From poor etiquette at mealtime to behaviors that drive coworkers crazy, we're all familiar with these annoying things people do.

Are you afraid of worse coming to worse in this doggy dog world? Are you honing in on an answer? Yeah, you're guilty of the most commonly misused phrases.

"Think about how rare good listening is. It’s common for doctors to interrupt their patients within 11 seconds, even though patients may need 29 seconds to describe their symptoms.

And among managers who had been rated as the worst listeners by their employees, 94 percent of them evaluated themselves as good or very good listeners. In one poll, one-third of women said their pets were better listeners than their partners."

What makes a good listener? Most people think is comes down to three components: not interrupting the speaker, following along with facial expressions, and being able to repeat back almost verbatim what the speaker has just said. According to research from Zenger and Folkman, however, we’re doing it all wrong. Instead of thinking of a good listener as a sponge —absorbing everything but providing little feedback — a skilled listener should be thought of as a trampoline who amplifies and supports a speaker’s thoughts by providing constructive feedback. Engaging in a two-way conversation is essential, according to data, and Zenger and Folkman define six levels of listening, all meant to help listeners develop this skill.

All business professionals eventually find themselves in situations where they need to have difficult and sometimes unwelcome conversations. This might involve giving an employee a negative performance evaluation, explaining to your boss why a project you’ve been assigned is unworkable, or simply trying to smooth things over with a colleague. These conversations are challenging because they can involve emotions, egos, and legitimate conflicts with differing points of view.

Here are some useful tips to help reduce the stress of these encounters and ensure more productive outcomes.
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A limited yet growing body of research suggests that one of the most powerful ways to support someone is also the simplest: Start a conversation.

To make your interactions with others more productive and meaningful, ask yourself: "What else could I learn if I just keep listening?"

"You don’t. And you’re also steering the focus away from someone who probably just wants to be heard. Here’s how to be a more considerate conversation partner, says radio host and writer Celeste Headlee."

"Body language is so much more than moving one’s hands or waving one’s arms — and it’s also something we should all get comfortable with using, says communications expert David PJ Phillips. Phillips has spent years analyzing 5,000 public speakers to identify what moves work — and which ones don’t — when talking to an audience."

There's a way to connect with anyone, from the CEO to a new acquaintance. Try asking them for advice.

Most companies hold too many meetings. And the more time people spend in meetings, the less they do on the work that needs to get done.

"It’s clear that artificial intelligence (AI) will be an important part of the way we communicate and collaborate in the foreseeable future.

"Tying in AI technologies with business communication applications such as team collaboration and unified communications can improve worker productivity, save time, and improve the overall business flow."

Bovee and Thill are the only business communication authors who include coverage of artificial intelligence in these textbooks:  Business Communication Today and Excellence in Business Communication. See for yourself. Visit http://blog.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/texts

"You might think you’re a good listener, but common behaviors like nodding and saying “mm-hmm” can actually leave the speaker feeling unheard or dismissed. The truth is that mastering the art of listening involves a whole host of other skills as well. You need to do more."

"When it comes to being a likable person, the possibilities are endless. But to really expand your networks, science says these tips will help you be more likable."

Conflict is inevitable in business as people with differing ideas, priorities, and personalities are expected to work toward common goals. It can even be helpful when it generates new ideas and new solutions to business challenges. But conflict often hampers productivity and hinders working relationships, so conflict resolution is an important skill for all professionals.

Here are five steps you can follow to address conflict in positive, mutually beneficial ways.

See also http://blog.businesscommunicationnetwork.com
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Guess what? Everyone is busy, so while you might think the message you're sending is, "I'm really slammed," what the other person really hears is, "What I'm doing is more important than you." Once that divisiveness sets in, things can get toxic...fast.

Introverts tend to dread small talk - but it doesn't have to be awkward or painful. By learning a few simple techniques, you can polish your conversational skills and make a positive impression.

It starts with acceptance and reflection. Here are the specific steps you should follow."

Those days of holding back what you really think are over. Leadership consultant Molly Tschang provides five simple tips to help you effectively speak your mind.

"Likeable people do better in life in general. They attract more people to them, along with opportunities and invitations. Some say they are likeable because they get more “breaks” than the average person. I think it’s the opposite, and there is a lot of research to back up my opinion. I wrote about the happiness advantage here.

"But if likeable people get further in life, can we become more likeable, or are we dealing with an inherited genetic code that has our gregarious dial preset before birth? No matter what our natural predisposition is, I’m certain we all can improve our likeability factor by changing a few key behaviors."

It takes just three seconds for someone to determine whether they like you and want to do business with you. Make that time count.

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• Scott Mautz is a motivational speaker, best-selling author, and former executive at Proctor & Gamble. 
• Mautz says that being likable is not only an important personal attribute, but one that he considers key to being successful in the business world, whether as a boss or an employee.
• Highly successful people are careful to avoid the most unlikable behaviors, which include humblebragging, being dramatic, needing constant validation, and giving shallow compliments.

Research shows that small talk is no small thing.