Articles by Sherri Petro

Snarky, Snappy & Sarcastic

Dealing with the Rude Co-worker

No, Snarky, Snappy and Sarcastic are not the names of three additional dwarfs.  If they were, I think Snow White would not have been so optimistic!   Ever been in a great mood only to have a rude remark waylay your cheery disposition?  What to do?  What to do?  This is not to be confused with the seriously detrimental effects of bullying on employees’ psyche and health.  I’m talking about the under-one’s-breath-day-ruiner, the run-in you wish you had NOT...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on April 22, 2014

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Gadgetry SOS? Two Rules in Response

Communication Etiquette-The receiver reigns as we try to connect.

By Sherri Petro, President of VPI Strategies & California Miramar University (CMU) Professor Hey Dick Tracy, Maxwell Smart and Inspector Gadget, I have a beef with you.  I thought all this gadgetry was supposed to help us communicate better and solve problems.  Why are we still having communication issues?  User error, you say?  It’s not the gadget itself, it’s how we use it?   Here’s the tip of our very large communication iceberg. We leverage...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on July 21, 2013

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How to Have a Healthy Conversation

Connecting with others is the lifeblood of getting work done.

With the well-warranted national conversation on good health, it’s time we talk about another area where health is important – our own conversations.  We’ve got obesity on the national scale and bloated conversations in the workplace. We’ve got fillers in our food and fillers in our conversations.  We seek workarounds to what we know contributes to good health (exercise, anyone?) like we seek shortcuts when we converse and omit details required for...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Professional Development on December 2, 2014

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Talk to Me In Pictures

Learn to Connect with Younger Bosses, Employees & Customers

Quick. Think fast. What’s your first thought when I say “workplace communication?”    Did you think of written communication like texts, emails, memos, policies or reports?  Did you think of verbal communication like phone calls, meetings, one-on-ones or the grape vine?  Perhaps workplace miscommunication -- a conflict, a rant or your boss’ nonverbals during your last interaction – popped into your mind.      I’d wager that if I ask...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on January 5, 2014

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Grow Up to be Big and Strong: Define Your Strengths

Three things we can do to grow up & make the most of our strengths.

When a parent wanted you to eat your vegetables, were you told something like, “Don’t you want to grow up big and strong?”  Mine certainly did. We put a lot of emphasis on being strong -- and for good reason.  Being strong is as old as the biblical Samson.  Being strong indicates we are healthy.  Being strong means we have a shot at being Superman, Superwoman or simply super.  Being strong while communicating says we get our point across.    Donald O....Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Professional Development on August 20, 2014

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OMG, We Need to Establish Work Text-iquette

4 Tips To Ensure We Are Using This Viable Business Communication Channel Well

By Sherri Petro, President of VPI Strategies & California Miramar University (CMU) Professor We all know texting and driving is a monumentally bad combination.  What about texting and working?  This is not in reference to texting personally while at work, it’s about using texting as a viable communication channel in our organizations.  How do we use it well?  While HR departments have been modifying their e-policies for use of personal texting, we don’t see much on how...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on April 26, 2013

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Dealing with People Not Like Us-It’s Difficult!

3 things to do differently to make progress with “difficult” people.

It seems to happen in a lot of workplaces. Someone is difficult. It can be a client, peer or (gulp) your boss.  Or it could be that incommunicative guy in the mailroom, the gossipy sales person, the surly receptionist or the aggressive fill-in-the-blank that puts a crimp in your day.   Might be that new Gen Y that asks too many questions, texts too much and talks too little. ENTITLEMENT! Could be the very direct Gen X who leaves the desk at 5 PM with work still to be done. UNCOMMITTED! ...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on February 24, 2014

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Gen X-PECTATIONS: 3 Lessons for Communication Turbulence

Understanding the expectations of those born between 1965-1980.

By Sherri Petro, President of VPI Strategies & California Miramar University (CMU) Professor We’ve got turbulence brewing. Please take your seat and fasten your seat belts. Make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position. Generation X (born 1965-80), the first generation of latch-key kids, is taking over the leadership reins. And it’s going to be different kind of ride.  We can navigate well if we understand their expectations of communication and...Continue reading

By Sherri PetroPosted in Communication Skills on June 23, 2013

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