UNIT I : PERSONAL COMMUNICATION:

Journal writing, mails/emails, SMS, greeting cards, situation based accepting/declining invitations, congratulating, consoling, conveying information.
A DEFINITION OF JOURNAL WRITING: What is a journal? The word journal comes from the French word jour and from the Latin word diurnalis meaning daily. Thus, a journal is some form of notebook in which daily writing (or at least regular writing) is recorded. Journals help people clarify their thoughts. Jotting down feelings, responses, and insights into daily events gives writers an opportunity to discover what they think and how they feel about different topics. If you keep a journal during this course, you never will have to worry about finding a topic for your writing assignments. You will have a collection of ideas stored in your journal. Journal writing is informal, casual writing. By writing about different topics, you not only improve your writing skills, but also you have an opportunity to explore your thoughts without being chastised for grammar, usage, or other errors. Journals are idea books; they are places where writers are free to think in writing. If you have never kept a journal, you may never have experienced the freedom of writing for no immediate purpose other than to explore a thought. So that you will understand the informal nature of journal writing, try the following practice exercise. If you have to ramble aimlessly before finding a main idea, do not worry; you are allowed to ramble for awhile. When you do discover your topic, however, try to stay with it. Keeping with your topic will help you learn how to explore it in detail. This skill can be transferred to more formal theme writing assignments later.

What is a Journal? A journal is a series of writings done by a person in response to daily life. It contains descriptions of events and reflections about the events. I make a distinction between a journal and a diary. I consider a diary to contain a description of the events of the day. A journal may contain these descriptions, but it also contains your reflections on the events, and your feelings about them. It doesn't matter what you call your writing, either a diary or journal, as long as you understand the distinction between these two ways of writing. When a person becomes aware that their life is a spiritual journey, their journal becomes the travelogue of their personal experiences along their journey. Even people who travel along the same organized religious path have unique and individual spiritual paths because each person's spiritual path is based upon their own experience. How A Journal Is Different I used to believe that what separated a journal from all other types of writing is that a journal is not written for an audience. It is a private writing that is done because it helps

the writer. However, since starting my online journal, I have come to understand that a journal may sometimes have an audience. I still believe that a journal isn't written for the audience, even if it has one. I also believe that journal entries are different from creative writing efforts. Many writers use their journal as a sort of writing equivalent of a drawing sketchpad. And, many people use entries from their journal to develop into creative writing projects. Even so, I believe that I make a journal entry because I need to clear my mind and heart, not because I have a finished writing project in mind. I make that distinction about the purpose of the writing at the time it was written.

What Is A Spiritual Path? A spiritual path is full of questions about the purpose of life and the nature of the universe around you. In a journal, you seek the answers to questions like: Who am I? How did I get here? What is my relationship with my Creator? What is the purpose of my life? Is my world a safe place or a dangerous place? A spiritual path is about the process of personal growth and not the end result. The goals your create for your life only give you direction. The questions in life are more important than the answers because the questions open your mind and soul to receive new insights and consider new perspectives. The journal becomes your map of self discovery as you travel your spiritual path. It offers you the tools for reflection which allow you to assign your own meaning to the events and circumstances in your life. It engages you in a conversation with yourself about the critical issues in your life. Together, these establish your personal authority and enhance your ability to process your life experiences in a supportive and positive manner. I believe that my spiritual journey is about exploring the inner world and the outer world with a new perspective. It is about looking for the meaning and purpose of the people, events, feelings, ideas, and experiences in my life. My spiritual journey is about discovering my relationship with myself and with my world. Anything that helps me gather information is part of my journey. What Are The Tools For Keeping A Journal? The answer to this question depends entirely on your personal preferences and may change over time. People use any combination of the following journaling tools:

Paper and pen/pencil Watercolors Fountain pen Blank books with lined paper Blank books with unlined paper Computer and word processing software Computer and blogging software Loose sheets of paper The important thing is what you write about, not how you write it or what you write it with. I have switched my journal writing tools several times, and each time I discover new things about myself. It seems like different tools pull different things out of me. Are There Journal Writing Rules? I believe there are no absolute rules for how or when you keep your journal. I have kept my journal since 1969 and I have been through a variety of phases. I have discovered that I want to change the way I write and my writing tools occasionally. I have done each of the following: Write at a specific time every day Write a specific amount every day Write whenever I feel like it Write as much or as little as I feel like writing in the moment Write on special occasions Take a sabatical from my journal Carry my journal with me everywhere and write a little bit every chance I get Keep my journal in a special place and write only in that special place

