How often do you make mistakes at work? They can range from small ones with little consequence, such as wearing socks that do not match or forgetting a colleague’s name, to major blunders that can result in the loss of business, time, reputation, or even employment.

I’ve shared this quote with you before and am doing so again as it’s one of my favorites and it absolutely bears repeating!

I've personally found this exercise to be an invaluable tool. It has prevented me from making impulsive and regrettable communication choices when I've been in a reactive state.

My first taste of victimhood occurred when I approached Sarah, the Uber driver’s car, and she had kindly opened her trunk for our luggage.

“There must be some misunderstanding, there must be some kind of mistake… “ It's natural for us to create stories in our minds to make sense of what others say or how they behave. Unfortunately…

Group communication is challenging. Communicating effectively takes intention, planning and practice. A few tips…

Our internal dialogue drives the way we relate to others. Is your self-talk focused on joy, gratitude and love or stress, inadequacies and guilt? Sometimes it’s so automatic, you don’t even notice it.

Most people think they are better listeners than they are. We listen at about 25 percent efficiency. And, although most people agree that good listening is essential, very few seek to improve their listening skills.

It’s like an iceberg. The part above water is our communication. What we don’t see or share sometimes is what is underneath the water.

We've all heard the term “keep your options open,” but what if keeping our options open actually narrows our ability to get what we want? Being specific – I mean really specific, – increases our chances of getting what we want.

In doing so, here are some of the things I have learned:

1. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

2. Though you have transformed, never be ashamed of your story or who you used to be.

3. Your core values are who you already are. Own it.

4. Listening “for” is more than being open. It’s putting aside the need to “do” anything.

We like to think we are open to fresh thinking, but are we really? And what cost do we pay? Can we really listen to another, if what they think violates our own beliefs, especially when the judgments start piling up?

WE, not they, are accountable for what others take away from our communication.

Your lack of response, timeliness or enthusiasm signals to team members that urgency is not expected or required. Further, during this current time of uncertainty, they look to you to provide necessary structure to rely on.

The more we can all speak the same language, the better opportunity we have to accelerate the communication and results.

Clear and efficient communication begins with the speaker having a clear intention on what is to be said. 

I AM ASSOCIATING ENGAGEMENT WITH ELEVATING OURSELVES UP THE HUMAN LADDER, WHICH TAKES ENGAGING THE HEART.

Getting back to someone in a timely fashion is a matter of accountability and trust. Response time is critical in business.

So, why are top leaders in top organizations having trouble being heard?

You start with learning how to listen. The first step is to understand that we are typically listening to the conversation we are having in our head about what the other person is saying.