I am Fluent in the Language of Dog

Every communication is actually two simultaneous conversations: the verbal and the nonverbal. In terms of emotional impact and believability, the nonverbal conversation is far more important to us then the verbal one. Which is good news for my dog. She whines when she wants to go out, barks when the doorbell rings, and growls when she plays tug of war, but she doesn't have the gift of gab like her owner. But what she lacks in the verbal department, she more than makes up for with her nonverbal capabilities. I dabble in French, I can read a few words of Spanish, but thanks to my Lab, Georgia, I am fluent in the language of dog.

Georgia and I share conversation - me in English, her in Dog - and never have a problem understanding one another. In fact, I am able to translate what Georgia says to my monolingual family and friends. We don't always agree on the subject matter - Georgia likes to wax poetic about squirrels, sticks and tennis balls, while I prefer discussing books, recipes and my plans for the day - but we are never at a loss for words.

The other day, Georgia was banished from the backyard because she caught a chipmunk and was using it as her plaything. Much to her dismay, she was relegated to the screened porch so she could be one with nature without causing bodily harm to innocent creatures. After about an hour, I glanced outside and she "told" me that she was having a blast. How did she tell me? She was doing her happy dance, her ears were sticking up, her tail was wagging and her eyes were fixated on a squirrel. But as soon as I opened the door, she was telling a different story.

She immediately crouched down, her belly about an inch off of the ground. Her ears were pulled back and her eyes darted back and forth completely and purposefully avoiding me. Which, translated into English sounds like this, "Holy mother of pearl, what are you doing here? Please, go back inside. Please. I beg of you...you do not want to see what I have done."

I replied to Georgia, in English, in my angry voice, "Georgia, what did you do?"

She was terrified. She began to swallow hard while backing up, trying to wedge herself under a table. Translation: "I don't know what came over me. What in the Sam Hill was I thinking? I feel awful. You are going to be so disappointed - which kills me - you know how I hate to disappoint you! But you've got to believe me, it wasn't all my fault, that dang squirrel was egging me on."

At this point in our conversation, she was completely turned away from me, but she heard and understood every word that I said, "Georgia...what...did...you...do?" As I asked the question I was frantically looking around the porch for the scene of the crime. And then, I spotted it. "Oh, for the love of Pete, Georgia, you ate an entire basket!"

The gig was up and so she slowly, but surely began easing her way out of the hiding spot, crawling towards me. When she got close enough, she dropped her head as if to say, "I knew it was a basket, but it looked so much like a bunch of twigs, and you know how I love to chew on sticks. I know, I should have known better, I do know better, but that dang squirrel was mocking me because he had the run of the yard and I was cooped up on the porch. I had to show him who was top dog, so I ate it and I am so sorry." (Yes, she really said all of that.)

"Georgia," I said, "We have talked about your chewing issues many times, when will you learn?" which caused her to slump down even further. I didn't say another word. I didn't have to - she knew I was mad, I knew she was sorry. But I sat there for awhile watching the top of her head until finally, she lifted it and looked at me. I couldn't resist her huge, brown sorrowful eyes and so I placed my hand on the top of her head. And that's all it took. That's all she needed. I didn't say anything, but here's what she "heard"..."Ok, George, I forgive you. Yes, you are still my friend. Maybe not my best friend right now, but my friend nonetheless." And as soon as I stroked her back, she knew we'd moved on.

Body language speaks volumes; understanding the body language of others and being aware of your own nonverbal cues can make you a better communicator. The words you choose are a critical part of your message, but studies have shown that body language plays a determinative role in how your message is received. Perhaps we should all bark less and wag more.

At Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching we help our clients "read" bodies because facial expression, body language and eye contact go a long way in getting your point across.


Laurie Reid manages the written word at Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching. After 3 years of her kids begging for a dog, she caved. She was envisioning a small dog that didn't shed and didn't necessarily like people. She wound up with a yellow lab; a dog known for its excessive shedding and love of people. Georgia loves everybody and everybody loves Georgia (except for the squirrels and the chipmunks).

