When you mix the attention span of a squirrel, the patience of a gnat, and the determination of an ant together, it can create a dangerous behavioral cocktail. Throw in a busy schedule, a little caffeine, and a long to-do list, and sometimes we end up rushing through our communication. We forget to slow down and consider what we are communicating and how it is being received. While this may not happen to you, I've found in my life it can happen quickly if I'm not careful.
Generalizing the audience, leaving off important punctuation (or even an emoji), and forgetting to connect before challenging are all communication blockers.
I've been taught that 98% of all problems are the result of one of two things:
- A miscommunication
- A lack of communication
When you neglect to think about how your words are going to land, you end up pushing people away instead of drawing them in.
I know that from experience.
The other day, in the spirit of quickly hammering through my emails and to-do list, I fired off a quick note to a large group thinking it was the right message. Unfortunately, I missed the bullseye. No, actually, I missed the mark altogether and threw a dart that stuck in a very bad place.
Thankfully, however, I have a friend on my personal board of directors who let me know very clearly why this message wasn't received well. His role is to deliver to me the sober truth. He provides direct feedback without concern for my feelings. I trust him to smack me in the forehead when necessary. He did, and in this case, he was right.
Proverbs 27:5: “An open rebuke is better than hidden love!”
A well-placed rebuke from a sincere heart to help you improve and not to beat you down is a priceless gem. Being the expert requires us to have people in our lives who have a responsibility and desire to make us better.
Nobody likes correction, but if you receive the short-term pain with gratitude, it will reap a long-term benefit. Unfounded flattery is a poison to growth, but a rebuke from a friend can fertilize your future.