Write without using any words Principles I Write By What I have learned about the rules of keeping a journal from my own experience can be distilled down to three simple principles: Date each entry to keep things in perspective. At the time I am writing, it doesn't matter if I add the date, but when I look back over my journal, it helps me to see when I wrote each entry. Write when and how you want. I frequently change writing tools and find it gives me a different outlook. Each time I have forced myself to write, the writing has become dry. I'd rather quit writing before I felt finished than force myself to write when I don't want to. Always tell the truth. Why bother to write if you aren't going to be honest with yourself?

Writing an Email Ten Quick Tips on Writing a Professional Email 1. Always fill in the subject line with a topic that means something to your reader. Not "Decals" or "Important!" but "Deadline for New Parking Decals." 2. Put your main point in the opening sentence. Most readers won't stick around for a surprise ending. 3. Never begin a message with a vague "This"--as in "This needs to be done by 5:00." Always specify what you're writing about.
4.

Don't use ALL CAPITALS (no shouting!), or all lower-case letters either (unless you're e. e. cummings). As a general rule, PLZ avoid textspeak (abbreviations and acronyms): you may be ROFLOL (rolling on the floor laughing out loud), but your reader may be left wondering WUWT (what's up with that).

5.

6. Be brief and polite. If your message runs longer than two or three short paragraphs, consider (a) reducing the message, or (b) providing an attachment. But in any case, don't snap, growl, or bark.

7. Remember to say "please" and "thank you." And mean it. "Thank you for understanding why afternoon breaks have been eliminated" is prissy and petty. It's not polite. 8. Add a signature block with appropriate contact information (in most cases, your name, business address, and phone number, along with a legal disclaimer if required by your company). Do you need to clutter the signature block with a clever quotation and artwork? Probably not.
9.

Edit and proofread before hitting "send." You may think you're too busy to sweat the small stuff, but unfortunately your reader may think you're a careless dolt.

10. Finally, reply promptly to serious messages. If you need more than 24 hours to collect information or make a decision, send a brief response explaining the delay. Begin with a greeting It's important to always open your email with a greeting, such as "Dear Lillian,". Depending on the formality of your relationship, you may want to use their family name as opposed to their given name, i.e. "Dear Mrs. Price,". If the relationship is more casual, you can simply say, "Hi Kelly," If youre contacting a company, not an individual, you may write "To Whom It May Concern:" Thank the recipient If you are replying to a client's inquiry, you should begin with a line of thanks. For example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, "Thank you for contacting ABC Company." If someone has replied to one of your emails, be sure to say, "Thank you for your prompt reply." or "Thanks for getting back to me." If you can find any way to thank the reader, then do. It will put him or her at ease, and it will make you appear more courteous. State your purpose If, however, you are initiating the email communication, it may be impossible to include a line of thanks. Instead, begin by stating your purpose. For example, "I am writing to enquire about " or "I am writing in reference to " It's important to make your purpose clear early on in the email, and then move into the main text of your email. Remember to pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation, and to avoid run-on sentences by keeping your sentences short and clear. Closing remarks Before you end your email, it's polite to thank your reader one more time as well as add some courteous closing remarks. You might start with "Thank you for your patience and cooperation." or "Thank you for your consideration." and then follow up with, "If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know." and "I look forward to hearing from you."