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

What do you want to be when you grow up? For some of us, even years after graduating from college, the answer still eludes us. The working world is ever-changing; from emerging technologies to environmental policy, careers that were not around ten years ago are now all the rage. Whether you are a student or fully engaged in a career at the moment, wouldn't you like to know what your personality is best suited for?

Knowing yourself - being honest about your likes and dislikes - can help you find a career that is both rewarding and satisfying. It would be nice to have a magic wand that could make the right decisions for us, but so far nobody has come up with that tool (note to self: that might be a career worth exploring.) Personality tests are no substitute for the all-knowing magic wand, but they do add a value as a starting point for some meaningful dialogue.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences in how you perceive the world and make decisions. Katherine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, created the test during World War II to help women who were entering the workforce for the first time identify the sort of jobs where they would be "most comfortable and effective." Today it is used by corporations to assess employees and identify significant personal preferences. Companies often look to the MBTI for help with group dynamics, employee training, leadership training and personal development. Here is a link to The Myers & Briggs Foundation website.

The purpose of the test is to help understand what motivates and energizes you by answering the questions: what type of tasks are you best equipped to perform and where are you most happy? But keep in mind that while the test reveals your personality type, it does not measure your skills. Moving to a new career may require different skills and qualifications, but many skills are universal and can be parlayed effectively into any career or profession. That's why it is important early on to develop soft skills such as writing, speaking, listening and thinking as they will help you be successful in whatever field you choose.

At this moment, you might not know what you want to be when you grow up, but you should be able to answer these questions:

• Are you enriching your career skills?
• How are you putting your career plan in motion?
• Are you equipped to take advantage of a chance to shine?
• Are you on the right track or do you need a coach to help guide you?

It seems trite, but self-development is the key to making choices and changes in your life. Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching offers a variety of courses and coaching options to meet the needs of all levels of career professionals and that includes those just starting out.

Take the lead with Ty Boyd.

New Year's Career Resolutions

Thanks to our sluggish economy, it's easy to make excuses for not advancing your career or looking for a new position even if you are miserable in your current role. Once you've convinced yourself that there are no opportunities out there or that it's too risky to make a move in this economy, you give yourself a pass to do nothing. But doing nothing can cost you.

You might not be doing anything to further yourself, but smart employees are always positioning themselves for the next big opportunity - especially in an economy like ours. If you stay put and do nothing, you are going to be behind the eight ball and behind your competition when the economy picks up again.

So, let's make a few New Year's career resolutions, shall we?

I know it's not fair, but how we look matters in the workplace. There's a reason why getting fit and losing weight is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. You don't have to look like George Clooney or Anne Hathaway, but you do need to be polished and professional because presentation counts. Be advised that casual dress doesn't mean slovenly. You should dress as you want to be seen: somebody who is serious, professional and moving up the ladder. Throw away those left-over Christmas cookies and start taking care of yourself.

A recent survey of New Year's resolutions found that getting organized was on the top of most people's list. How about starting with your resume? If you haven't done so in a while, chances are your resume needs some updating. Writing and updating a resume can be a daunting task - the challenge of summing up your career on one page and making it sound both compelling and irresistible is overwhelming. But if your current resume still lists positions that you held twenty years ago, you need to get busy. The good news is that resumes are submitted electronically these days so you won't have to agonize over the decision to go with bright white or creamy ivory.

Who hasn't put "spend more time with family and friends" in their top ten list of New Year's resolutions? It's a great career resolution, as well. If you have been lax regarding participation in a professional group, start networking! Focus on ways to make connections and don't rule out social networking. A few minutes on LinkedIn will result in many contacts from your current and prior employers, your customers, your vendors, and your college or university. Every contact has the potential to help you grow your career.

And last, but not least, how about learning something new in 2012? Consider learning to communicate more effectively. It will have a tremendous positive impact in all areas of your life. Expect an increase in happiness, confidence and successful social interaction. Knowing how to express yourself properly is the best gift you can give yourself. Sure, specialized business knowledge is important for any career, but it doesn't guarantee success because no matter how brilliant or invaluable your ideas are, they are worthless unless you can communicate them to others.

Happy New Year from the Ty Boyd Team and best of luck with your resolutions. Let us know if we can help you learn something new in 2012!