As multi-talents with fast paced thoughts, ideas and exuberance, it is challenging to communicate with peers, colleagues, friends and families. However, there is the real need to be able to communicate. What strategies can we use? Have we looked at the different point of views? Have we applied our abilities to facilitate the communication?
Communication is a factor of day to day living. How well we do it starts with how well we know ourselves. Do we acknowledge our emotions? Do we know our emotional quotient? The dynamic of sensitivity and introspection create responses that can benefit from being sorted through and understood. They are real for us – yet the responses are still a choice. The questions become what will facilitate our integration of the conversation and engagement in the conversation. What is our intent in the conversation – provide or gather information, increase understanding, exchange of levity, develop relationship, influence decisions…. If we are unsure or unclear or “hyper” (energy, sensitivity…), first we need to take a deep breath and clear our mind, slow our thought pace. Not easy by any means, but very beneficial. Having an awareness of our reference point in the moment makes a difference also – what are we bringing to the table that we need to be aware of?
Recognizing – observing the other parties in the conversation is helpful. It can provide us with information about the point of view they are coming from. All the questions we are asking to know ourselves better are those we need to have some awareness of what others are experiencing also. Points of view, culture, gender, life experiences are all factors in communication.
We have multiple intelligences. We also have deficits. Our talents may not be in interpersonal communication. However, our observation skills and solution creating skills can be applied in the arena of communication also. We may not know how to do some things, but we can apply out abilities and learn. By expanding this component of ourselves (or any component) we exponentially expand our abilities overall. Thus resulting contributions and creations are enhanced.
Humans are social beings. The degree of social interactions is dependent on need and choice. We can function independently in a great many things. Yet, realize also that interdependence is real and fulfills needs. As learning to learn develops mastery, facilitating communication develops who we are and can create.
Different methods of communication are tools for us to know ourselves and interact with others. Strategies, such as; looking at different points of view, using I language, asking for clarification versus assuming, breathing, setting guidelines for discussions are the means to facilitate communication to achieve greater understanding and “progress” for all involved in the conversations.
What are your experiences? What are your strategies? How can communication be improved?
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