End with a closing The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. "Best regards," "Sincerely," and "Thank you," are all professional. It's a good idea to avoid closings such as "Best wishes," or "Cheers," as these are best used in casual, personal emails. Finally, before you hit the send button, review and spell check your email one more time to make sure it's truly perfect! Bad Example Subject: Meeting Hi Jim, I just wanted to remind you about the meeting we have scheduled next week. Do let me know if you have any questions! Best wishes, Mark This email is an example of poor communication for several reasons. Let's focus on the headline. As you can see, it's titled "Meeting". Why is this a bad headline? Well, there's no information about the meeting. If your calendar is full of meetings, you might even wonder which one Mark is talking about. And there's certainly no clarity about the subject, or when and where the meeting's being held. What's more, the lack of specific information makes it look like a spam email. This email risks being deleted without being read! Also, the tone of the message is that of a friendly reminder. There's nothing wrong with that, but essential details are missing. If Jim hasn't heard anything about the meeting, or has completely forgotten about it, he'll have to write back for more information. Good Example Subject: Reminder of 10am Meeting Sched. 10/05 on PASS Process. Hi Jim, I just wanted to remind you about the meeting we have scheduled for Monday, October 5, at 10:00am. It's being held in conference room A, and we'll be discussing the new PASS Process. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch (x3024).

Best Wishes, Mark See how specific this new headline is? The great thing about this headline is that the reader doesn't even have to open the email to get most of the relevant information. And the precise nature of the headline serves as a useful prompt. Every time the reader glances at his saved emails, he'll be reminded about that specific meeting.

Electronic mail, most commonly referred to as email or e-mail since approximately 1993, [2] is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the same time, in common with instant messaging. Today's email systems are based on a store-and-forward model. Email servers accept, forward, deliver, and store messages. Neither the users nor their computers are required to be online simultaneously; they need connect only briefly, typically to an email server, for as long as it takes to send or receive messages. Historically, the term electronic mail was used generically for any electronic document transmission. For example, several writers in the early 1970s used the term to describe fax document transmission.[3][4] As a result, it is difficult to find the first citation for the use of the term with the more specific meaning it has today. An Internet email message[NB 1] consists of three components, the message envelope, the message header, and the message body. The message header contains control information, including, minimally, an originator's email address and one or more recipient addresses. Usually descriptive information is also added, such as a subject header field and a message submission date/time stamp. Originally a text-only (ASCII) communications medium, Internet email was extended to carry, e.g., text in other character sets, multi-media content attachments, a process standardized in RFC 2045 through 2049. Collectively, these RFCs have come to be called Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME). Subsequent RFC's have proposed standards for internationalized email addresses using UTF-8. Electronic mail predates the inception of the Internet and was in fact a crucial tool in creating it,[5] but the history of modern, global Internet email services reaches back to the early ARPANET. Standards for encoding email messages were proposed as early as 1973 (RFC 561). Conversion from ARPANET to the Internet in the early 1980s produced the core of the current services. An email sent in the early 1970s looks quite similar to a basic text message sent on the Internet today.

Network-based email was initially exchanged on the ARPANET in extensions to the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), but is now carried by the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), first published as Internet standard 10 (RFC 821) in 1982. In the process of transporting email messages between systems, SMTP communicates delivery parameters using a message envelope separate from the message (header and body) itself.

SMS : Short message (or messaging) service, a system that enables cellular phone users to send and receive text messages. Tips for Writing Effective Business SMS Text Messages SMS Texting for Business use is still pretty new in the UK with not many companies sending SMS Text messages to their customers, suppliers or general contacts. As this is the case we are often asked 3 main questions: 1. Do my contacts want me to text them? 2 - What are the benefits of Business SMS texting? 3 - What and How should we send business marketing text messages? As we believe no two companies are the same, hence the customisation options within our software, we always advise our customers to also tailor the text message they send just the same as any other kind of direct marketing. However, just like email marketing they are a few standard tips to achieving the best results and building a positive reputation. Target your Message: To get the best response rate target, target, target! Find who you want to contact, and then target them using the language they use and with solutions / offers they would want to recieve. Timing: As most people have their phone with them over 90% of the day, timing is not much of an issue. However, it has being found that if you are sending business text messages is mid to late afternoon. Dnt Use Txt Speak!: Always remember you are sending a business marketing message. U wudnt rite txt spk on ur website wud u? So don't do it because it is a text message. Keep it Clear & Simple!: The easier you keep the message the more likely your contacts are to respond. You only have 160 characters to get your message across, so keep it to one simple single offer or news with a clear call to action.

