High-powered Communication 1.1
(Monday)
Context:
One of the greatest factors to your future success is how well you build and maintain relationships. In order to build and maintain relationships you’ll need durable qualities like empathy, emotional intelligence, and curiosity. But above all, you’ll need to develop the durable skills of being an effective communicator.
The problem is that most of us believe we’re good communicators simply because we talk to people every day. But communicating effectively is more than just talking. Becoming a high-powered communicator means being aware of how your words can impact others and yourself.
What it is: Effective communication in the workplace, means being able to establish a rapport, persuade, convey ideas clearly, and direct the reactions and behaviors of others with the words you choose to say, and the manner in which you choose to say them.
On a personal level, communication enables us to form relationships by sharing our experiences and needs, which builds connections with others. It allows us to express our emotions, transmit information, and exchange ideas. Therefore, effective communication is indispensable for everyone.
Why it’s important: Effective communication is crucial in the workplace. Used to encourage, commend and motivate, it can enhance employee morale, engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction.
When individuals are all high-level communicators, it plays a vital role in promoting teamwork, collaboration, and cooperation within a team.
Do not underestimate the value of being an effective communicator. Communication will enhance your performance in every aspect of your life, including school or the workplace, and lead to a successful future.
Primer Questions
Do you think you’re a good communicator? Why or why not?
If you asked your family or friends if they think you’re a good communicator, what would they say? Try asking them.
What do you use your communication skills to accomplish on a day-to-day basis?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal.
How, what and why.
Just think for a moment about how and why you communicate every day. You likely ask and answer simple questions, and share stories and ideas with classmates, friends and family .
But have you ever thought about how often you use communication to encourage or compliment others? Or to resolve conflicts and disagreements? How often do you use communication to persuade or negotiate in your daily life?
There’s much more to being a good communicator than being able to carry on a conversation.
States of Communication
High-powered communicators communicate with purpose. They communicate with intention.
Great communicators are aware of the desired reaction or response they want their listeners to have.
In MindSage, we utilize the States of Communication to help us recognize the mental and emotional state from which we are speaking, as well as how our message is being received by our listeners.
Watch the video.
Be aware of how you listen.
To genuinely listen to others, it is essential to understand how we listen. By becoming aware of how we listen, we can improve our ability to understand the other person's perspective.
When someone starts speaking, what thoughts or inner conversation do we experience? Do you immediately dismiss their viewpoint and assume they’re wrong? Do you focus on making them understand your perspective? Are you quick to label their reasoning as illogical?
Start paying attention to whether you're genuinely trying to understand the other person's point of view and what they're trying to say, or if you're mostly focused on coming up with your own response and thinking about what you'll say next.
Keep in mind:
In schools, students are not required to regularly engage in planning, collaboration, negotiation, or utilize their communication skills to establish a cohesive team, which will be required of them in the workplace.
So take the time now to be aware of the states of communication in your day-to-day interactions. Learn to recognize different states of communication in yourself and others. Doing so will help you become a highly valued and skilled communicator when you enter the workforce.
Metacognitive Goals
This week we want you to notice and become very aware of the state of communication in all of your interactions. When conversing with a family member, teacher, classmate, or your friends, first notice your default state of communication. Is it the same for all groups?
Then, try to note the default states of the person you are talking with. You may find that your mother’s default state when talking to you is appreciation, whereas your sibling’s default state is irritation.
Finally, try to move a friend or family member from one state to another. It’s probably easy to irritate someone and move them from the default of tolerance to irritation. So try to move someone to a positive state of acceptance, appreciation, and engagement.
Write your findings in your MindSage journal, or discuss them with your class or friends.
Thought of the day.
“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
END MONDAY’S LESSON
Dig deeper:
Communication Skills Transferring information to produce a greater understanding