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(Quiet) Communication 101: reframing communication
Don’t forget the basics
Most people think communication is about what they want to say. They couldn’t be more wrong. Either they forgot the basics, or they were taught wrong in the first place. You see, the thing is most people make everything about them when they communicate. That leaves you trying to fit in with them, making it harder to understand, interpret, and take action on the information you receive. What if it was all about the listener?
Well, that’s exactly how it should be.
The most basic skill in communication is to make it about the other person. When you have something to say, you are trying to land a message. This is the case if its a conversation, writing, or a presentation. That doesn’t mean it is easy but it the principle that changes the game.
Next time you are communicating to land a message or ask for something, consider: how can you make it about the other person?
Actively Listen
Listening is an opportunity. It is also incredibly easy. Yet talking seems to be favored more than listening is. To listen is to be present. Understanding what someone is saying, digesting it, and then forming your response is active listening. Stop listening to respond. Listen to understand.
