Interpersonal and Communication Skills Blog

Finding the right sales training program is key to your effectiveness with clients and customers. A sales training program should teach you all aspects of a sale, from approaching cold leads to closing a sale. What is sales training? A sales training or sales training...

How to Be Funny: 7 Easy Steps to Improve Your Humor

Charisma

Learning how to be funny is an essential people skill. Most people don’t realize you can learn how to be funny. In fact, I want to convince you that the funniest people hone their witty craft. And being funny matters. You’ll be more successful if you can make people...

Learn How to Sell from Mark Cuban’s INCREDIBLE Sales Pitch

Persuasion

On Jan. 4, 2000, Mark Cuban bought a stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks franchise. But there was one big problem. The Mavericks had been voted the worst franchise in professional sports. Cuban had signed himself up for one of the hardest sales jobs out there. He had...

How to Close a Sale Using These 12 Non-Sketchy Sales Tips

Persuasion

Salespeople make three big mistakes when trying to close a sale. Do these sound like you? You are too scared to ask for the sale. You don’t know how to ask for the sale. You are so anxious about losing the sale that your confidence plummets and your ask sounds weak....

How to Be Attractive: 7 Psychology Based Rules to Be More Attractive

Dating

Have you ever wondered how to be more attractive? Attraction isn't only about looks. Attractive people have a certain primal magnetism. Of course, we can be physically attracted to someone, but we are more often drawn to their confidence, passion and...

How to Be A Better Person: 20 Ideas To Try Right Now

Happiness

Kindness is the key to authentically being a better person. I want to teach you how to be a better person using a kindness challenge. A Kindness Challenge: Completing random acts of kindness to spread happiness and gratitude to others. And, guess what? Being nicer to...

How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers

One of the hardest things about public speaking is knowing how to start a speech. Your opening line is your first impression. It’s how you capture attention. It’s how you captivate the audience. So how do you make sure you nail it every time? The best way to know how...

What is Extroversion and the Advantages of Being an Extrovert

Interpersonal Skills

Are you an extrovert? What is an extrovert: An extrovert is someone who is outgoing, social and expressive. They typically thrive when around others. The next big question is what makes someone an extrovert? And what's the difference between an introvert vs....

Are You An Introvert? 8 Ways To Make Introversion Your Superpower

Interpersonal Skills

Are you an introvert? Let's dive into the definition of an introvert and how to leverage your introverted personality. What is an introvert: Introverts tend to be more quiet and reserved. They seek solitude and prefer introspection to socializing. However,...

10 Presentation Ideas That Will Radically Improve Your Presentation Skills

Need a few presentation ideas to make your presentation great? A good presentation needs to be engaging, memorable, and impactful. But how?! Whether you’re speaking to 10 people or 10,000 people, you need to have sparks. Here are my 10 favorite presentation ideas you...

Sound Better with 6 Secrets from Vocal Coach, Roger Love

In this episode of our series, “The World’s Most Interesting People,” I sat down with one of the world's leading experts on voice. He has worked with Selena Gomez, Tony Robbins, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer, Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, Bradley Cooper and Joaquin...

How to Be a Good Manager: A Guide for Every Personality Type

I’m obsessed with personality science. I have written extensively about introverts, extroverts and ambiverts, the unique strengths of each, and how those can be leveraged for success. But never before have I examined how personality science can make you a better...

How to Remember Names with a Simple Trick that ALWAYS Works

There’s a sneaky people skill most people forget -- remembering someone’s name! Is it often a problem where you can’t remember names? You are not alone! I am going to show you how to always remember a name. Researchers from Emory University wanted to improve people’s...

How to Negotiate (With 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Win)

If you had to pick a metaphor for a negotiation, which would you choose: A. Going to the Dentist B. Playing a Game Your choice here is important–do you see negotiations as a necessary evil OR as a fun challenge? It’s time to start thinking about negotiations as a fun...

How to Be More Confident: 11 Scientific Strategies For More Confidence

Interpersonal Skills

Do you know how to be confident? Or how to feel powerful and capable in your professional, social and romantic interactions? There’s a big confidence myth: Confidence is just one of those things that you "have or you don’t.” No way! I want to shatter that confidence...

Professional Development Plan: What It Is and Why You Need One

Motivation

What do Elon Musk, Pablo Picasso, and Ben Franklin all have in common? Besides absolutely rocking each of the fields they were in (from tech to art to… well, everything) — it’s the fact that they didn’t just do great things because of their innate skill, or talent, or...

How to Be More Creative at Work, With Sarah Moyle

In this episode of our series, The World’s Most Interesting People, I sat down with Sarah Moyle. Sarah is a Creative Catalyst and Visual Storyteller.She’s a self-taught graphic recorder and a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator (yep, that’s using LEGOs for...

