Communication Tip of the Day from Treat Consulting: LEARN HOW TO ‘READ THE TABLE.’ Before a waiter approaches, he ‘reads the table’ – he reads everything from how you, the guests, look to how you, the guests, feel. As a manager ‘reading the table’ is a valuable interpersonal skill-set that can make or break a tough conversation, a job or even a career. A lot of managers take a direct, verbal approach to managing people, e.g., I speak, you listen, or because I told you so. They often fail to pay attention to indirect, non-verbal cues that can help them understand what is going on (WIGO), e.g., a worried look, crossed-arms. WIGO is not only the rational, but the emotional. Listen and observe before you speak.
