December Articles 2011

The Articulate CEO

December

Clever Hans Phenomenon & The Origins of Non Verbal Communication

Ever wonder how the subject of non verbal communication ever came to our attention? The answer is Clever Hans Phenomenon and it dates back to the early 1890’s.

It refers to a form of involuntary and unconscious cuing that sometimes happens in communication and the story itself is about a horse who responded to questions requiring mathematical calculations by tapping his hoof. Sound familiar?

The Tiger Woods Effect & How Competition Can Backfire

I often talk about the ’symbolic’ channel of communication and how ofetn it can lead to results that we wouldn’t necessarily expect. One place where you think symbolism would do its intended job, however, is reward and recognition systems. After all recognising a brilliant employee should – in theory – be an inspiration to colleagues.

Unfortunately, due to the Tiger Woods Effect, this is not always the case. What is the Tiger Woods Effect I hear you ask?

Put simply, it means that someone at the top of their game can not only put off everyone else but can actually lead them to put in less effort.

Swearing Can Be Good For You!

If you have the misfortune to hit your thumb with a hammer then the best thing you can do to help cope with the pain is turn the air blue. That’s right, swearing can provide effective relief from pain – but only if you use it judiciously, according to research.

Experts found swearing helped people cope with pain in the short-term but the frequency of swearing played an important role.

Researchers at Keele University’s School of Psychology recruited 71 undergraduates who were asked to carry out a cold-water challenge while either repeating a swear word or a non-swear word.