Be Complete: Ensure you include everything you want, as well as full instructions on what the reciever needs to do. If they have to call ensure you give the phone number. If they need to keep and show the text, tell them. Use a friendly name your Customers will recognise. When you begin to send business sms text marketing messages you will be able to choose a friendly name. This friendly name will be shown on your contacts mobile phone when they recieve the text message. Now this is pretty obvious but always ensure you choose a name your customers will recognise. Even if you want to do a gimick and promote an event or music band - use their name. Grab Attention Straight Away: Just like any other peice of marketing, try to grab attention straight away. Start your message with the word NEWS, OFFER or any of those other words we all like to see. This is the part of the message that will also show if the reciever has text preview on their mobile phone and will entince them more to open the SMS text message. Test, Revise, Test, Revise and Test Again: Mobile is no different than any other marketing communication method you would use in your Business. Always send a test message to your own mobile phone first as this will give you a chance to see it on the small screen. However, after that test also keep testing and revising the messages you send to your contacts. Each time change a small aspect of the SMS message and test if it gets a better response. Template SMS Messages: SMS from your CRM! You can now text your customers from your CRM software for more information call us now on 01422 200000 ABC Media - Your Television is ready to pick up from the Collection Center. Please Quote 123456 ABC Media - Your Television has now been dispatched and will be with you between 15pm 4th Mrch FREE VIP TONIGHT! Show this text at the door before 11pm to get FREE entry and VIP Access and a free drink.

MOT Reminder! Your car is due for its MOT by the 8th of June. Please call us now on 01422 200000 or book it online at www.website.com Dentist Appointment! A quick reminder for your appointment at 11:15am on the 8th June at ABC Dentists. If you need to change this please call us on 01422 200000 Short Message Service (SMS) is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems. It uses standardized communications protocols to allow fixed line or mobile phone devices to exchange short text messages.[1] SMS is the most widely used data application, with an estimated 3.5 billion active users, or about 80% of all mobile phone subscribers at the end of 2010.[2] The term "SMS" is used for all types of short text messaging and the user activity itself in many parts of the world. SMS is also employed in direct marketing, known as SMS marketing.[3] SMS as used on modern handsets originated from radio telegraphy in radio memo pagers using standardized phone protocols. These were defined in 1985 as part of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) series of standards[4] as a means of sending messages of up to 160 characters[5][6] to and from GSM mobile handsets.[7] Though most SMS messages are mobile-to-mobile text messages, support for the service has expanded to include other mobile technologies, such as ANSI CDMA networks and Digital AMPS, as well as satellite and landline networks.

GREETING CARDS:
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards, usually packaged with an envelope, come in a variety of styles. There are both mass-produced as well as handmade versions that are distributed by hundreds of companies large and small. While typically inexpensive, more elaborate cards with die-cuts or glued-on decorations may be more expensive. Hallmark Cards and American Greetings are the largest producers of greeting cards in the world. In the United Kingdom, it is estimated that one billion pounds are spent on greeting cards every year, with the average person sending 55 cards per year.[1] In western countries and increasingly in other societies, many people traditionally mail seasonally themed cards to their friends and relatives in December. Many service businesses also send cards to their customers in this season, usually with a universally acceptable non-religious message such as "happy holidays" or "seasons's greetings". The Greeting Card Association is an international trade organization representing the interests of greeting card and stationery manufacturers. John Beeder, former president of the Greeting Card Association, says greeting cards are effective tools to communicate

