As I keep repeating, communication is often all we have to make change happen. It is also the first skill we abandon when we hit a bump. Learning to communicate in a conscious, centered and timely manner is an essential skill to develop as a leader in the 21st century.
It is hard work. Personally, I have to re-commit myself every month –actually every minute- to work on my counter-productive communication tendencies. They are numerous. Therefore, once again, in January 2017, I re-commit to my seven bullet points:
- Engage in substantial conversations (instead of rationalizing why I need to avoid them)
- Take the risk of expressing what I have to say even if it sounds messy, wrong or even pathetic.
- Pause and listen. Switch to receiving mode.
- Take in whatever the other person has to say even if it sounds messy, wrong or even pathetic.
- Breathe and resist fighting back, contradicting, defending or shutting down.
- Refuse the noise telling me that I’m at an impasse (“Here we go again”, “It goes nowhere”, “There is no light at the end of the tunnel”).
- Stay in the tunnel and stick to the difficulty until it becomes light.
There will never be too much of conscious, centered and timely communication on earth. In 2017, let’s continue the work, but do even better!
Reflections: What are your intentions for 2017? How would you like to improve your communication?
PS: I had a technical issue with my blog yesterday. You probably received a draft of my wishes – sorry for the confusion!
Carole – Happy New Year to you and your family! This blog is timely for me. If you don’t mind, I will copy your re-commitment for myself. I intend to print it out and place it on my desk for daily review. Here’s to a year of improving my communication skills!
Please, copy and share! Happy New Year!
Hi Carole, this strikes a chord with me, too. I am also printing it out to keep handy.
Have a happy and communicative New Year!
Happy New Year; Robin! Great to hear that you we are on the same journey!