Here is what a big but looks like… I would accomplish that BUT… I really want to BUT… I was going to BUT… Buts are another way of saying, “I have identified a barrier or roadblock on the pathway to achieving my goal and I don’t know how to overcome it or I don’t think I can overcome it.” Buts are a very interesting phenomenon. Left … [Read more...]
Whose Shoes Are You In?
Have you heard the expression, “Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes”? Well, it applies to communication as well. If you are committed to being an effective leader, then it is crucial to understand and appreciate the point of view of the people or person’s you are leading as well as your own. People tend to project their … [Read more...]
A Framework for Providing and Inspiring Leadership
What if Leadership is not a configuration of the “right” qualities but instead a perspective that one views the world through? There are numerous interpretations of what makes a good leader. In fact, there are just as many interpretations of the definition of good leadership. Don’t believe me? Just Google either term and see how many results you … [Read more...]
How to Create ONE Team When You Have Two “Camps”
“Camps,” otherwise known as cliques or divisions within an organization, can show up in many different ways such as “old timers” vs. new members, paid staff vs. volunteers, leadership vs. members, etc. Most organizations see this division as the problem. In actuality, it’s a symptom of a much bigger problem; the organization lacks a meaningful … [Read more...]
How many times do I have to tell them???
This is a good question. Our answer: As many times as it takes to produce the result you want produced. Communication is a very complex phenomenon. We rarely think about it that way. What’s more common is to think, I spoke, he/she/they heard. That’s it. Communication complete. That’s insufficient for effective communication. Consider we … [Read more...]
Insider Secrets to Preventing the Dreaded “Fizzle Out” Syndrome
What's the "Fizzle Out" Syndrome you ask? It's when a new person joins the organization and he or she is gung-ho, energetic and eager help out and then suddenly, without warning falls off the face of the Earth, never to be seen or heard from again. Usually the leaders of the organization are left scratching their heads trying to figure out what … [Read more...]
Do You Need a Communication Makeover?
Here are some indicators you need a communication makeover: You don’t have the results you want in your life. The majority of your communication focuses on the past, namely what went wrong and how it should be different. You play out entire conversations in your head that haven’t happened yet, i.e., I am going to say this and when he says … [Read more...]
