Communication Skills Glossary

noun a movement of the head up and down, especially as a sign of agreement or acknowledgment

verb to move one's head up and down as a sign of agreement or acknowledgment

• She gave a nod of approval after reviewing the proposal.
• I nodded in agreement with what he was saying.
• The teacher nodded off during the boring lecture.
• The decision to move forward with the project received a nod from the board members.

verb to make someone less angry or hostile by giving in to their demands

• The company tried to placate the angry customers by offering them a full refund.
• I tried to placate my upset friend by buying them their favorite snack.
• She tried to placate her parents by promising to clean her room, but they didn't buy it.
• The politician's attempt to placate the opposing party only served to escalate tensions further.

noun a behavior or way of acting that is considered polite and proper in social situations

• She displayed impeccable social grace at the charity gala, effortlessly mingling with guests and making everyone feel welcome.
• Even though he's a bit shy, he always manages to maintain his social grace during social gatherings.
• She's got mad social grace skills - she can charm anyone she meets!
• In the world of business, having social grace can be just as important as having technical skills.