Communication tips

Are you comfortable in controversial conversations? Create connections, not conflict.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Oct 113 min read

Are you comfortable in controversial conversations? Create connections, not conflict.

This post encourages being more comfortable discussing controversial topics, not to avoid conflicts, but to build connections.

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Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we practice these 5 principles.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jun 142 min read

Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we practice these 5 principles.

CLEAR is an acronym standing for 5 principles of clear communication. This acronym was developed by Dr. Rene Roberts, MD, MS, FAAFP.

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Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we repeat and reinforce.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Jun 72 min read

Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we repeat and reinforce.

Messages are more effective when they are repeated and reinforced.

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Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we leverage visual aids.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

May 173 min read

Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we leverage visual aids.

Communicators benefit from using visual aids because information is conveyed more efficiently and effectively than with words alone. Visual

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5 Tips for Using Behavior Change Theories

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Apr 263 min read

5 Tips for Using Behavior Change Theories

This post summarizes the main points from our series on using behavior change theories with 5 brief tips.

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National Nutrition Month® 2024 promotes farm-to-fork nutrition.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Mar 82 min read

National Nutrition Month® 2024 promotes farm-to-fork nutrition.

National Nutrition Month® is a campaign of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, held each year in March, when “everyone is invited to...

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Want effective audience engagement without technology? Try mini whiteboards.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Dec 8, 20232 min read

Want effective audience engagement without technology? Try mini whiteboards.

Audience engagement is essential for effective communication, especially in presentations. As described in Chapter 20 of Communicating...

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Save the day by remembering 3 Ps: Plan. Prepare. Prevent.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Dec 1, 20232 min read

Save the day by remembering 3 Ps: Plan. Prepare. Prevent.

How often are you in charge of an event? Often? Sometimes? Or rarely? Your answer may be related to your history of successful execution....

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When experts don't know the answer how does an authority respond?

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Oct 27, 20233 min read

When experts don't know the answer how does an authority respond?

“Why don’t nutrition experts ever agree?” “Why do nutrition experts keep changing their minds?” Do you hear those complaints? I do. I can...

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Need funding? Follow these 5 tips to succeed at grant writing.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Oct 6, 20234 min read

Need funding? Follow these 5 tips to succeed at grant writing.

How do you fund your projects, research, operating budget, and more? If you answered grants, you are familiar with the stress of seeking...

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What creates effective communication? Be professional… always.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Aug 25, 20232 min read

What creates effective communication? Be professional… always.

What creates effective communication? This series of posts shares 8 key principles. Here are the first seven: Communication is...

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What creates effective communication? Educate AND entertain. Be Edutaining.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Aug 4, 20232 min read

What creates effective communication? Educate AND entertain. Be Edutaining.

What creates effective communication? In this series of posts, I am proposing 8 principles. So far, we have covered the first four:...

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Jargon is like a foreign language. Learn to speak so your audience understands.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

May 19, 20233 min read

Jargon is like a foreign language. Learn to speak so your audience understands.

What is jargon? According to the dictionary, jargon is “special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group...

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Does misinterpretation plague your communication? Keep it open with clarification.

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

May 5, 20233 min read

Does misinterpretation plague your communication? Keep it open with clarification.

Has your communication ever been misinterpreted? Have you ever misinterpreted the messages or intentions of the communication of others?...

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No more filler words! 5 tips for stronger speech.

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Feb 24, 20233 min read

No more filler words! 5 tips for stronger speech.

When you open your mouth to speak, what is the first sound you utter? Is it um or ah as you decide what to say? When you give a speech or...

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Is Peace on Earth possible? If we share goodwill on common ground.

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Dec 23, 20222 min read

Is Peace on Earth possible? If we share goodwill on common ground.

Christmas Eve. 1914. The Western Front. A world at war. Have you heard the story of what happened that night? There are many versions of...

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Are you a single or multi-tasker? Which gets more done, better?

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Dec 2, 20224 min read

Are you a single or multi-tasker? Which gets more done, better?

We may be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, but can we effectively and accurately complete more complex tasks or projects while...

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Does fear keep you off the stage? Take the spooky out of public speaking!

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Oct 28, 20223 min read

Does fear keep you off the stage? Take the spooky out of public speaking!

Does the idea of speaking in public cause you to feel anxious? Do you avoid situations that require speaking in front of others? Does...

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Preparing a speaker introduction? Here are 5 ways to make it remarkable!

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Oct 21, 20224 min read

Preparing a speaker introduction? Here are 5 ways to make it remarkable!

Do you remember the first time you were asked to introduce a speaker? Maybe you were handed a 10-page resume listing hundreds of...

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Do I need an elevator pitch? What makes one engaging and effective?

Barbara Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND

Oct 14, 20222 min read

Do I need an elevator pitch? What makes one engaging and effective?

Have you ever been asked “Tell me about yourself” or “What do you do?”? Are you prepared with a succinct response clearly conveying the...

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