72: How to Talk to People on Their Birthdays, with Bonni Stachowiak

Bonni Stachowiak: Teaching in Higher Ed

Bonni is the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, Dean of Teaching and Learning and Professor of Business and Management at Vanguard University, and my life partner. Prior to her academic career, she was a human resources consultant and executive officer for a publicly traded company. Bonni is the author of The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide*.

Where people go wrong on birthdays and other important occasions:

• Many of have defaulted to no more than “HBD” on Facebook or other social media
• Some people even send birthday cards and just sign their names (gasp!)
• We’ve lost the personal touch
• I ever get robocalls now on my birthday

How you can be better

• Have something to remind you (but not automated to send to the other party)
• Avoid the obligatory stuff you do because you feel like you have to
• Focus on the people who are close to you first and spend more time engaging with them on special days
• Instead of a “happy birthday,” how about sharing why you are grateful that that person showed up in your life
• I record a brief audio greeting for special people in my life to share why I’m grateful for them
• Whatever you do, make the personal connection…and do it sincerely

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