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Communication tip: Strange as it may seem, people shut down when they know you will put down their ideas.

by Rick Baker
On Aug 28, 2014

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Try putting an end to receiving input then vetoing ideas and shutting people down.

Even better, try putting an end to asking for input then vetoing ideas and shutting people down...that one really burns people.

 

 

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Criticism: Constructive Criticism is an Oxymoron | Humour | Thought Tweets

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Communication tip: Stand down, Step up, Shut up & Listen.

by Rick Baker
On Aug 28, 2014

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Stand down - military folks say that when they want someone to relax or stop being aggressive.

Step up - regular folks say that when they want someone to get to a better place by doing something significant.

Listen - everyone says that more than they do it.

[Shut up needs no further explanation.]

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Thought Tweets

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When you criticize people you trigger their 'No' responses....and, at that point, constructive communication is over.

by Rick Baker
On Aug 28, 2014

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When 'No' thoughts are filling the brain there is little room for 'Yes" thoughts. In fact, chances are 'No' and 'Yes' thoughts will not want to occupy the brain at the same time. They would rather take turns. And, for most people the 'No' thoughts are much more sticky. When they find their way into people's brains they stick there until they run out of reasons to defend and bolster the ego.

While 'No' thoughts are sticking around the brain, working away to defend and bolster the ego there is little, if any, opportunity for constructive communication...particularly communication involving the person who triggers the 'No' response.

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Criticism: Constructive Criticism is an Oxymoron | Thought Tweets

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Communication tip: If you cannot be interested at least be interesting.

by Rick Baker
On Aug 28, 2014

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Seek first to be interested and to understand. If you cannot handle that maybe you can compensate by being entertaining...or, at least, interesting.

Stephen Covey - Seek First To Understand.

Perhaps people will warm up to you and remember you if you seek first to understand them?

That's consistent with Dale Carnegie's teaching.

If you cannot bring yourself to be truly interested in understanding other people then your opportunities for influencing them drop significantly. You may be able to squeeze in some opportunities by:

 

  • being interesting...attention-getting, magnetic...those sorts of things
  • being entertaining...like a motivational speaker or a magician or a clown act

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Thought Tweets

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