Written by: Denise Drinkwalter, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We have been communicating as humans, long before we could actually talk. Think of young babies and how they get their basic needs met. They cry, someone responds until the message is received. If it isn’t what they needed they will continue to cry and ta-da communication has begun.
Practice makes perfect ‒ doesn’t it? We have practiced communication our whole life, yet we continue to have difficulties in our relationships which centers around two primary foci. One being money, which I am not going to talk about here, the other BIG one is communication
Why do people misunderstand messages? What causes the stress, conflict, issues and concerns when we are communicating? There are a lot of little components that make up effective communication, some of which we are aware of, some of which we have never been subjected to or taught, and other components that we have forgotten about or rarely use.
So if you find that your messages are not being received, you find yourself feeling isolated or alone in a conversation, or conversations are one-sided and you are not being heard here are some actionable tips you can use to help change the conversation!
Tips to effective communication:
PURPOSE- know the purpose and goal of your conversation. Think about the ultimate goal of what you are trying to achieve by sharing your thinking and when you have this goal in mind, guide and ask questions that promote your end goal.
TIMING- knowing when to have a conversation and how to proceed is key to successful conversations. Just because it is important to you at the time, does not always mean it is top of mind for others. Giving time and space and ensuring that you have a focused audience for important matters to be discussed is critical for effective communication.
HOW- there are a variety of ways that one can communicate, including text, audio recordings, videos and face to face. If you are needing to experience an enriching conversation that has you visually assessing the impact of your message then use of video or face to face is important.
CHECK IN- checking in with yourself, your body responses, and your emotions is necessary to ensure that you are not being triggered by yourself or the situation. When in heightened emotional state you can readily lose sight of the purpose of the conversation and thereby increasing the chances of not being heard.
UNDERSTANDING- ensure that what you have said has actually been heard. This can be done by asking using this simple sentence: “What did you hear me say?”. This will allow you to back check and make sure that your information has been heard correctly. That is the part of the conversation you can control and ensure is accurate.
Try these strategies next time you have a conversation that requires listening, input and collaborative efforts. These techniques are important in any conversation you have no matter what the topic or with whom you are speaking.
Communication is a complex act, which “we” have been participating in for years and there is always room for improvement, so you can make your voice heard.
If you want to learn more about Communicating and developing stronger, healthier relationships contact Denise. Learn how you communicate and where she can help you strengthen your communication and build better relationships for YOU, by YOU, BECAUSE of YOU.
Denise Drinkwalter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Denise Drinkwalter is an Empowerment Life Coach fulfiling extraordinary work with women in their midlife years. She has an intuitive gift that affords her the ability to assist women in gaining clarity, perspective, and strength from within.
Denise’s specialty is supporting women experiencing the complexity, strain and stressors of the Empty Nester Syndrome. Denise’s expert guidance assists women to tap into aspects of themselves they have never explored. Women who work with Denise share that she has a unique gift, a genuine kindness, and the ability to help women release burdens, expectations and false beliefs that they have carried around for years. With her unique perspective and experiences she brilliantly institutes her powerful listening skills and intuitive gifts to hear, appreciate and connect with everyone she meets. She consistently employs her elite level coaching skills, leaving a trail of positivity, expansion and soul led growth with whomever she has the privilege to guide.
Denise has been featured on a variety of Podcasts sharing her expertise as a Certified Priestess Numerologist, a Parenting Coach for Empty Nesters, and maintains a full-time coaching role in the Clutter Boss Academy. Denise’s signature 8- week course Cut the Cord-Not the Ties is a complete game-changer for all Moms experiencing the Empty Nester Syndrome.
