Category Archives: Communication

(#Issue 470) A Reminder About Noise


Are you adding to clarity or compounding the noise? How do you know? “The trouble with a great many of us is we know so many things that ain’t so.” -Josh Billings “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, assumptions, awareness, bias, collaboration, collective monolgues, Communication, emotional intelligence, empathy, growth, habits, Haters, information literacy, Life lessons | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

(Issue #467) Listen. Learn. Lead.


To lead, you must first listen (hear; respect; ask authentic questions). Then learn from the exchange (willingness to change). Two experiences. One message. First experience. I helped organize a candidate forum for our beaches in Duval County (Florida). The candidates … Continue reading

Posted in collegiality, Communication, Community, leadership, learning, listening | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #466) Spoiled?


This week’s post comes to us from a guest first-time blogger, Roxie (BDE), my pet therapy team leader.  Enjoy her observations. As the sun popped up over the ocean, I thought if that is being “spoiled” then I like it. … Continue reading

Posted in amplifying, Appreciation, authenticity, Choice, Civility, collegiality, Communication, consideration, dignity, Discipline, Gratitude, Life lessons | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #465) Gratitude: A Reminder


If we give a gift expecting a return, then we have not offered a gift. We have tendered a loan. Not gratitude. When we display gratitude, we demonstrate appreciation, kindness, respect, and, above all, acknowledgement for the person in front … Continue reading

Posted in action, amplifying, authenticity, Communication, Community, compassion, Gratitude, resilience | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #458) Reflection As A Non-Luxury Good


This week’s blog post draws on the sixth core value from Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019): Taking time to consider, ponder, remember, analyze, evaluate, and appreciate the various connections of life. It sounds logical, commonsensical, and a … Continue reading

Posted in assumptions, authenticity, awareness, change management, collaboration, common sense, Communication, Community, community development, growth, Integrity, intentionality | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#454) Recognize The Stories In The Room


No matter how far-sighted leaders may be on an issue, if they cannot connect to the emotional responses of their constituents, relevance is missed and opportunity squandered. This past week I attended and spoke at our city commission meeting. The … Continue reading

Posted in assumptions, awareness, collaboration, Communication, community development, Connection-Disconnection, leadership, Life lessons, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#450) Respectful Relationships


Respectful relationships help build lasting, meaningful, accepting, loving, nurturing, and sustaining communities. As I wrote Community as a Safe Place to Land, I had the opportunity to speak with transformational people in communities from Savannah, Georgia to Celebration, Florida.  Each … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, accountability, action, amplifying, Appreciation, Communication, Community, community development, Life lessons, resilience, respect, responsibility | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

(#444) Mouths and Ears


Discourse. Dialogue. Debate. Diminished? In an interview with Bill Moyers, writer and political analyst Sam Tanenhaus addressed the challenge with current-day discourse or dialogue or debate. The people around the table “have many mouths but they don’t have many ears… … Continue reading

Posted in Appreciation, Appropriate Behavior, awareness, boundaries and limits, Civility, collaboration, collective monolgues, Communication, Community, conversation, ethics, growth | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#443) Why Did We Form This Band?


There are some things that really matter, like a shared vision. If the singer wants to be a star, the guitarist wants to play a different style and the bassist and drummer are in it to smoke weed and jam… … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, awareness, Being REMARKABLE, change management, Choice, Civility, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, Community, community development, consideration, conversation, core values, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#442) Community Building: Beyond Why to How


The question, in my mind, moves beyond why we need community to how we go about building and sustaining it. While dichotomies can be simplistic, they can also help frame a conversation. When you seek a community, toward which end … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, accountability, action, amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, change management, Communication, Community, community development, confirmation bias, Critical Thinking, leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment