Kevin DeSoto believes that understanding the basics behind communication can change everything.
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Understanding Communication
The act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else.
Know When To Speak Up
Depending on how you were raised, speaking up is not a bad thing, in fact, if you do not voice your feelings, concerns, observations or desires how will you ever be heard or acknowledged? The key to solving problems is communicating the problem in a constructive manner. One reason it’s harder than ever is that we have so many ways in which to communicate.
Know Your Audience
Who are you trying to communicate with, your significant other, a teammate, co-worker, your boss, a teacher, or a friend? Everyone listed above has a different dynamic and the way in which we address them is not a one-size-fits-all style. Perception, confidence, kindness, patience and gentleness is often required in general when communicating concerns about problems to others.
“If there is any great secret of success in life, it lies in the ability to put yourself in the other persons place and to see things from his point of view.” ~Henry Ford
Listen
Two ears, one mouth. As the saying goes, we should be listening twice as much as we speak. Listening is a powerful way to help solve problems and is a vital communication tool that is often not used. How can we solve problems if we do not hear what others are saying about a particular problem?
“I like to listen. I have a learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” ~Ernest Hemingway
Be Willing To Change
Flexibility without compromising ethics or justice while willing to change when necessary is a huge balance. Sometimes, all that is required to solving a problem is putting yourself in the other persons shoes, and seeing things from someone else’s point of view.
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Photo: dhutchman / flickr