By Steve Adubato, PhD

Whether it is at work or at home, all of us are involved in negotiating nearly every day. We negotiate with our bosses and our kids, our coworkers and our spouses. But when you break down the art of negotiation, it's really about communication. It's about connecting and ultimately the art of compromise. As Herb Cohen, author of the classic book "You Can Negotiate Anything" and a new tome called "Negotiate This!" says, "Negotiating is the game of life." It really is, when you think about it.

By Steve Adubato, PhD

On a weekend such as this, we are always thankful to have so many readers write in with thoughtful, provocative questions and comments. With that in mind, consider the following:

Melissa Powers (a pseudonym), founder and owner of a small cosmetics company, responded to my column on risk-taking by saying, "There is little to no risk-taking in a corporate environment. I believe it is because upper management has fears of being made to look bad by underlings. No one wants the new guy to innovate. This is why I am self-employed. If big companies are looking for innovation, risk-taking and creative ideas in their workplace, they ought to hire an entrepreneur for a week."

By Steve Adubato, PhD

People are obsessed with coming up with the right answers to difficult problems and challenges in the workplace. In school, students are taught to come up with the correct answers in order to get a good grade. Clearly, answers are important, but so are questions. Too often we ignore the value of asking smart, probing, illuminating questions. Lawyers, managers, teachers, doctors and yes, journalists, depend heavily on questions to do their jobs.

By Steve Adubato, PhD

Recently my wife Jennifer and I got into a heated argument about a chandelier she purchased for our home. When she asked me how it looked, only half in jest I said to her, "The chandelier is perfect...for The Waldorf." I was trying to communicate that the chandelier was simply too big for the space. She got somewhat defensive and said since I wasn't involved before, it was unfair for me to be so critical, especially since the chandelier was special ordered and could not be returned.

By Steve Adubato, PhD

We communicate all the time. At work, home and in social situations. We send messages through the tone of our voice and the use of facial gestures. Consider George W. Bush's "smirk." Is it his intent to convey smugness or arrogance? He may not even know he's smirking, but he is communicating.

By Steve Adubato, PhD

I was working with a business executive recently doing a "mock" media interview. This was in preparation for a real media interview he was about to face. The executive's message was clear, and his content was solid. The problem was that as he spoke, his legs were tightly crossed and he was clutching his left shoe, apparently holding on for dear life. He then proceeded to wring his hands and crack his knuckles. Worst of all, his eyes were darting all over the room looking anyplace other than where they should be. Simply put, his non-verbal communication was a mess.

By Steve Adubato, PhD

Some of us in leadership and management positions have lost our temper at one time or another. We've said things we wished we hadn't and used a tone of voice that communicated the wrong message. There are people in organizations that are so aggressive with what they say that we see them as having a "problem."