By Tasha M. Troy Several years ago while I was living in South Korea, I met my parents in Hawaii for a short vacation. Since I was scheduled to arrive considerably earlier than my family coming from the mainland, my father suggested I pick up the rental car and check out Honolulu, which I thought
By Tasha M. Troy I have a friend with an undergraduate degree in music. I heard him once say that he was only a mediocre flutist but that he was able to outperform many of his classmates. The secret? He had to work hard just to keep up, but those with more natural talent chose
By Tasha M. Troy Since I was a child, I have pursued “cultural intelligence.” No, I didn’t call it that at the time, but that is when I began developing an appreciation and affection for cultural and linguistic differences. Later, as a communication skills instructor, I came to recognize and appreciate measures of individual difference,
By Tasha M. Troy Not long ago, I sat down with a friend for lunch. As we were catching up, I began to feel like I was being interrogated rather than participating in a conversation. I’m not saying my friend was intrusively firing questions at me; she was friendly and cheerful as she asked me
By Tasha M. Troy As a professional development trainer, I am often in the position of trying to convince a student or client to buy in to the goals of the course or of a particular activity. A few years ago, I experienced a particularly stubborn student who was determined to do assignments his own
By Tasha M. Troy Have you ever worked with someone who just rubbed you the wrong way? I am one who prides herself on her ability to get along with just about anyone, but I once had a coworker who simply got under my skin almost every time we interacted. This became a source of
By Tasha M. Troy As I walked into the room, the three or four conversations subsided, and ten pairs of eyes turned to me expectantly. It was the first day in an intensive six-month language and communication training program. The individuals in the room spoke nine different languages and came from five different regions of
By Tasha M. Troy In 2004, I began a new phase of my teaching career by joining the teaching staff at a multinational corporation based in South Korea. Our students were mid-level managers and mid-career professionals, and I quickly learned a new set of classroom management strategies that incorporated respect for their positions and experience
By Tasha M. Troy A few years ago, while teaching in a professional development program, I had great difficulty in managing my class. There were two students in particular who were very resistant to my instruction and feedback, and I found myself growing more and more frustrated working with them. Finally, at one point, through
By Tasha M. Troy “The need for purpose is one the defining characteristics of human beings. Human beings crave purpose, and suffer serious psychological difficulties when we don’t have it. Purpose is a fundamental component of a fulfilling life.” – Dr. Steve Taylor I was very fortunate to be raised in a family that encouraged