You have a story. It belongs to you. It is powerful.
How are you helping people understand it?

Listening is a difficult skill to master.  A lot of people shouting, “look at me” and “listen to my story!” Unfortunately, they have difficulty respecting others’ stories.

If we want people to listen to our story, we can help by making sure we do our part.

When we communicate, we transmit, share, and express ideas or thoughts. Clear communication allows us to understand (or, at least, move toward understanding with) our fellow beings. We have so many ways we can exchange and share from the “old fashioned” face-to-face conversation, to another “old” practice of a phone call, to “more modern” texting, emailing, tweeting, or posting.  So many ways to avoid confusion and advance forward movement.

Ironically, it appears to be growing more difficult to share honest and timely communication.  In a previous post, I made the point that if you don’t create clear communication, then others get to create the story. They get to create your story. It might be wrong. But with limited or incomplete input from you, they will construct a story from what you give them—and don’t give them.

And without your information, their “creation” may be fake news.  And you may have had a hand in that creation—by not providing needed narrative.

In short:

• If you don’t respond to the email, they get to create the story.
• If you don’t answer the text, they get to create the story.
• If you post without background information, they get to create the story.
• If you ignore a request, they get to create the story.
• If you don’t follow through like you promised, they get to create the story.
• If you bully and push your agenda without listening to others, they get to create the story.
• If you [fill in the blank], they get to create the story.

You have a story. It belongs to you. It is powerful. When you speak, the people in front of you have an obligation to listen and respond appropriately and authentically.  And, you can help others understand that story. And that requires clear, honest, and timely communication on your part. They may not listen, but you are holding up your part of the agreement.

You get to create your story, if you desire. Or, perhaps, your limited communication provides the story you want.

In any event, you have choices to make about your level of communication.

Video Recommendation for the week.

Perhaps you have heard of ghosting.  Have you heard about ghosting in the workplace? As the person says at the end of this piece, “….remain professional and get back to people….”

Make it a great week and HTRB has needed.

My latest book, Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019), (print and e-book) is available on Amazon.  More information (including seven free podcast episodes that spotlight the seven core values highlighted in the book) at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

Check out my book Stories about Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island (2017). It has been adopted for teaching, learning, and coaching purposes.  I conducted (September 2019) a half-day workshop for a community college’s new faculty onboarding program using the scenarios in this book. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same.  The accompanying videos would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

My podcasts can be found at The Growth and Resilience Network®.

You will find more about what I do at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

©2019. Steve Piscitelli
The Growth and Resilience Network®