Category Archives: Bits & Pieces

Whatever your profession, you also need to be a professional communicator. ETC is pleased to share these essential Bits & Pieces to help you polish those skills.

Titles Make Me Crazy!

By Phil Stella | Published: May 3, 2021

While skimming some LinkedIn postings recently, I encountered an author who was seriously title happy. After his name was ‘… MBA, BA, BS, NP, MPM.’

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A Phil’s Faves About Love

By Phil Stella | Published: May 2, 2021

You wouldn’t need to be in the audience for one of my presentation or workshops very long before you heard one of my favorite bits of entrepreneurial philosophy –

     Do what you love and love what you do. All the rest is just details. 

So, are you doing what you love? If not – why not? And how’s that working for you?

Why I hate ‘Quote-Unquote

By Phil Stella | Published: May 2, 2021

How often do you hear people use this phrase in conversation, in presentations or even on TV? It’s both incorrect and lame. Remember that ‘un’ means ‘not’ – it doesn’t mean ‘no longer’ or ‘end’ in this context.

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Why I Hate 3 x 5 Note Cards

By Phil Stella | Published: April 5, 2021

Very high on my list of Workplace Presenter ‘Worst Practices’ is using the simple, seemingly innocent little 3 x 5 note cards for speaker notes. They’re way too small to be of much value.

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Choose Your Attitude

By Phil Stella | Published: April 5, 2021

Regular readers may recall that I often contribute content to several of Carol Roth’s popular e-publications. She’s a nationally known PR and Entrepreneurship expert, speaker and author … and apparently a fan of my work.  She ran my most recent item in her ‘Positive Mindset Tips for Small Business’ blog. 

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Over-communicating

By Phil Stella | Published: April 5, 2021

Glad to see that readers are enjoying my ‘Faves’. Here’s one you might have heard in one of my workshops or presentations on communication best practices.

Err on the side of over-communicating important messages to increase your probability of success. Because once is never enough!

Phil Stella, 21st Century workplace communication consultant, executive presentation coach and award-winning writer.

A Bad Email

By Phil Stella | Published: March 10, 2021

Here’s another Phil’s Fave you might have heard in a Workplace Writing presentation or workshop …

‘The only thing worse than a bad email is a great email that didn’t need to be an email. It should have been a text, phone call or brief face-to-face conversation.’                                                                        

And, you can quote me – just be sure to indicate who I am:

Phil Stella, 21st Century workplace communication consultant, executive coach and author.

Why I Love ‘Plus/Delta’ Feedback

By Phil Stella | Published: March 9, 2021

Giving constructive feedback is an essential management skill that escapes most supervisors. Feedback is all about helping people get better at what they’re doing. Effective feedback is neither positive or negative – it’s just information – information that is specific, observable, helpful, timely and focused.

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Ride up on the Escalator

By Phil Stella | Published: March 9, 2021

Take your Elevator Speech to the top floor by converting it into an ‘Escalator Speech’. Assume you’re going down on the escalator as someone passes by you going up on the other one. You only have a few seconds to communicate. So, your Escalator Speech is an even more concise version of your Elevator Speech. Read More »

Networking Defined

By Phil Stella | Published: February 9, 2021

A reader recently asked me to define ‘Networking’. So, here is the definition that is the basis of all my networking workshops, speaking engagements and articles: 

 ‘Networking is the exchange of ideas, information and resources.’ Read More »