In conversations, prioritising active listening stands out as immensely valuable and I think that being mindful of how we listen is crucial. For example, while engaging in dialogue, there might be moments where what's communicated doesn't align. In such instances, a constructive approach involves acknowledging these discrepancies gently: 'Earlier, you mentioned this, but now you're saying something different.' The focus remains on active listening, enabling one to trace conversations over an extended period—observing the apparent disparities and contradictions without accusation. It's not about asserting moral superiority; instead, it's about assisting in framing the situation coherently, highlighting inconsistencies for a clearer understanding.
Change is going to come
This week has been rather turbulent, and made me realise that some people build bridges and some people pay a toll to use the bridge. There are more questions than answers and the more that I find out, the less I know.
- Why are we not taught how to build up a conversation?
- What would you say to this or that?
- How could you misinterpret this or that?
- How can I make this clearer?
- How will what I say make the receiver feel?
Before I attend a meeting I try to understand the following:
a) Who will be in the meeting?
b) What’s the objective?
c) What’s our meeting control plan?
d) What are we trying to achieve from this meeting?
Contact me via e-mail if you would like to discuss meeting structures. The purpose of why we are here today is…
The objective for me today is…
The takeaways that I would like you to leave with are…