The young woman's guide to the language of success
In 2011, David Brooks, in his New York Times column, asked that 70+ aged readers write their own life report cards. Some months later, I wrote my own as a possible first step toward an autobiography. Now, having turned 80, I’ve updated my report card …
Adapted from Chapter 1 of How to Say It for Women “Why don’t more of us recognize the connection between language and power?” ~Julia Penelope Five Ways “I” Statements Drain Your Power 1. They blame you when it’s someone else’s problem I have a problem with …
Do you find yourself beginning sentences with phrases such as “I was just wondering,” “I’d like to know,” or “I was hoping“? Weak phrases like these make you look slow and hesitant. Whether it’s in a meeting, an interview, or a conversation with a colleague, you …
Adapted from Chapter 10 of How to Say It for Women Whether online or in print, reading speeds your path to smarts. This section shows you how to master speed and deep reading, developing the skills that count. Based on several decades of research and experience …
Want to make a good impression on that new friend, client, professor, or colleague? To kick off a good conversation, these four words always work: “Tell me about yourself.” They make you look confident and smart, while encouraging the other person to steer the conversation. Conversations starting this …
A contentious problem was dropped in the lap of the new group manager. The issue not only wasn’t resolved but the team had been arguing angrily for weeks. So the next meeting, she started by asking everyone to stop talking about themselves or each other …
This simple rule changes your attitude and your life: never start a sentence with “I” unless talking about yourself. Use “I” sparingly, only for the few times you mean to talk about yourself. “I” statements drain your power by: Making you look childlike and immature Think about …
In a 1982 article for the Roeper Review, a gifted education journal, Dr. Mindell explores the practical problems of an unusually talented craftsman who is both dyslexic and epileptic, and whose school history is reviewed and evaluated. Click here to download “The gifted dyslexic: A …
Over the years I’ve worked with talented women from all fields. Lawyers, doctors, office managers, engineers, you name it. But one thing that even the smartest and most hard-working women have in common, is that they don’t know how to say “No.” Lacking the skills of resistance …
Dr. Mindell devoted her entire professional career to language, helping students, executives and people from all fields bolster their writing, reading and communications skills. Here, you can find some of her essays and past works. Poetry for Literacy (Part I) The first of a series of essays about the teaching …