Here is the PDF for today’s workshop for attendees and those who couldn’t join us. The 3 Ps to Communication.pdf
The 3 P’s of Effective Communication
Communication is the key to human relationships and the primary means to our interconnectedness. Conversations are the most ancient, most common and most used forms of communication. To master conversation is to connect with others in a more fuller and complete sense. This mastery brings success in both business and your personal life. Its the difficult conversations that we struggle most with.
To help in dealing with difficult conversations, whether its reprimanding someone, confronting them on a touchy subject or a relationship issue on the personal side these tips will help take you take a ZenCEO approach and make you a more effective communicator.
Be Prepared
• Centered
• Reverse Roles, consider gender, culture, narrative
• Play out the conversation
• Imagine the desired outcome
• Do not judge (beware of emotions) or oversimplify
• Remember the 3 parts of a conversation, What Happened, Feeling and Identity.
• Take the observer 3rd person stance
• Seek trusted advisor but make sure to update them after
Be Present
• Eliminate Distraction, Internal and External
• Watch your breathing
• Watch your body
• Be mindful of emotion it will creep out if not addressed
• Listen and repeat what they say
• Make sure they are listening and confirm that they understood you
• Remember Facts, intention and feeling
• Pay attention to body language (Dr. Paul Ekman )
Be Patience and Persistent
• Read between the lines, sometimes we don’t say what we mean – because of emotion and ego
• Make sure that your objective is met while being considerate of the other person.
• Redirect attacks, do not retaliate
• Show compassion, the other person may not be as well prepared
• Think long term, if what you have to say may cause temporary pain. Remember pain can lead to understanding.
• Know when to use awkward silence
• Take third person stance or use a mediator if needed
• Its okay to agree to disagree
• Know when to walk away
Fourth P….. PRACTICE! Avoiding difficult conversations will only make them that much harder.
Additional Resources
• Body Language training
• “Difficult Conversations” Book Amazon link
• Failure to Communicate, Men and Women
• Difficult Conversations First workshop
