Archive for May, 2010
Communication Skills
Necessary Ways to Take To Develop Good Communication Skills
1) Pay attention to your body language
We all know that action speaks louder than words. Most of our attention during a conversation goes to looking at the non-verbals. Eye-contact conveys the feeling that the speaker is sincere and earnest and can be trusted. It also signifies respect for the other party. Frequent darting of the eyes can imply that the person is dishonest. Occasional eye-contact gives people the impression that one is shy. We should adopt an open posture with arms relaxed so we appear welcoming. Folded arms imply distrust of the party being spoken to. Shrugging your shoulders may give the message that you lack confidence and may even suggest presence of a low mood. Speaking with a warm and audible tone of voice will help to grasp the interest and attention of people as we are familiar with the school teacher who speaks in a low tone that often puts us to sleep very readily.
2) Ensuring 2-way Communication
During a conversation, in order to understand if the receiving party is actively engaged in it is by asking for a response or feedback. The response can be verbal or non-verbal so there is an interaction between 2 parties. One-way communication implies a top-down relationship whereby the person hearing it will be expected to absorb and act on the message given. This can be appropriate in a school setting when important information has to be imparted within the shortest possible time. However, in an informal setting, such a way of interaction will result in communication breakdown and also an erosion of the potentially good relationship. An open communication indicates respect for each other and also helps in building a ‘give-and- take’ relationship. Without it, a healthy relationship cannot exist.
3) Always put on a smile
A smile when seen helps relax people and puts people at ease. You can accompany it with a nod if you sincerely agree with the party speaking. However, too much of a smile may make the person appear ‘artificial’ and ‘plastic’ and may convey insincerity.
4) Try to see from the Other Party’s Point of View
If you speak on topics that are only of interest to you without consideration for the other party, you run the risk of boring the listener. Again, ask for feedback, get a response and continue the conversation from there. The key is to have a healthy exchange of information between two parties and not just from one.
Baked Pasta With Minced Beef and Cheese
What you need:
Minced beef – 500 g
Pasta – 2 cups
Tomato Puree- 1 can
Onion – 1
Garlic – 1 clove
Cheese – 30g
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoon Olive Oil
Tomato- 2, chopped
What to do:
1) Preheat the oven. Peel the onion and chop it finely. Peel the garlic and also chop it finely or crush it.
2) Heat the oil in a frying pan.
3) Cook the onion and garlic over low heat. Then add the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and stir well.
4) Let the pasta sauce simmer well for about 10 minutes. Then season with salt and pepper.
5) Boil some salted water in a saucepan. Add the pasta and cook for 12 minutes. Then drain in a colander.
6) Fry the minced beef till slightly brown.
7) Grate the cheese for the topping.
8) Stir the cooked pasta and minced beef into the tomato paste, then spoon the mixture into a baking dish.
9) Sprinkle the cheese over the pasta. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes until the topping is crisp.
Words of Wisdom…
My two cents worth of wisdom:)
Fear devalue a person. Prolonged exposure to it eats the person inside out and destroys self-confidence. Love increase a person’s value… it builds the person’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Valuation is performed by the words we speak. Life is too short to be bogged down by fear and self-limiting beliefs. Speak hope, faith, love, confidence, possibility to yourself and love ones today. Start now…
Dear friends, I believe you also have your thoughts about what I shared today. I am open to hear your comments and even your life-experiences based on what I wrote…if you have people u know who will benefit from the words I shared, do pass it on…and hopefully it will be edifying to them:)
Spinach and Cheese Bake
Serves 4
Ingredients:
350g pasta shapes
280g spinach ( chopped)
2 eggs
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup breadcrumbs
Dried herbs
Salt and pepper to taste
1 large jar of pasta sauce
240g shredded Cheddar Cheese
240g shredded Mozzarella cheese
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 180deg
- Boil pasta until al dente
- Drain the pasta in a colander.
- Bring the pot of pasta water to boil again and cook the spinach for 4 minutes. Drain and set aside
- Whisk the eggs and oil in a bowl.
- Place pasta into an empty pot and add the egg mixture, spinach, breadcrumbs, herbs, salt and pepper
- Stir the pasta sauce and pour one-third into a baking dish large enough to hold all the pasta. Pour half the pasta into the dish and layer again with another one-third of the pasta sauce.
- Sprinkle half the cheddar and mozzarella cheese over and top again with remaining pasta and sauce.
- Bake for 45 mins at 180 deg. For the last 15 mins, top the pasta with the remaining cheese and continue baking till done.
Useful fact— Olive oil contains monosaturated fats. Research shows that consuming about 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day may reduce the risk of heart disease.
A Short Story on The Importance of Planning Ahead
This story is about three fish…have a good laugh at the end of it:)
Three fish lived in a pond. One was named “Plan ahead”, another was “Think fast” and the third was called “Wait and see”. One day they heard a fisherman say he would be going to cast his net in their pond the next day.
“Plan ahead” said,” I am swimming down the river tonight”.
“Think fast” said, “I am sure I will come up with a plan”.
“Wait and See” lazily said,” I just can’t think about it now”.
When the fisherman cast his nets, “Plan ahead” was able to escape from his nets. But “Think fast” and “Wait and see” were caught by the fisherman.
“Think fast” quickly rolled his belly up and pretended to be dead. “Oh, this fish is no good!” said the fisherman and threw him safely back into the water. Howvever, “Wait and see” ended up in the fish market.
That is why people say, “In times of danger, when the net is cast, plan ahead or plan to think fast!”
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