspectives if they are engaged in a task that matters to them. Being able to manage those differences in a productive way can lead to better outcomes for the team and the organization. This article provides some of the basics around conflict management for teams and provides a short case that can be used as a class exercise. Continue reading Perspective: Managing Virtual Team Conflict