For doctors, half their game is trying to find out why the person is there. Do they want medication, tests, want to be signed off work, worried they have a more severe illness?

At an appointment, try to mention the most important thing at the beginning. Try to be d...

When you're a grownup, you will probably need to initiate conversations as your parents won't want to interfere with your independence. The best way to re-establish a relationship is to give them a regular update on everyday details of your life.

Parents who are getting ol...

• Children often cannot formulate their words to express what they're feeling. If you ask, "How was your day?" they may shrug because they don't know what part of their day you're interested in. Making your questions more specific can help: "What...

• If you're together in the same place, you have something in common. If we can be aware that others also feel uncomfortable, we can think about what we can do to make them feel comfortable with us.
• Ask people how they know the host or how they got ...

With dating, there is an assumption that you are on the back foot, and the other person holds all the power.

• Pay attention to what people talk about. If your date is sharing negative information, it could be a sign they're not ready for a relationship.