Dana's blogs: Unlock Knowledge

Your Tone of Voice Affects Social Media

Social Media sites i.e. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, are the backbone of communication. They are used for sharing information from knowledge to gossip. Accordingly, your tone of voice determines the effects of social media.

The Stats

According to Statista, the statistics portal, there are roughly 3.5 billion people using some form of online social media worldwide. Anyone can access an immense amount of information on the web. And access they do. Americans are on social media sites an average of 2 hours a day which equates to 5 years and 4 months in their lifetime. This is just social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Not only are users reading the material posted, but they are also commenting on it. Folks of different backgrounds, interests, beliefs, and skills are reaching out with their opinions. Consequently, social media is a tremendous tool for people to experience and gain the knowledge they otherwise would not have discovered.

Viewpoints on Social Media

We value different viewpoints. It’s how we grow. Staying in your little world will never result in productive, worthwhile ideas. Exposing yourself to as many resources possible divulges valid and educational information.

Unfortunately, it’s these differences that cause arguments between users. For some reason, people feel they can comment on posts negatively. They attack the author with hateful remarks. They want to force their opinion. This begs the question, why do people who comment on posts think they can throw the rules of courtesy out the window? Continue reading “Your Tone of Voice Affects Social Media”

Psychological Phenomenon Occurs When People Work in Groups

What happens when a group of people, let’s say Democrats and Republicans, assemble to make legislative decisions? This sounds like a set up for a joke. Three Democrats and three Republications walk into a bar. Funny, but I do wonder what happens when a body gathers. What is the outcome? A psychological phenomenon occurs when people work in groups.

When People Work

Groups consist of any number of persons who share a common characteristic or purpose. A group contains people with the same beliefs, interests, and principles. They convene at predetermined times to focus on a shared docket.

There are advantages to working in a group. Each person has a different set of knowledge and skills to bring to the table. The team members contribute to and support each other to produce ideas and results. Groups provide team-building experience and social skills on how to work well with others.

Work In Groups

These are a few of the positive reasons to work in groups. Conversely, there are negative considerations. For instance, those involved push their own agenda. Sometimes there will be those who socialize too much and nothing gets done. There are groups with lots of disagreements so again, nothing gets done. Another negative that occurs is a psychological phenomenon called GroupThink. Continue reading “Psychological Phenomenon Occurs When People Work in Groups”

Don’t Forget the Day of the Week

When I go through my emails or twitter/LinkedIn feeds I don’t have a calendar with me. I guess I do but I’m too lazy to open it up. Noticeably, there are many brochures or announcements about upcoming events that don’t list the day of the week. For me, that’s a nuisance so I don’t even read the information.

When writing or posting an event always put the day of the week along with the date. For instance; instead of putting June 12 & 13 write Tuesday and Wednesday, June 12 & 13. You can abbreviate Tues. & Wed. You just might see the attendance increase for your event.

Companies Count on You to Fill Out Surveys Wrong

After a purchase, it’s common to receive a survey. Businesses are seeking input to see how they can improve, or how the customer feels about their company. It’s your chance to express your opinion. Corporations place a great deal of weight on surveys which creates lots of responsibility for the customer, so careful thought demands to be given.

Surveys can be about facilities, logistics, or salespeople. The question you should ask before diving in is… What is this survey pertaining to? There’s something the business wants to know. By understanding what they are evaluating your answers will be useful.

When it comes to a salesperson’s survey, customers do not know how to answer them correctly. A survey of the person who worked with you is not the time to complain about the organization. You would be criticizing the wrong person for your unhappiness. Here’s what happens.

The salesperson’s survey is going to his manager. It does not reach the management or ownership of the business. Unfortunately, many firms will ask questions on the salesperson’s survey about their experience overall but don’t be fooled. Whatever you answer will affect only the salesperson. Continue reading “Companies Count on You to Fill Out Surveys Wrong”

More Than a Dream

On August 23, 1963, civil rights leaders led a march in Washington, DC. Speeches were given and music played to show support of civil rights legislation and to protest racial discrimination. One of the speakers was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a minister and civil rights activist. His speech “I Have a Dream” is one of the most well-known speeches of all time. His message is powerful and based on a dream for our country.

American Dream

The address took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King said, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “Unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” He states that it’s a “sacred obligation” America promises its people.

His words are a direct quote from The Declaration of Independence. King reminds us of the promises our founding fathers, the architects of our republic stated. He holds our country accountable, which is the duty of the people.

He goes further by reminding the government that “Unalienable Rights” along with “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” are for all people. Black people, white people, everyone.

King’s Dream

Later in his speech, King quotes The Declaration again when he says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” He calls our leaders to uphold these words that are the foundation of our country.

