Communicating Authentically

Many times, people believe communication is just about telling people your thoughts and saying what’s on your mind and then listening to the other person’s perspective. However, I was listening to a podcast, and I heard a different perspective that I’m using in my own life. Communication is also about translation. Did what you say and the way you meant it, reach the other person’s ears and translate in their minds, in exactly the way you intended? How many times have you something to a colleague or friend and they’ve heard something completely different than what you said? Have you texted something and it was taken in a different context? My first piece of advice is, don’t text anything that’s important and requires a conversation! Have the conversation! When you have the conversation, check for understanding on your part and theirs. A great technique to use is, after a person is done speaking, simply say, “So what I heard you say is” and then restate in your own words what you heard. You’ll be surprised at what a moment of clarity this can become!

One key to my development in communication, owning my need to give thought to my responses before sharing them and not being ashamed to tell a person, “I’ll need to get back to you in x amount of time. My first response isn’t always my best and I want to be as accurate or thorough as possible.” Don’t get me wrong, when the situation called for it, I had to make many on the spot decisions, but I was much more confident in those moments because I’d practiced being thorough and thoughtful in instances where I had more time. I was able to use those techniques of my thought process but speed them up to respond in the moment because it was needed and required.

No one else speaks the way you do, looks the way you do, grows the way you do! That’s authenticity. The point is, the most alluring and highest relatable quality of leadership is being able to communicate in a way that is authentically you!