important feelings to people you care about: "Anyone feels great when they receive an unexpected card in the mail. For me, theres nothing like a greeting card to send a special message. Im proud to be a part of an industry that not only keeps people connected, but uses both imagery and the power of words to help us express our emotions. TYPES OF GREETING CARDS: Standard Greeting Cards: A standard greeting card is printed on high-quality paper (such as card stock), and is rectangular and folded, with a picture or decorative motif on the front. Inside is a pre-printed message appropriate for the occasion, along with a blank space for the sender to add a signature or handwritten message. A matching envelope is sold with the card. Some cards and envelopes feature fancy materials, such as gold leaf, ribbons or glitter. Photo Greeting Cards: In recent years, photo greeting cards have gained widespread popularity and come in two main types. The first type are photo insert cards in which a hole has been cut in the center. Your photo slides in just like a frame. The second type are printed photo cards in which the photo is combined with artwork and printed, usually on a high-end digital press, directly onto the face of the card. Both types are most popular for sending holiday greetings such as Christmas, Hanukkah & for baby showers. Personalised Greeting Cards: Websites using special personalisation technology, such as Moonpig, allow consumers to personalise a card which is then printed and sent directly to the recipient. Reusable Greeting Cards: These are greeting cards for the budget conscious. There are two common formats for reusable cards. Firstly there are cards with slits in them positioned to hold pages. Secondly there notepad style cards where pages stick to the back of the cards. The pages that have been used for reusable cards can be removed after being received and fresh pages can be used to reuse the cards. Risqu Greeting Cards: Some companies offer risqu greeting cards, with adult-based humor and cartoons. The humor in these cards can sometimes be offensive to more conservative parts of the population. Musical Greeting Cards: Recently greeting cards have been made that play music or sound when they are opened. They are commonly 3D handmade birthday cards which play traditional celebration songs such as Happy Birthday To You. Electronic Greeting Cards: (also called E-cards) Greeting cards can also be sent electronically. Flash-based cards can be sent by email, and many sites such as Facebook enable you to send greetings. More recently, services have launched which enable you to send greetings to a mobile phone by text message. Many of these electronic services offer open or anonymous chat, to enable further discussion.

Pop-Up Cards: Pop-Up Cards are normally cards that, once opened, have a picture coming outward, giving the reader a surprise. Pictures and printed messages in greeting cards come in various styles, from fine art to humorous to profane. Non-specific cards, unrelated to any occasion, might feature a picture (or a pocket to paste in a personal photograph) but no pre-printed message. History: A custom greeting card made from an ESA/Hubble image The custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who conveyed their greetings on papyrus scrolls. By the early 15th century, handmade paper greeting cards were being exchanged in Europe. The Germans are known to have printed New Year's greetings from woodcuts as early as 1400, and handmade paper Valentines were being exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-15th century, with the oldest Valentine in existence being in the British Museum.[2] By the 1850s, the greeting card had been transformed from a relatively expensive, handmade and hand-delivered gift to a popular and affordable means of personal communication, due largely to advances in printing, mechanization, and a reduction in postal rates with the introduction of the postage stamp.[3] This was followed by new trends like Christmas cards, the first of which appeared in published form in London in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card that he could send to his friends and acquaintances. In the 1860s, companies like Marcus Ward & Co, Goodall and Charles Bennett began the mass production of greeting cards. They employed well known artists such as Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane as illustrators and card designers. Technical developments like color lithography in 1930 propelled the manufactured greeting card industry forward. Humorous greeting cards, known as studio cards, became popular in the late 1940s and 1950s. In the 1970s Recycled Paper Greetings, a small company needing to establish a competing identity against the large companies like Hallmark Cards, began publishing humorous "whimsical" card designs with the artist's name credited on the back. This was away from what was known as the standard look (sometimes called the Hallmark look.) [citation needed] By the 1980s there was a thriving market for what were now called "alternative" greeting cards, and the name stuck even though these "alternative" cards changed the look of the entire industry. The largest recorded number of greeting cards sent to a single person went to Craig Shergold, a beneficiary/victim of chain letters and later chain emails. Postcards

Postcards, which are single-sided without the fold, can function in a manner somewhat similar to greeting cards. Postcards appeared fairly early on in the history of the postal service as a cheaper way of sending messages, especially those of a tourist nature.

