I cannot think of one person who is an exceptional
communicator – but I think I know several people who are “good” at
communicating, but I also think we all can improve.
With that being said, I think my husband is a good communicator. He is direct and
to the point with me, our children, and anyone he meets. He does not “skate”
around topics or ideas – if you ask him his opinion, he gives it to you
straight up. I like this in a
communicator because there aren’t any games or guessing. I think this trait of honesty (sometimes
brutal) is effective because I find myself still asking him for advice,
opinions, or to just be a listener even though I know I may not like what he
has to say! I have many friends who also value his ability to be straight
forward.
I do feel like there are times when I could take a lesson
from my husband and be more direct. I will be honest ,I don’t like to hurt people’s
feelings – I would rather ease into something I think may be hard for
them. I also think in early childhood, there is a
way to feel out how parents will respond to something. By easing into a conversation
you can gauge whether or not they are ready to hear and handle some
honesty. Depending on the situation
would determine if I need to change my habits!
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed what you wrote for your blog this week. I completely agree with you when you described your husband and the way that he communicates. Sounds a lot like my husband. He is a straight-shooter and will tell you exactly what he thinks. He is very honest and that is what I love about him. It can be very intimidating to other people and there has been one person that I can think of that would not want to meet my husband because she would not want to hear what he had to say. Thank you for your thoughts and I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
Thank you for sharing this week! I think what you said about all of us having things to improve upon is so true! Recognizing that and understanding how to improve our effective communication skills is an essential element of being a professional, especially one in a leadership position.
ReplyDeleteDanielle,
ReplyDeleteI agree that speaking directly to people, like your husband, can be quite valuable, but I also think that your method of easing into difficult conversations can be just as valuable. You are absolutely correct in saying that sometimes you need to "feel out" a family when considering effective and appropriate conversations.
I appreciate your thoughts and look forward to learning more about you over the next weeks. Thank you for sharing!