How to Write Compelling Content For Yourself and Your Audience, with Eric Barker

In this episode of our series, The World’s Most Interesting People, I sat down with Eric Barker. Eric is the creator of the incredible blog, “Barking Up The Wrong Tree” and bestselling author of a book of the same title, Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The...

How to Read Microexpressions and Improve Your Observation Skills, with Dr. David Matsumoto

Behavioral Psychology

In this episode of our series, “The World’s Most Interesting People,” I sat down with Dr. David Matsumoto. He’s the director and lead researcher for Humintell and is the founder and director of San Francisco State University’s Culture and Emotion Research...

12 Non-Awkward Team Building Activities That Build Trust

One of the hardest parts about working on a team is finding ways to connect, build trust and bond. This is why non-awkward team building activities are one of the best ways to kickstart your group. These team building activities can be used for: Work teams Sports...

How to Get People to Listen to You and Your Ideas

Research Reading

Have you ever wondered why certain click-worthy articles go viral? Or why certain ideas catch fire and spread? Or how to get people to listen to YOU? Here at Science of People, we were curious about what makes viral stories go viral. Specifically, we wanted to know...

How to Be More Interesting: 5 Steps You Can Take Today

Charisma

Most people have a secret wish to be more interesting. How do I know? Google told me. This morning I logged on to do my monthly check of our website analytics. As I settled in with my coffee to peruse our latest numbers, search hits and demographics, I stumbled upon...

How AI Will Revolutionize How We Use Body Language

Body Language

5 Vocal Warm Ups Before Meetings, Speeches and Presentations

Most people think vocal warm-up exercises are only important for singers. Wrong! Every professional should be using vocal warm ups: To sound more powerful in meetings When giving important presentations To level-up speeches If you’ve ever spoken up in a meeting or...

The Patterns Behind Successful Blind Dates

Dating

If you want to strike terror into the hearts of singles everywhere, just mention two little words: Blind Date Does it have to be this way? Here at the Science of People, I was curious about blind dates. Specifically: What are the attraction patterns on successful...

How to Network at a Conference: 10 Ways to Make Contacts Like a Pro

Career, Leadership

Have you ever been to a conference or trade show and felt like it wasn’t worth the effort or the time or the money? There are so many business conferences out there, it’s important that if you are going to take the time away from work to attend a conference, you know...

7 Strategies for Virtual Teams and Remote Workers

We have a very special video for you today! I’m here with my Science of People team to discuss tips on how to encourage, support and motivate a remote team. As you can see, our team works virtually—everyone in their own space instead of a local office—and...

How to Psych Yourself Up Before Your Next Big Thing

Before every show, TV host Stephen Colbert has a ritual. And it's a little superstitious. He rings a little bell in his bathroom. As he walks toward the stage, he waits for one of his writers to tell him, "Squeeze out some sunshine." He does a two-handed shake with...

6 Public Speaking Apps to Try Before Your Next Presentation

Do you want to nail your next presentation or speech? I want to show you how technology and public speaking apps can help you with: Speaking better and more clearly Mastering voice training techniques Getting rid of “ums’ and sounding more confident in public speaking...

What’s the Ideal Business Seating Arrangement for Your Meeting?

You have a big meeting coming up. One of your first big questions should be on seating arrangements: What is the best seating etiquette? Is there an ideal business seating arrangement? Does seating matter? First things first. Seating matters! In fact, it...

Signature Analysis: What Your Signature Says About Your Personality

Behavioral Psychology

Quick! Before you start reading this article, take out a blank piece of paper and sign your name. Ready? Let’s analyze it! Your signature analysis might have a lot to say about your personality. As lead investigator at Science of People, I am always looking for...

Be Happy at Work: 10 Research Backed Ways You Can Be Happier

Happiness

Do you know how to be happy at work? Being happier at work is not a “nice to have,” it is a “need to have.” When you are happier: You are more productive You are more engaged in your work You are more liked Do you love what you do? Do you like what you do? Sometimes...

5 Incredible Public Speakers Show You How to Improve Your Speeches

For today's working session video, I wanted to address a question I get all the time: Who are your favorite speakers? I'm constantly looking for great examples of: Body Language Charisma Stage Presence In this video, I wanted to share with you my five favorite...

The 5 Relationship Patterns: Which One Are You?

Do you feel like you have the same relationships over and over again? You might be in relationship patterns—where even though you are with different people, the behaviors and relationship goals are often the same. In fact, this can happen with romantic...

8 Easy Icebreakers to Warm-Up Any Meeting That Aren’t Awkward

Leadership

When most people hear the word ‘icebreaker,’ they think of boring or silly ”bonding exercises.” In this post, I want to share 8 Meeting Icebreakers that are: Not boring Quick-bonding Easy to do If you are a meeting planner, team leader, or event organizer, you MUST...

Music and Productivity: How Music Can Make You More Productive