www.1001TopWords.com |
Good Communication is Easy - Isn?t It?
My name is Steve Brummet and my business is to speak to businesses, teams, schools, churches, non profit organizations and just people about improving their communication skills. Most communication experts agree that good communication starts with understanding. If we develop skills that help us better understand people, wont we be able to become better teachers, coaches, parents, salespeople and business people? Doesn't it make sense that if we learn to be more effective in our communication everything around us will change for the better? I am asked all the time; "Can't I be a good communicator by just opening my mouth and saying the words? Won't most people understand what I'm trying to say?" I am going to answer that question by giving you a few examples of bad communication. I had a good night tradition for my kids when they were little. Every evening since before they could talk, I would say good night and tuck them into bed a certain way. "Alizabeth Kai Brummet. You are the most wonderful and amazing Alizabeth Kai Brummet in the whole wide world. God loves you . God made you and just the you are is special. Alizabeth Kai, God has a wonderful plan for your life. Goodnight, sweet dreams, I love you." All I wanted to do was let my children know that they were very special and very loved. Simple, sweet and impossible to misunderstand. Right? Well? One night I was telling Kai goodnight and when I got to the part about - "Alizabeth Kai, God has a wonderful plan for your life." She stopped me and asked; Daddy. When will God give me my special plant?" Special plant?!? One word, just one word changed much of my message to my daughter. When I think of examples of bad communication, I think of the newspaper advertisement that read; "For Sale - beautiful Braille bible. Must SEE to appreciate" They missed their target audience by one word. SEE. I have heard the radio ad for a miracle drug that promises to grow hair. The company is so proud of this product that they guarantee to double the amount of hair you have or your money back. They never once tell me exactly where this hair will grow? what if they double the hair in my ears? Not very convincing is it? My son gave me an example of miscommunication recently. At the end of a long road trip he yelled up from the back of the van; "TURN DOWN THE RADIO! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!" Surprised at his behavior, I turned back to him and said; "STEVEN KADE BRUMMET! You had better remember that you are talking to your DADDY!" Of course I expected him to humbly rethink his position and answer me differently. Instead he cocked his head to one side, looked me kind of funny and said; "DADDY! TURNDOWN THE RADIO! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP?" I missed it. I failed in my communication with my son. To improve your key relationships with clients, employees, children, students, spouses and more, you must improve your communication skills and understanding. But, good communication is easy. Isn't It?? Steve Brummet is a communication expert, writer and speaker who works with all types of organizations to increase understanding of communication styles. Better communication can help you and your organization reduce stress and increase productivity. For more information on one of our workshops, please feel free to call or write. http://www.communicationspeaker.comsteve@stevebrummet.com972-548-6048214-578-4172
|
RELATED ARTICLES
6 Practices for Achieving Excellent Self-Care Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) often feel like they are running behind schedule, and just don't have the time get everything done. As a result, many ADDers end up sacrificing their own self-care in order to scratch off items on their to-do lists. Those who skimp on self-care, however, will find themselves slowed down in the end. It's nearly impossible to be an effective parent, spouse, friend, or worker when you are not operating at your best. And you can't be at your best when you are not taking care of yourself! Executive Coaching Case Studies If you are wondering whether investment in executive coaching would promote your business growth, some case studies might help you in making a decision. Transform Your Office Into A Powerhouse Of Success Did you know that the area that you call your 'office' is a direct reflection of you? If your environment is clean and uncluttered it projects that the person who works there is calm and has everything under control. Consequently if it looks like the local rubbish tip then the impression others get is that this person is disorganised, and a complete mess. Be A Champion Communicator by Becoming a Chameleon Recently, I worked with a client who was having a problem with some of the women in her organization. The organization had just undergone major changes, which resulted in different reporting relationships for many of the women. The problem was that the women were having trouble effectively communicating with their new bosses. How Empathy Can Reduce Your Anger Jim, a 42-year old engineer was teaching his eight-year-old son how to fly a radio-controlled airplane. As the airplane was taking off, Jim instructed his son to push the control stick on the radio to the right. He did and the airplane turned to the right. What To Do? Lifes Big Question We've all experienced the same thing at important crossroads in our life when big changes were underway. Often, we find ourselves feeling panic and frozen in time, possibly with indecision, waiting and wondering: