One of the things I remember most about teaching during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters was how quiet the classes were in those few minutes before class began. To me, it was a combination of social distancing, masks, teaching freshmen, and cell phones, all of which helped to create a barrier of sorts … Continue reading I Guess I Should Be Teaching More Than Just Accounting
I've written a few times about how uncomfortable I am making small talk. And it doesn't matter if it's someone I know or a complete stranger. So imagine my excitement when I saw the headline for Dan's most recent Wall Street Journal advice column: "Stop Making Small Talk. No One Will Miss It." Here was … Continue reading Best. News. Ever? Dan Ariely Says to “Stop Making Small Talk”
After more than 15 months of isolation, people are starting to become more social. However, there is a chance you've become a bit rusty at exactly how to do so. Much like a runner who takes off 15 months, you may need to start slow and build up your skills before you are at least … Continue reading Five Tips for Sharpening Your (Rusty) Communication Skills
Do you have minglephobia? What about pluralistic ignorance? Do you ever misestimate the hedonic trajectory of a conversation? If so, welcome to my world. And surprisingly, there's a good deal of people in this world. In a fascinating article in the HuffPost, reporter Brittany Wong takes a look at an issue that many of us … Continue reading There’s a Word for What I Have: Minglephobia
COVID-19. The weather. The latest sports score. Those are among the go-to topics that many of us probably default to when we are in a conversation with someone. But what if you want to move beyond that, and get to know someone a bit better? Well, Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist, has some suggestions, based … Continue reading Moving Beyond Small Talk
I've been at Villanova for 33 years, and many of my colleagues have been there even longer. I think part of the reason for the longevity of so many people is the nature of higher education, and part of the reason has to do with Villanova being a great place to work. But I have … Continue reading The Joy of Catching Up with a Long-Time Colleague
