Overview

Communication is all around you today -- emails, voice mails, text messaging and even good, old-fashioned face-to-face conversations dominate your day. Pay special attention to start the conversations you need to start ... don't let someone else establish the framework of a particularly important conversation. If the topic involves emotions, you need to be in charge -- and make sure you aren't on the defensive. Watch for nonverbal clues indicating that someone might not be telling the whole story.