GREETING CARD: A greeting card is an illustrated card used to convey an expression of friendship or other feeling. Greeting cards are usually given on special occasions, such as birthdays, Lebaran day or other holidays, they are also sent to express thanks or congratulation. Greeting cards are usually packaged with an envelope. They are made with various styles. 1. The purpose : a. To congratulate someone achievement b. To express sympathy on someones c. To motivate someone on gaining achievement 2 . The Important points a. Clarify a clear purpose b. Use a appraisal diction c. Accurate addressee Examples:

SITUATION BASED INVITATIONS:

ACCEPTING

OR

DECLINING

Inviting, Accepting & Declining Invitation: INVITATIONS : Function : to invite someone to attend an occation. The Structure/Parts :

The Addressee (The person invited) Salutation

The message (the content of the message) The Sender

The requirements :

It should have an accurate addressee It gives clear time, place, and activity It provides sufficient information about the inviter. Express that the writer is looking forward to seeing person If there is a dress code, state it in the lower left-hand corner

Examples:

Inviting:

Would you like to . Could you come to

Id very much like Would you care to . Ill really happy if you come to. Im sure that you wont be disappointed to come to.

Accepting an Invitation

Thank you for inviting me. I would/will . That would be very nice. Id like to love to come. Thats fine. Sure. Why not?

Declining an Invitation

Im very sorry, I dont think I can. Id like to, but . Thank you for asking me, but . Unfortunately, I cant .

Dialog Examples: Dialog 1 Ludi Invites Maya to go to a Movie Ludi : Hi, Maya. There will be a great film tonight. Its about vampire. Would you like to go to the movie with me? Maya : Yes, Id like tonvery much. When will you pick me up? Ludi : Ill pick you at 7.00. Be ready, OK! Maya : Alright.

Dialog 2

Afif is very busy doing his homework. Sheila, his friend, asks him to come to her party. Sheila : Heloo, this is Sheila. May I speak to Afif? Afif : This is Afif speaking.

Sheila : Oh, hi Afif. I wonder if youd like to come to my house right now. Were having a great party. Afif : I dont think I can. Im doing my homework. My parents wont

let me out before I finish my homework. Sheila : Thats alright. Afif : I hope you enjoy your party. Bye.

Sheila : Bye

CONGRATULATING:
Give (someone) one's good wishes when something special or pleasant has happened to them.

CONGRATULATION: Congratulation is an expression that we use the give the congratulation utterance when he/she succeeds in doing something Expressing Congratulation:

Congratulation Congratulations Congratulations on your succeeds Happy Birthday Happy New Year Happy Anniversary Let me congratulate you Good Thats great! ow fortunate

Pretty Good

Replying Congratulations

Thank You Thank, I needed that Thats very kind of you

Dialog Examples: Dialogue 1 : Roy : Who won the football match yesterday? Tom : Our team did. We won three to one Roy : Congratulation. Im glad to hear it Tom : Thank you

Dialoge 2: Betty : Happy birthday, Marry. Many happy return of the day

Marry : Thank you, Betty. You are the first me who congratulates me Betty : Oh realy? Here is a little present for you. I hope you like it.

Marry : Thank you very much. You are realy my best friend.

CONSOLING:
Comfort (someone) at a time of grief or disappointment.

Write a letter to your friend consoling him on big failure My dear (Name), I was shocked to read about your failure in your letter. The contents of your letter made me sad. I could never believe it.

Dear Arun, you should not take your failure to heart. Failures are the foundations of success. You should continue working hard. You should not look back except to learn a lesson from your past experience. You did your best last time and you should not give up hope. What is gone is gone forever. Thinking about your failure all the time will dishearten you. Think of the present alone. I hope you will put in your best and do well next year. The news, in fact, came to me as a great surprise I could not even dream of it. What can I convey to you except my heartfelt sympathies and a bit of advice not to give up hope? Work more resolutely. With best wishes. Your sincerely, I'm here for you The right wordsand actionsfor lifes tough times By Julie Weingarden Dubin

When someone we know suffers a loss or is going through a difficult situation, we're often not sure what to say. Sometimes we ramble or, worse, say nothing and avoid the person. But that doesn't help at all, and it leaves us dragging around a ton of guilt. The next time you're struggling with how to help, try these comforting words and ways to show you care: Your neighbor's husband has passed away.SAY THIS: "I know what a profound loss this is for you, and I want you to know I'm here if you need me." Or you might say, "We all miss Johnhe touched so many people's lives," and then add a happy memory, such as,

