The ABCs of Communication

Communication is vital in every area of life. Sadly, many people are adversely affected by their lack of communication skills or their perception that communication isn't really that important. Nothing frustrates others more than a lack of communication. So, if we're going to live our whys, we must learn (and use) some basics of great communication.

AVAILABILITY: Because communication is two-way, it doesn't happen if you make yourself unavailable. You don't have to keep the door open and welcome in every person who strolls by, but you do need to set aside time to communicate with the people who are most critical in your work and life. You can tell people they are valuable to you, but your availability to those people will confirm or deny that statement.

BELIEVABILITY: Telling people what they want to hear undermines your credibility. Do that long enough and people will simply dismiss a lot of what you say. Great communicators cultivate an atmosphere of honest interactions. This is vital in the pursuit of your why because your why is based on total personal honesty. Regardless of your position in your sphere of influence, saying "I don't know" is preferable to making up responses.

CLARITY: Sometimes truth is veiled in rambling ambiguity that allows the communicator to believe he or she has communicated but leaves the hearers questioning the point being made. I have spent a lot of time in higher education. That's an environment in which complicating simple statements is an art. There are other venues in which intentional vagueness often is used to keep hearers under control. If they can't understand it, they can't object to it!

As you consider how to live your why, you'll discover that communication is critical. It's easy to adopt some of the popular communication tricks used in our society today. However, living your why demands that you use fewer words to speak more clearly. Think about it.

How can you use the ABCs of Communication in your life today?

Read more from Terry Hadaway at www.liveyourwhy.net or follow him @liveyourwhynet.