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Wishing You 12 Months of Positive Communication

12/27/2022

Let's face it: The last year has been disruptive for many, and universal stressors may have taken tolls on your relationships. We cannot always change circumstances, but we can change our responses. Instead of navigating through important moments of communication on automatic pilot, reacting from emotion rather than intention, we can transform our relationships by being proactive with positive communication. As we approach 2023, consider making a resolution to practice 12 months of healthy communication.

As communication researchers and partners in work and marriage for decades, we’ve experienced both the joy and challenge of personal and business communication and have found some simple steps to resolve conflict and build trust in relationships:

Listen when your impulse is to argue.
Edit accusations that might make someone feel put down, and instead describe your feelings.
If you have a grievance, pinpoint details with specific examples and without loaded words.
Acknowledge your role in any problem.
Reach explicit, collaborative solutions that specify what each person will do differently in the future.

Confronting issues is never an easy matter, but avoidance can be hazardous not just to our relationships, but also to our personal well-being.

Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy, communicative 2023!

Do you have a New Year’s resolution that involves communication? To join the conversation, click "comments" located just below the photo for this article. We'd love to hear your feedback!

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Instead of Saying “I’m Sorry” At Work…

12/20/2022

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Some people use the phrase “I’m sorry” reflexively, even if they didn't really do anything wrong. In the workplace, this might make people think less of you, in addition to weakening the power of future heartfelt apologies. The habit itself may spring from insecurity, says Patrice Williams Lindo, CEO of the consulting firm Career Nomad.

According to Lindo there are many viable and effective options to over-apologizing at work, for example:

When You're Experiencing Technical Difficulties: Regardless of how tech-savvy you are, glitches happen, and they’re rarely your fault. Instead of apologizing for issues out of your control, try, “I appreciate your patience.”
If You Need to Join a Conversation: There’s no need to say “sorry” for adding your point of view. Instead of apologizing, use phrases like “I’d love to add,” or “Here’s a different perspective.” These phrases help you contribute without sounding timid about doing so.
If You’ve Made An Error: We all make mistakes. If you've done something incorrectly or inadvertently offended someone, saying “I’m sorry” wouldn’t be wrong, but there might be even better options. Consider, “Thank you for your feedback”, ” I take full responsibility” or ,“Thank you for bringing that to my attention…how can I improve?”

When was the last time you apologized at work, and how did you do it? Any insights you can share? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

Create lifetime communication mastery online, with our virtual programs, awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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Conversations in Divided Times

12/13/2022

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Sixty-two percent of Americans say they feel unsafe expressing their political opinions. When the right and the left are so polarized, it is tough to have a conversation that doesn't get overheated. But, according to Monica Guzman, who works in Communication at the nonprofit Braver Angels, and who authored the new book "I Never Thought of It That Way", says divergent viewpoints don't need to obliterate relationships.

Guzmán notes that we have sorted ourselves into silos where we rarely have to confront those with different ideologies, making it easier to dehumanize them. But, she contends, we can have manageable conversations across our self-assigned blocs if we replace certainty with curiosity.

Guzman proposes that we can all have INTUIT moments (“I Never Thought of It That Way”) if we:

See different opinions as invitations to learn instead of direct threats to our beliefs;
Give up the need to be right and focus on the need to stay connected;
Stop seeing people as representatives of groups we can dismiss and see them instead as individuals whose backgrounds inform their beliefs.

This may sound simple, but simple is not the same as easy, writes Lisa Selin Davis, discussing Guzman’s book in The New York Times. But with consistent effort and an open-minded attitude, we may be able to reclaim some lost relationships.

Have you had a recent conversation with someone on the other end of the political spectrum, and how did it go? Any insights you can share? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

Create lifetime communication mastery online, with our virtual programs, awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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Some Tough Truths About Leadership

12/6/2022

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Research shows that workers who quit are leaving managers, rather than companies. Managers can increase retention, and productivity, if they learn to lead people while managing the work. But along the way, writes INC. contributing editor Marcel Schwantes, all managers “must confront a few hard truths about how to effectively inspire and get the best out of their people.”

Among these truths:

Give employees purposeful work: Purpose-driven work allows team members to feel a greater connection to the work they're doing and provides a clear understanding of the motivation behind each business decision.
Reduce loneliness in the workplace: Leaders have a responsibility to ease loneliness and feelings of isolation in the hybrid work world. A good approach is to build community and promote a sense of belonging for all team members. When people feel connected in inclusive cultures, they are happier and more engaged.
Bring more humanity to the workforce: Share big company issues, be honest about what you're struggling with, ask for help when needed, and be transparent.
Show “actionable” love for employees: This means “love that shows up with intentional action in meeting the needs of others to get results, clearing obstacles from people's paths, and empowering others to succeed and grow.” Some ways leaders can demonstrate actionable love include fostering an environment where people feel free to speak up, understanding each team member’s unique gifts and challenges, and giving them the freedom to explore their passions and follow their curiosity.

Can you tell us about a leadership lesson you learned “the hard way?” To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

Create lifetime communication mastery online, with our virtual programs, awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.

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Wishing You 12 Months of Positive Communication

Instead of Saying “I’m Sorry” At Work…

Conversations in Divided Times

Some Tough Truths About Leadership

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