"Much unhappiness has come into the world
because of things left unsaid." (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
When you communicate with another and it seems
to go wrong is there anything good that comes from it?
From the Emailbag:
"I feel like no one ever listens to me. Why
should I bother asking for what I want when I just will not get it
anyway?"
The answer is:
"You cannot get what you do not ask for. You
cannot get what you ask for unless you believe you will. Honest
communication is never wasted."
*
About Saying No:
If you say "No" and let others know what is
in your mind and heart that can only strengthen your relationships with
them. They will appreciate your honesty. Plus, if you offer them
suggestions about where else to go to get what they want, they most
likely will not hold that "No" against you.
*
Being Forthright:
If you answer others instead of avoiding them,
they are more rather than less likely to trust you. They will come to
respect you. Often, if you can express yourself with kindness and
gentleness, others will take even the most unpleasant news without
bursting into anger or without ignoring you.
*
Compassion Counts:
If you appeal to the understanding, the
charity, and the compassion of others, they will often surprise you
by being more understanding, charitable, and compassionate than you
would expect or believe. When you expect that others will hear you
with an open mind and heart, they are more likely to.
*
Dealing with Doubt:
If you share your thoughts with others you
value, they are more apt to sympathize with you than criticize you.
Sharing yourself more with others (especially with your family) can
only continue to improve your relationships at home and at work.
Expect they will listen to you instead of doubting if they can.
*
Expectations:
If you believe you will not get what you are
asking for, that in itself sets up negative energy which contributes
to the unwanted result. Many times others will mirror your own energy
back to you just as they will return your positive energy. Expect that
someone somewhere will hear/listen to you… and it will be so.
*
Focus:
Remember that you get from the universe what
you focus on with your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Unless you
communicate with a positive focus, you cannot get what you want. If
the same people just refuse to listen to you, then find others who
will receive your message and act on them as you would wish.
"The way we communicate with others and with
ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
(Anthony Robbins)
"To effectively communicate, we must realize
that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use
this understanding as a guide to our communication with others."
(Anthony Robbins)
Are you frustrated in your communications with
others? Could it be "Communication Rot"?
From the Emailbag:
"I think my communication is bad, is it?"
The answer is:
"Take the 'Communication Rot' Test and see for
yourself!"
*
You feel afraid to ask for what you really want:
Before you even ask the other person, you are
certain that you will be turned down, criticized, nit-picked, and
generally misunderstood no matter what you say or do.
*
You do not share your inmost thoughts:
You limit what you are willing to share with
other person from the start. You certainly will not share whatever
seems to make you look vulnerable, uncertain, or weak.
*
You feel criticized for whatever you do:
No matter what you say or do for the other
person, you are made to feel that what you do/say is never good
enough. Worse, you end up believing it can never be good enough.
*
You argue about things that do not matter:
You are certain that however nice, kind, or
polite you are to the other person, that they will pick a fight with
you… just for the sake of giving you a hard time.
*
You feel pessimistic or hopeless:
You cannot envision your communication having
a positive result however much energy or effort you put into it. You
are almost certain it will be a failure before you even start.
*
You feel talk is pointless:
Even after you have discussed issues, you are
certain that nothing significant will really change. At times,
communication actually seems to make matters worse rather than better.
*
You quarrel over topics not issues:
You focus on the small details (topics) and
lose sight of the big picture (issues). By discussing what does not
matter, you cannot resolve what does matter with the other person.
"Communication is a skill that you can learn.
If you're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve your
communication skill level. All it takes is time, practice, and
patience!" (Brian Tracy)
Do you fear speaking with strangers? If so,
knowing good conversational skills will ease your fears.
*
Show Genuine Interest:
This is the key. When you show by your
questions and by your demeanor that you are genuinely interested in
getting to know the person you are speaking with, you are 90% on your
way to better conversational skills. People just love to talk about
themselves. When you are open to listening to what they have to say,
you will find that conversation flows easily between you.
*
Give Genuine Compliments:
Praise is good only when it is sincere. If you
are forcing yourself to compliment someone, they are sure to know it is
false. To make compliments meaningful, praise a specific action. Say
why you are praising them. For example, "that was so nice of your to
carry that lady's bag of groceries for her because she is not feeling
well and your kindness really eased her burden today!"
*
Ask Good Questions:
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Questions
that start with these words elicit better answers than ones which
require Yes, No, or Fine. Asking questions which show that you know
that person and are sensitive to their concerns will quickly create
better conversations between you.
*
Match the Level:
When conversing with someone, match the level
of the intimacy in their speech. Some people like to keep things light
and on the surface, so keep it that way. Others like to be serious and
speak on meaningful topics, so you do the same. Still others like to
talk about their circle of friends, so join in. When you match the
level of conversation of others, this automatically increases their
comfort level with you and it makes the conversation flow between you.
*
Be Positive:
Conversations drag when people talk about
negative topics. For example, negative topics include "how all
relationships suck", "how everyone is poor", "how life is a struggle",
and so on. Good conversations should uplift and energize those
involved in them. The only way this happens is for everyone to be
positive and for there to be "give and take" between all the
participants because the essence of conversation is the exchange
of ideas between all present.
"If you have nothing to say, say nothing."
(Mark Twain)
"If you have nothing good to say about
someone else, then say nothing." (Anonymous)
If you want others to hear you, here are tips
that will make your communication so much more effective.
*
Be Polite:
Politeness puts others at their ease. When
others feel as if you are treating them with kindness, they will
automatically be more receptive to whatever you have to say… making
your communication more effective.
*
Be Direct:
While still displaying good manners, when
you can be short and to the point, you show others that you are
respectful of their time. This keeps their interest level high...
making your communication more effective.
*
Be Constructive:
Only when what you want out of the communication
is constructive and positive, can you get the result you want. Expect
that others want to help you and they will… making your communication
more effective.
*
Be Honest:
Use the word "I" because this lets others
know this is your point of view. There is a huge difference between
saying "You are ignoring me" (ineffective communication) and "I feel
like you are ignoring me" (effective communication).
*
Be Clear:
You are clear when you use simple language,
when you avoid jargon ("big, $10 words"), and when you use short
sentences… so a high school kid could understand you… making your
communication more effective.
*
Be Comprehensive:
If communicating in person, use facial
expressions and hand gestures to make your point. If communicating
over the phone, use different inflections and pauses to make your
speech interesting. If you are communicating in writing, use proper
punctuation. If you are using a computer to write, use graphics and
other visual aids because a "picture is worth 1,000 words." Taking
the time to be comprehensive makes your communication more effective.
*
Be Open:
To communicate, you have to really listen to
others. Actively listening and being open to changing what you want
to communicate based on the results of the conversation... makes your
communication more effective.
*
Be Patient:
Be prepared to repeat your key points. If
you are always ready to go back over key points or to slow down or
speed up the pace as needed for all the participants, you will
communicate much more efficiently.
*
Be Prepared:
The more you plan ahead by being ready for
all potential scenarios and reactions from others, the more you will
be able to direct the conversation to achieve your goals. The most
effective communications are those which result in "win-win" results
for the highest good of all concerned.
If you want to improve communications:
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