DISCUSSION
Human beings are assumption machines. We assume not just about others, but about ourselves and our roles.
Assumption gets in the way of effective communication
It’s not about the nail
The key to good communication is not in what you say, but in listening.
Most of us listen to answer, react, solve, defend
The purpose of listening is to hear - what the other person is saying, how they are saying it, what they are not saying, etc.
The moment we start thinking about our answer, we stop listening
Tip: notice when you stop listening to the other person. Name what you are doing (answering, solving, helping, defending yourself or others). Choose to begin listening again. Ask the other person to recap what they just said.
Application in the workplace
Instead of harden into resistance and assumptions, soften into curiosity
In high stress, high impact situations (such as medicine), use Urgency, Transparency, and Empathy to communicate effectively with others.
TOOLS/RESOURCES
https://hbr.org/2017/02/poor-communication-is-often-a-symptom-of-a-different-problem
https://hbr.org/2012/06/leadership-is-a-conversation
https://hbr.org/2020/07/5-tips-for-communicating-with-employees-during-a-crisis
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