He is using the original words of a national document and stays true to them. By quoting the Declaration of Independence King shows he grounds his leadership and his ministry to a firm base. To stay strong as a people and as a nation, we have to uphold our foundation. Continue reading “More Than a Dream”

HOMO DEUS – A Brief History of Tomorrow

“For the first time in history, more people die today from eating too much than from eating too little; more people die from old age than from infectious diseases; and more people commit suicide than are killed by soldiers, terrorists, and criminals combined.” “The average human is far more likely to die from bingeing at McDonald’s than from drought, Ebola or an al-Qaeda attack.”
Yuval Noah Harari, book Homo Deus; A Brief History of Tomorrow, 2017

What was that? It can’t be right! Yet in the last few decades, we have been able to move closer to managing famine, plagues, and war. We haven’t overcome them, but we have significantly decreased their effect on us. If we do solve these, what will we work on next? That is the topic of the book “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow” by Yuval Noah Harari, a Ph.D. of history from the University of Oxford.

What about immortality? If we can overcome the big three; hunger, disease, premature death, aren’t we trying to extend life? If the right to life is humanity’s most fundamental value, death would violate that right. Death would be a crime against humanity.

Continue reading “HOMO DEUS – A Brief History of Tomorrow”

Are We Raising Bullies and Wimps?

A Tennessee middle-schooler, Keaton Jones, was on a video where he lamented about being bullied at school. The video pulled at our hearts as he asked, in a cracked voice, why some kids are bullies. Keaton stated that he was teased because of his looks and for being different.

Keaton is not alone. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that twenty-eight percent of students in grades 6 – 12 have been bullied at some point. Looking at just cyberbullying, the number of those bullied went from 18% in 2007 to 34% in 2016. The increase in suicides by those tormented has increased so much we added a new word for it: bullycide; a combination of bully and suicide.

A bully is a person who is habitually cruel to smaller or weaker people. There are several actions that a bully uses: name calling, making fun of, pushing, spitting and stealing, along with excluding them from activities or groups. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, loss of eating and sleeping, a drop in their grades and less interest in activities, to name a few. Being bullied can have a negative effect that will stay with children, even when they become adults.

There are also effects that bullies carry with them as adults. Kids who torment others are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, drop out of school, abuse drugs and alcohol, have poor relationships and have criminal convictions. Whether a child is the bully or being bullied, there is a lasting negative effect that can be played out when they are adults.

Continue reading “Are We Raising Bullies and Wimps?”

Manipulating Language

When people talk with each other today it’s common not to say what we mean. That’s not such an unheard of idea.

Honey, do these jeans make me look fat?
No.
[It’s your butt that makes your jeans look fat but I can’t say that.]

Would you like to go out again?
Yes.
[He never heard from her again.]

He’s a really great worker.
[I’m glad he’s out of my department. He wasn’t a good employee.]

It’s easier to say what we think someone wants to hear instead of saying what we actually mean. We hope to avoid hurting another person or the confrontation that might ensue. We answer by the painless way out. We want to get our way so we gloss over the truth. These are common practices in our communication and it’s considered acceptable. It’s delivering a message by using words that hide our true thoughts.

That is one way to use language to our benefit. Another way is by changing definitions of words in order to con others. People use the new definitions to deceive you and you don’t know it. It has been happening for years yet most people aren’t aware of it.

Continue reading “Manipulating Language”

Sexual Harassment Has Two Sides

Sexual harassment at work is a huge topic right now. The outcry of women fills the news even more than the bashing of President Trump. Women are screaming about men inappropriately touching, speaking, or wanting sexual activity from them. This is not a new issue; it’s one that has come to the forefront.

A lot of women who are employed outside the home have been sexually harassed at work. Whether he’s her boss or someone she works alongside, women deal with uncomfortable and sleazy advances. It happens in every industry. Undoubtedly, the thought of losing her job crosses her mind.

When the advances come from a boss, women have to think what it will do to her career. Will she get passed over for a promotion, receive a poor review, or lose her job. Advances from a co-worker cause a woman to worry that others will hear about it, ruining her reputation, or separating her from the team.

Continue reading “Sexual Harassment Has Two Sides”

“Who’s Changing the Meaning” Wins Honorable Mention

‘Who’s Changing the Meaning?’ Wins Honorable Mention in Coveted 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Award

My book, “Who’s Changing the Meaning?” won Honorable Mention in the coveted 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. The Royal Dragonfly is the source for librarians and teachers. Categories in which the book earned Honorable Mention are:

Best Newbie NonFiction

Best Cover Design – Thanks to my daughter Kelsey who designed the cover!

Here is the News Release:

2017 ROYAL DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARDS