Communication Psychology and HR – with Gerhard Ohrband

We often label people as "stingy," "irresponsible," or"negative." But what if those same qualities become strengths in theright context? Sometimes the first step toward resolving conflict isrecognizing the positive intention behind the other person's perspective. Thatdoesn't mean you have to agree—it means you're making dialogue possible.

Many organizations invest heavily insurveys, monitoring systems, and data collection. Yet the best informationoften emerges in places where no one is measuring anything. People share more when they feelrespected than when they feel watched. If you want better ideas, morehonest feedback, and deeper insights from employees, the answer may not be moresurveillance—but more trust, reciprocity, and psyc...

Many organizations say they valuecontinuous improvement. But do they create the conditions that make improvementpossible? The reality is simple: learningrequires experimentation, and experimentation inevitably involves mistakes. Whether in sports, music, or communication, progress happens when people areallowed to practice, reflect, and try again. Perhaps the biggest mistake istrying so hard to av...

Many companies encourage employees to take responsibility for their own development. That sounds reasonable—until a customer has a bad experience. Customers don't care whether an employee was given a reading list, access to online courses, or recommendations for self-improvement. They hold the company responsible. The uncomfortable truth is that communication, respect, cooperation, and custome...

In many organizations, knowledge is createdevery day—but far too often it stays locked inside individual employees’ headsinstead of becoming part of the company’s collective intelligence. This becomes especially costly infast-moving teams, where people change roles or leave after a couple of years. A new colleague in a sales position, for example, could benefit enormously fromthe practical experie...

Most people prepare forconversations by thinking about what they want to say. But conversations are not speeches. They are unpredictable, emotional, and psychologically complex. Often, we arenot only talking to the other person — we are also reacting to invisibleobservers, social expectations, fear of judgment, and our own innercontradictions. And that is exactly why peoplesometimes sound unconvin...

Improving communication is rarelyjust about learning a few techniques. It often challenges our identity, habits,emotional comfort zone, and even the expectations other people have about us. Sometimes growth feels wrongprecisely because it is real growth. #CommunicationSkills #Psychology#PersonalDevelopment #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #BehaviorChange#CommunicationTraining #SelfDevelopment

Many companies today speak about openness, participation, and employee voice. But what happens when employees actually challenge the status quo? In this episode, I explore the gap between HR branding and lived organizational reality — from onboarding processes that exist mostly on paper to cultures where speaking upward is still perceived as risky. Based on observations from Moldova and internatio...

Before any difficult conversation in HR or leadership, there is a step thatis often overlooked: clarifying your own internal position toward the otherperson. This is not a “soft skill” or optional preparation. It often determineswhether a conversation becomes clear and constructive—or confused andemotionally distorted. In most workplace relationships, perceptions are mixed. We rarely deal withpure...

Literature Keith, N., & Frese, M. (2008). Effectiveness of errormanagement training: A meta-analysis . Journal of AppliedPsychology, 93 (1), 59–69. Most people believe the besttraining is the one where you make the fewest mistakes. But what if the opposite is true? When you only practice the “perfect”response, you become rigid. When reality shifts—even slightly—you get stuck. The real world of...

For years, I consumed successstories, looking for patterns to replicate. It felt logical: learn from thosewho made it. But what if success stories don’t actually explain success? We often mistake correlation forcausation. People who succeed don’t always know why—and we fill in the gapswith appealing narratives. Lately, I’ve been shifting away fromself-help and toward testing ideas myself. Less imi...

Admittingmistakes sounds simple—until your environment punishes you for it. Many peopledon’t avoid responsibility because they lack integrity, but because they’velearned that honesty can be risky. The real question is not whether admittingfaults is good, but when it is safe—and how to create that safety yourself. #Communication #Leadership #Psychology #SelfAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence#Workplac...

When times get tough, communicationis no longer “nice to have”—it’s essential. Clear conversations, open feedback,and sharing ideas can prevent costly mistakes, keep teams aligned, and evenuncover opportunities when the pressure is on. Investing in soft skills paysoff exactly when you need it most. #CommunicationSkills #SoftSkills #Leadership #Teamwork #CrisisManagement#EmployeeEngagement #Busines...

Many people say they’re notinterested in politics. But often, that really means they’re not interested inwhat’s going on in the world. And if we disconnect from the realities peopleface—economic pressure, uncertainty, frustration—we risk disconnecting from ourcustomers too. Staying informed isn’t about picking sides. It’s about understanding people. And that understanding is what makes the differe...

At almost every seminar or speakingevent, someone asks me this question: How do we deal with toxic people atwork? My answer is probably lesscomfortable than expected. Before labeling someone as “toxic,” it’s worthasking a few difficult questions. Could the situation be more complex than itseems? Is the other person simply under pressure? Or could there be somethingin the interaction that we oursel...

Learning Perspective-Taking inConversation Here’s a small habit I try topractice: I regularly read or watch media from the side I usually disagreewith. Not because I want to adopt those views, but because it helps meunderstand how other people think. The same principle works in theworkplace. If you work in one department, try reading what people in anotherdepartment read. Learn their vocabulary, t...

Evernotice how much people reveal without saying it outright? The way someonespeaks, their tone, and what they leave unsaid can tell you a lot. Learning totune in with empathy rather than judgment changes how conversations unfold—andyour connections with others. #CommunicationSkills #Empathy #ActiveListening #SoftSkills #Leadership

Your voice shapes first impressionsmore than you might think. It’s not just what you say, but how your bodysupports your voice under pressure. Improving vocal impact is often less aboutpushing harder—and more about releasing tension where you don’t need it. #communication #voice #leadershippresence #publicspeaking #selfawareness#professionaldevelopment

We’re often told to act confidentfirst and let confidence follow. But in communication, people are far moreperceptive than we think. Subtle signals leak through, trust is fragile, andauthenticity matters more than performance. Maybe the real question isn’t howwell you can fake it—but how honestly you can grow into who you’re becoming. #communication #authenticity#leadership #trust #personaldevelop...

Why “No Complaints” Might Be the Worst Sign in Your Company

We are judged in every interaction —not for who we are “deep down,” but for the role we take on in that moment. Clarity about roles comes before authenticity and long before techniques. Without it, even good intentions can lead to poor outcomes. #communication #roles #leadership #perception #authenticity#personaldevelopment

Many people believe a communicationcoach must be a perfect communicator—or that coaching means being told exactlywhat to say. In reality, communication is messier, more human, and far moresituational. Drawing on a personal failure from my own professional practice, Iexplore why real progress in communication starts with feedback, courage, andaddressing what usually remains unsaid. #communication #...

In a world obsessedwith speed and technology, are we really getting better at listening,negotiating, and connecting? Explore why human skills—especiallycommunication—might be the real differentiator in today’s professional life,and why actively improving them is more important than ever. #CommunicationSkills #SoftSkills #HumanConnection #Empathy #ProfessionalGrowth#PodcastEpisode

It’s early January 2026. More than five years have passed since I publishedmy last book. In the meantime, the world of communication has changed — and not necessarilyfor the better. We live in an age of lifehacks, quick formulas, and promises like “say thisand you’ll get what you want.” At the same time, in my work with teams andleaders, I see something troubling: empathy is declining, rigidity is...

I know this may be controversial, and some people might feel uncomfortableor even angry hearing this. But it’s worth asking: what happens when hiring,leadership, or team decisions are influenced by zodiac signs, numbers, or“energetic profiles”? In an increasingly complex world, shortcuts feeltempting. But what does science actually say — and what are the hidden costs ofputting people into neat but...