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Are digital devices controlling your life? Is it time for a digital detox?
Technology – including smartphones, tablets, computers, and other types of screens – has many benefits. It can be used for learning, entertainment, communication, and more. But it comes with potential drawbacks.
Did you know that many features of digital devices are designed to enhance dopamine release in the brain? Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that connects pleasure to behavior, motivating you to repeat actions that you find enjoyable or beneficial.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Aug 29, 20253 min read


Writing struggles getting you down? Try a little writing humor for relief.
Writing is hard work, and the struggle to produce quality content within your word count and before the deadline is real! When writing struggles get you down, look to some good old writing humor, not only to laugh but possibly even to remind you of some essential writing skills. Here is some of my favorite writing humor… Enjoy!

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Aug 22, 20253 min read


Can Artificial Intelligence Support Human Skill in Nutrition Communication?
The second edition of Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide will feature something prominently that is completely absent from the first edition? What is it? It’s AI, or Artificial Intelligence. Our goal is to highlight the benefits of AI as well as the potential dangers. We will provide useful suggestions for using it responsibly and ethically.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Aug 15, 20253 min read


Is a needs assessment worth the effort? Yes! It is essential to success.
For communication to be successful, it must be audience-focused. For communication to be audience-focused, it requires a needs assessment.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Aug 8, 20253 min read


How to Know if Your Message Will Succeed Before You Send It
Employ the Message Evaluation Checklist to ensure success.
Checklists prompt us to look at both obvious and less obvious characteristics. This checklist from Chapter 10 is indispensable for creating audience-focused messages.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Aug 1, 20252 min read


Why Most People Fail at Communication and How You Can Succeed
Most people fail at communication because they fail to hit the target. Many people fail to even have a target. The target is the specific audience for a message. Creating audience-focused communication is the key to success.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jul 25, 20253 min read


Why Strong Audience Connections Matter Now More Than Ever
For an audience to attend to, engage with, and act upon a message, they must trust the communicator. Strong audience connections build and strengthen trust. When communicating about science, those audience connections matter. Now more than ever.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jul 18, 20253 min read


What is a proven method for successful content creation? This 10-Step Strategy.
Designing and delivering messages that successfully reach audiences and have the desired impact follows a proven strategy. This strategy has three primary focus areas and includes 10 steps.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jul 11, 20252 min read


What interests you most? My Top 5 Blog Posts Tell the Story.
In honor of our nation’s birthday, I decided to reshare my top blog post, published in 2020 and titled:
Communication Can Unite Us.
Searching through my posts, I was curious which of my other posts were most popular. Find out what they were.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jul 4, 20253 min read


How does success as a communicator depend on being compelling?
A compelling communicator is genuine and authentic, demonstrating perspective and empathy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 27, 20253 min read


How do successful communicators build unshakeable trust and credibility?
What is an essential quality of a successful communicator? Without credibility, a message or a communicator will not be trusted. Professionalism and integrity build credibility. Communicators who exhibit these qualities will be highly respected and will have greater influence and impact.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 20, 20253 min read


Why is effective communication essential for excellence in nutrition practice?
Effective communication is essential for excellence in nutrition practice because everything nutrition professionals do involves communication.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 13, 20253 min read


What Every Nutrition Professional Needs to Know About Effective Communication
As nutrition professionals, we communicate information, thoughts, or ideas related to food and nutrition. Therefore, we must define what nutrition communication means. The goals for nutrition communication may seem to be the same as the overall goals for nutrition practice. This is because nutrition cannot be practiced effectively without communication. Communication is the essence of nutrition practice.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
Jun 6, 20254 min read


Master Virtual Meeting Moderation: 8 Proven Techniques for Success
The role of moderator in a virtual setting includes many distinct responsibilities. This post describes these and covers 8 strategies for moderating in a virtual setting.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
May 30, 20253 min read


Why Smart Leaders Choose Team Book Writing (And How to Do It Right)
Working as a team to write a book has many advantages over writing alone including expertise, shared workload, professional connections, and improved marketing.

Barbara J. Mayfield, MS, RDN, LD, FAND
May 23, 20253 min read


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
May 16, 20256 min read


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 9, 20253 min read


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 2, 20254 min read


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 25, 20254 min read


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 18, 20254 min read
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