"I still remember the time he suggested grilling in the middle of that snowstorm in January; it was the best barbecue we ever had." That kind of reminiscence "gives the mourner a terrific gift," says Florence Isaacs, author of Just a Note to Say...The Perfect Words for Every Occasion. DON'T SAY: "He lived a long life." For the mourner, the life may not have been long enough, says Isaacs. SHOW YOU CARE: Be specific when offering help, Isaacs advises, because the grieving person is usually numb. For example, ask, "Would you like me to pick up your relatives from the airport?" Your friend tells you she's getting divorced. SAY THIS: "I'm your friend, and I'm always here for you." Even if you're burning to ask about details of the split, don't. "You can validate your friend's pain and commiserate with her without having to know all the gruesome details of the divorce and without stating your opinion," says June Paris, coauthor of But I Didn't Mean That! How to Avoid Misunderstandings and Hurt Feelings in Everyday Life. DON'T SAY: "I never liked him anyway," because the two of them could get back together, and more than likely your friend will not forgive you, says Isaacs. SHOW YOU CARE: Go with your friend to her court date or lawyer appointment so she knows she has someone to lean on. Invite her out shopping or to a museum. She's probably losing a large part of her social life, Isaacs points out. Your sister-in-law has breast cancer. SAY THIS: "I'm so sorry you have to go through this," followed by a hug. Or gently ask, "How are you managing? How are the kids doing?" and let her talk about her fears and what she's experiencing, says Isaacs. DON'T SAY: "Everything is going to be OK." You can't promise her recovery, explains Paris. Also, don't give medical advice unless you're a doctor; that's not what she needs from you. SHOW YOU CARE: Offer to drive her to the hospital, do her shopping or bring her meals. And remember, just because she's ill doesn't mean she's lost her sense of humor. "Send her something to make her laugh and recall the good times," Paris suggests. A co-worker has been laid off. SAY THIS: "I'm very sorry to hear the news." Empathy goes a long way, notes Paris. You might also offer words of experience spoken from the heart: "I know from when I was looking for a job, it can take time to find the right position. Hang in there!" DON'T SAY: "Try not to worry." A job loss is all about worry, and denying your colleague's feelings won't help. SHOW YOU CARE: In addition to words of encouragement, you can assist with the job

search. For example, pass along names of helpful contacts. "She'll appreciate your effort," says Paris. And who knows? She may even return the favor one day. Brighten a day with words of encouragementHealin good Ideas' Articles Select Section You might also be interested in

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Ideas I'm here for you What to say (and do) to help someone through a difficult time.

Ideas

Encourage your kids Cheer them up. Cheer them on. Heres how.

Ideas On a personal note: serious illness Choosing the right words to give comfort.

What To Write in a Get Well Card There is much power in the thoughts we have and the words we choose. Get well cards have the potential to carry a message that will influence thoughts and aid in healing the body. Social interactions and humor help immune system functioning. Try to make the person laugh and visit him or her with a smile. Use a get well card to help a friend feel better. If you are trying to write something in a get well card, this is the place for you to get help. Figuring out a special get well message for your friend, relative, or other loved one can be challenging. Use these ideas to entertain or encourage someone who is sick or recovering. Combine or change these to make one fit the person who will receive your encouraging words.

Get Well Card Message Examples These are examples of what to write in a get well card to wish someone a quick recovery. 1. "I am sorry you are not feeling well. I am praying for you to have a complete and quick recovery." 2. "I just wanted to write you to encourage you to stay strong and to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers." 3. "I am sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Get well soon!" 4. "I am praying for a quick recovery for you. Get better and make my prayers come true." 5. "I know that everyone gets sick sometimes. I just don't like to see someone as nice as you suffer. Get well!" 6. "Get well soon, so I can come over and bother you." 7. "I'm writing you a prescription to get better. Don't forget to take your medicine." 8. "I was starting to think that you are invincible. It's good to know that you are human after all. I'm looking forward to you getting back to your invincible self. Get well soon, superman." (For a tough person) 9. "You are in my thoughts and my prayers. I am praying for a quick recovery." 10. "If you weren't so likable, then maybe those darn germs wouldn't like you so much. Hoping you become more offensive... at least to the germs." 11. "I'm sending you warm regards, and I hope that you will get well soon." 12. "I am praying that you have the strength and the peace to get you though your illness. 13. "If I told you to 'Get Well Soon,' it wouldn't be soon enough. Get Well Now!"