Which way to go?; How will things turn out? Sometimes, you just don't know what to do. Integrating Life and Work Organizations are finally creating cultures that support a work and life balance for their employees. After years of demanding high productivity and increasing on the job hours and expectations and not achieving the hoped-for better results, companies are finally embracing polices and procedures that support employees in integrating their life and work experience. The results are bringing higher productivity, better employee overall job performance, and fewer employee absences, resulting in greater profitability. The Right Coach Who is the Best Coach For Achieving Your Goals? Let?s Say You?re a Dog. Are You So Competitive You?d Eat a Carrot? Seems like a gal always learns something out on the farm! Yes, it's a farm tale and I'm going to change the names of the animals to protect the guilty! After July 8, Pay This Amount You undoubtedly go through this, too. A few times a month you gather up the bills coming due and write checks or pay them online. Addiction to Worry Carole started counseling with me because she was depressed. She had been ill with chronic fatigue syndrome for a long time and believed her depression was due to this. In the course of our work together, she became aware that her depression was actually coming from her negative thinking - Carole was a constant worrier. Many words out of her mouth centered around her concerns that something bad might happen. "What if I never get well?" "What if my husband gets sick?" "What if I run out of money?" (Carole and her husband ran a very successful business and there was no indication that it would not go on being successful). "What if my son gets into drugs?" "What if my kids don't get into good colleges?" "What if someone breaks into the house?" Grow Through It It's past bedtime for most working men. It's not unbearably late and I have no appointments tomorrow morning so I sit here and contemplate. Contemplate what? Well, what do I always contemplate? Life, the concept of God, the meaning of life, what's happening in society, and my next step in my own journey; there really is a lot to consider or, more aptly put, more that one can consider. I speak of being in the moment, staying present and not worrying. You are more effective in that place. Yet, there are times for reflection. Difficult Challenges? -- What If? Sometimes life can seem like one long series of unsolvable problems. I know there have been times when I would much rather find something else to do and quit whatever I was doing simply because it was too much trouble to continue. In fact, earlier in my life that is exactly what I did do. (And to tell the truth, I wouldn't change it even if I could!) Curbing the Public Nuisance (Part 1) He's been around since the dawn of humanity. His profession is even older than the world's oldest profession. He's been loathed and reviled by politicians, bureaucrats and hot dog vendors. Sometimes, It Just Takes ONE Conversation to Change Your Life! I was thinking this morning about the importance of the profession that I am in. Besides doing various trainings, workshops and consulting, I also coach people. Coaching is a profession that continues to develop but it originally came out of the self help industry. Many of the first coaches were publicists, consultants, sales professionals, and financial advisors. Much of what these people loved about what they did was helping people figure out how to achieve their best. Mind the Gap The underground train in London can get you anywhere when you know how to maneuver all the options. Like our subways, London under ground is a busy place. When your train arrives and comes to a stop, you move forward with the crowd, waiting for your turn to get on the train. A man's voice drones from overhead, warning you over and over: "Mind the gap. . . mind the gap." Bringing Forgiveness Down To Earth What does it mean to forgive? Some Business Coaches are in Error Many business coaches deny the power of suggestion while using it. For instance a corporate inner circle will be told that they have inner conflicts with ethical practice due to the stockholders coming first, the customers coming second and employees coming third. They will tell the corporate management team that often what must be done short term to appease shareholders may not be good long term for employee units or quality of products to the end user. Yet this is linear thinking for some one who plays at a higher level in western culture and corporate America. Our goals is win/win/win. And if you will read Jim Collins book "Built to Last" you will see my point here. Progress Reviews: Your Key To Effective Coaching One of the most effective ways to help your staff succeed is to provide regular, consistent coaching throughout the year. A Progress Review is a specific kind of coaching discussion, tied to the employee's Annual Objectives and Standards. It is an informal discussion in which the manager coaches the direct report to meet any unmet goals that are below target, and praises him or her for goals that are being met. Conducting progress reviews are a very important role for being an effective leader or coach. It is suggested that each of your direct reports receive a progress review discussion from you at least 2-3 times per year. 4 Underused Hot Spots for Your Personal Branding Iron I'll never forget what my mentor told me: "Don't communicate in any way to any person without the stamp of your personal brand." |
© Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |