Communication is a skill - that can be truly perfected with practice.
Why is it important to be able to communicate effectively and how can we improve our communication? What steps can you take to master the art of what makes us human and effectively functional in society.
It helps you connect with others and share ideas. Effective communication clarifies information, reducing wasted time. Helps builds relationships, teamwork, and trust. It helps to develop you and others around and this process is not unique to human beings. Animals–as well as plants–have their own way of communicating with members of their own species, and it is this medium of sharing information and knowledge that allows most species to thrive and survive in the environment. So , how can you thrive and survive even better by improving your communication or even widening your styles.
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Here are 3 resources to help you work on your communication – that continue to support my development, especially as the environments that I navigate and teams I am leading become more and more bigger and expose me even more.
- Is a book
- Is a Masterclass session
- Is a podcast
One of the most amazing things is to discover who you are , how you show up as in different context with various people or groups. A book that allows you frame for yourself how you show up is part of the HBR series – communication. Its a book with 2 volumes and even more branching books around it – available as an audio book which is how I manage to go through it. With insights from leading experts, Vol 1 gives you insights into the art of communication and what it is really, it brings more understanding of the playing field of communication. Vol 2 book makes you rethink how you use your communication styles – it will inspire you to: rethink how you give feedback ; ask questions to encourage learning and the exchange of ideas; invest in the right communication tools for team or business; establish a language strategy and negotiate effectively with anyone and present information more powerfully.
“Are you a fleer or a fighter”. is one phrase and lesson that can totally change the way you communicate by helping you understand your style when in crisis.
Ester Perel has an amazing masterclass, which I did and can highly recommend. “Whether it’s with your partner or project manager, you’ll learn how rethinking the basic principles of intimacy, communication, and trust can improve the quality of your life in the bedroom, boardroom, and beyond,” according to Masterclass’ description of what you’ll get out of the course.
We rely on language to convey our feelings, needs, knowledge and so much more. Through effective storytelling, we can explore and learn more and podcasts can help us to do that.
“The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives – both at home and at work.” – Ester Perel.
How is work is one of Ester Perels podcast which is helpful to see how to navigate sticky situations. This is one to add to your resource list as well. Now I know I said one podcast , however would like to share two more.
Most people dream of going to an Ivy League to study, however today – resources are available for free and are the exact same content as you would get if you would sit at an Ivy, The second podcast is by a Stanford professor who teaches the strategy of communication -the podcast being think fast, talk smart. One interesting thought whilst listening to the episodes was – how I found it striking that, when it comes to discussion of cross- cultural behaviours – I discover more gaps when it comes to the representation of cultures of so called “non first world countries.” I feel there is so much more work to be done to share the stories of the world beyond the dominant countries cultures narrative of other peoples behaviours and cultural contexts. That said – if you are reading this, your story matters and better communication styles allow you to convey stories more powerfully – so hope you enjoy and are powered up by the resources to drive better communication.
So, secret is out of the bag – here is a third bonus. Honestly Brene Brown has many resources to teach on effective communication and her podcast Dare to Lead is one to add if you haven’t listened to it – there is also Unlocking Us which is centred around conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are, so that we can live, love, parent, and lead with more courage and heart.
I hope you enjoy the resources as much as I did.
What do you think?