CONVEYING INFORMATION:
5 Tips for Conveying The Right Information to Clients: Effectively conveying any form of information to your clients is not only good practice, but it is vital. If youre not equipped with the right communicative skills, then youre more likely to loose clients rather then gain them. Whether its you or your client that takes the first step in communicating, you need to understand that this is the beginning of a relationship. Like any relationship, if you dont convey your thoughts and feelings (likes/dislikes) the right way, then the relationship will eventually die out. Same goes for you and your client. Within this article we have taken the time to dissect a variety of tips that will help you convey information to your clients the right way. Let us know which practices work best for you! Better Emails

Unless youre working in a design firm or you advertise your phone number freely, then my guess would be that the main and the most important form of communication between you and your clients is emails. Although emails are key in the process of communication, they can also be a detrimental factor if not used correctly. You should always make sure that youre straight to the point, keep it as simple as possible, avoid a marketing tone of voice, and tacky lines. Conveying confidence is also important. If a client cant sense confidence, then in most cases they wont be confident in your ability to complete the project. Sending out a generic email which youve sent to 100+ potential clients is far from professional. Its ok to have somewhat of a template or guideline as to what youre going to email, however, you should customize it to specific client/project needs.

Use Your Listening Skills

I dont know how many designers Ive come across that do more talking than listening. They jump at every opportunity (even when it isnt given) to talk about their services, what they can do, how they can do it, and the benefits. You dont want to be that designer. You want to be the professional whos going to take in and understand your clients needs and address them accordingly. Besides, theyve most likely already seen your portfolio and they know what to expect. Give the client time to express their concerns and ask questions. When it comes time for your client to listen, youll be prepared and youll show them that you do care.

Be Elaborative

You can talk all you want, but if your client is not understanding you, they will look for a designer who will. A majority of the population in actuality have no clue as to what really goes into a website or logo design. This is why its our job to elaborate and use effective explanations. For one, you will better educate your client, and they will have a bit more insight as to why it is we charge what we charge. Referencing back to the above section, you must also make sure that when you explain something to your client, you dont over word or extend your explanation. Keep it simple and easy to process. This is key to a healthy, communicative, relationship. Ask Questions

One of the most overlooked aspects of the communication process is refraining from asking questions. It is my belief that there are no stupid questions, we are the only ones that can make them invaluable or stupid. Sometimes the simplest question you can think of, is likely to save you or your client money. Heres an article that was written a few months ago which addresses the need and also the questions to ask about your clients and the projects youll be commissioned to work on. Questions are important, theyll help you further understand and define the needs of a project. However, you must also know how to convey your questions the right way so that you dont hinder the opportunity to work with a client. Right before youre about to ask your questions you should reflect on what your client has told you a bit deeper, conduct some further research, and remember to word your questions as easily as possible. This will help you avoid questions that have obvious answers, and convey the message that you havent been listening. You can take this question: I Normally Use PayPal With All My Clients, What Do You Prefer To Use? and reword it to this: What is Your Preferred Method of Payment? Its the same question, just easier to process, and it gives the client to describe various possible method of payments rather than thinking they strictly have to use PayPal. Take Advantage of Helpful Tools

There are a ton of tools that will help you convey information to your clients. Twitter, Facebook and Screencasts are just a few of the tools you can use to better communicate. Sometimes phone conversions, emails, and other conventional methods may not work and your client is still lacking full understanding, this is where you could use a screencast to really get your message across. Its easy to make, quick, and many times extremely informative. Twitter is more of a Social Media tool, however Ive heard of designers using this tool to send quick and small updates to their clients. Facebook is also another social media tool,

however, much like LinkedIn, it provides professional connections and you can chat as if you were face to face. Whatever tool or route you choose to go, the important thing you must remember is how will this tool help me convey information to my clients? Your Turn To Talk I hope you liked this post. Any other tips youd like to share that could help better convey information to clients? Feel free to chime in by leaving a comment below.