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How do you deal with difficult audience members? With positivity and respect.
Maintaining composure and positivity and demonstrating respect go a long way in handling every type of difficult audience situation. This post explores how to deal with different types.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
5 days ago6 min read
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Want an attentive and engaged audience? Be fully present.
This post shares an excerpt from Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide about audience management and the importance of being fully present.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
May 93 min read
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How do you answer hostile or controversial questions effectively? With calm confidence.
This post describes how to respond to hostile or controversial questions. A hostile question is characterized by the intent in which it is posed rather than the content of the question being asked. A controversial question is related to a topic that is surrounded by intense public disagreement. When questioners are hostile, our natural response will be to feel defensive. However, for the communicator to demonstrate hostility in any way will be counterproductive. Instead, be c

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
May 24 min read
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How do you answer difficult questions effectively? You upgrade them!
This post describes how to respond to a variety of difficult questions. It focuses on three common types of difficult questions and solutions for handling them well.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Apr 254 min read
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How do you answer “stupid” questions effectively? Don’t call them stupid!
This post describes how to respond to questions that are often labeled “stupid.” It shares an excerpt from Chapter 36, updated to reflect answering questions in person, virtually, and in writing, such as on social media or responding to comments online.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Apr 184 min read
16 views
0 comments


How do you answer questions effectively when you don’t know the answer?
This is the question everyone dreads. Nutrition communicators will never know the answer to every question, but they should know how to answer most questions related to the content within the presentation or article the communicator is being asked about. Preparing ahead of time and anticipating potential questions should eliminate the potential for having to say “I don’t know” very often. In this post, we will explore how to effectively respond to questions when we don’t know

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Apr 114 min read
14 views
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How can I be an effective communicator? With flexibility and teachability.
To be effective in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, an effective communicator needs to exhibit flexibility and teachability.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jan 243 min read
10 views
1 comment


How can I be an effective communicator? With genuine courtesy, grace, and respect.
This post is the second in a series examining the qualities and skills needed to be an effective communicator, including genuine courtesy.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jan 174 min read
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So many types of bias! How can I easily know which one is which?
This blog post will define the main categories of bias and describe some of the most common types.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Dec 6, 20244 min read
11 views
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Are you comfortable in controversial conversations? Create connections, not conflict.
This post encourages being more comfortable discussing controversial topics, not to avoid conflicts, but to build connections.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Oct 11, 20243 min read
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Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we practice these 5 principles.
CLEAR is an acronym standing for 5 principles of clear communication. This acronym was developed by Dr. Rene Roberts, MD, MS, FAAFP.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 14, 20242 min read
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Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we repeat and reinforce.
Messages are more effective when they are repeated and reinforced.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 7, 20242 min read
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Is your communication CLEAR? Yes. When we leverage visual aids.
Communicators benefit from using visual aids because information is conveyed more efficiently and effectively than with words alone. Visual

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
May 17, 20243 min read
15 views
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5 Tips for Using Behavior Change Theories
This post summarizes the main points from our series on using behavior change theories with 5 brief tips.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Apr 26, 20243 min read
19 views
0 comments


National Nutrition Month® 2024 promotes farm-to-fork nutrition.
National Nutrition Month® is a campaign of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, held each year in March, when “everyone is invited to...

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Mar 8, 20242 min read
433 views
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Want effective audience engagement without technology? Try mini whiteboards.
Audience engagement is essential for effective communication, especially in presentations. As described in Chapter 20 of Communicating...

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Dec 8, 20232 min read
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Save the day by remembering 3 Ps: Plan. Prepare. Prevent.
How often are you in charge of an event? Often? Sometimes? Or rarely? Your answer may be related to your history of successful execution....

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Dec 1, 20232 min read
11 views
0 comments


When experts don't know the answer how does an authority respond?
“Why don’t nutrition experts ever agree?” “Why do nutrition experts keep changing their minds?” Do you hear those complaints? I do. I can...

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Oct 27, 20233 min read
27 views
0 comments


Need funding? Follow these 5 tips to succeed at grant writing.
How do you fund your projects, research, operating budget, and more? If you answered grants, you are familiar with the stress of seeking...

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Oct 6, 20234 min read
29 views
0 comments


What creates effective communication? Be professional… always.
What creates effective communication? This series of posts shares 8 key principles. Here are the first seven: Communication is relational...

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Aug 25, 20233 min read
49 views
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