Communication for Dummies Part 1: Speak So People Will Listen

#93: Communication for Dummies Part 1: Speak So People Will Listen

Did you ever play that game where you replace the lyrics to a popular song so that they still sound similar, fit into the tune, even rhyme…but completely change the meaning, tone, and spirit of it all? In other words, have you ever gone Weird Al?

Maybe you fell in love with a song and sang it all of the time only to be embarrassed and disoriented to learn that the lyrics that moved you to your very core were not the ones recorded…or even heard by anyone else but you.

How many times have you been in a heated discussion where the other person was reacting to words that never left your mouth? And trying to explain yourself only made it worse.

The point is that communication is precariously fragile at best. We often hear what we want to hear. What’s even more curious is that we sometimes hear what we expect to hear, despite what’s actually being said. And when you’re the one doing the talking, this can prove to be baffling and frustrating. It can create rifts, build walls, cause unbearable tension and resentment. You may even want to throw in the towel and walk away.

How awesome would it be to instead be able to successfully transmit your thoughts from your brain to your mouth to the ears of the people you talk to, to truly be listened to?

That’s where I come in. In this episode, I will help you identify the key reasons why what you say may not be heard the way you mean it to be. Then I’ll teach you three simple techniques to use anytime you want to ensure that people really listen to what you have to say.

So go ahead, listen to this week’s podcast…and excuse me while I kiss this guy because we built this city on sausage rolls!

 

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