Expressed opinions Entrepreneur Contributors are their own.
“The person who controls a conversation isn’t talking, it’s the person who asks all the questions.”
I have recently been reminded of this proverb, which is full of wisdom. That’s true. We are quick to conduct a conversation through what we feel we need to say, rather than actively listening to and questioning the person we are talking to. Often, we want to understand the other person faster than we first understand.
Additionally, we tend to employ one of two ways: rationally or emotionally. Different situations require different methods of communication. The challenge, however, is when one of these reactions surpasses the other.
So I ask: Are you communicating logically or emotionally?
Related: How to disagree in the right way
Rationalist vs. emotional communication
Can you guess which one tends to do more in humans? If you choose EmotionalYou are right, our DNA is rooted in emotion, and we react emotionally to the things around us.
Say you’re in the car and cut. What do you do Maybe you roll your eyes, maybe you throw birds, maybe you say something unfriendly. See: Emotions.
Emotional reactions are not always bad, either. Pride, happiness, excitement … Imagine your child being accepted into college, and instead of reacting with joy, your only response is “OK. It will increase your chances of getting the job you want.”
Reasonable, but strange. This is a situation that calls for an emotional response.
We are not really taught how to channel our rational side when reacting to something. We are quicker to respond to situations than to go backwards, take deep breaths and go through the pace of deciding how to react. Recognizes the role that both reason and emotion play in exceptional communicative conversations.
We cannot control how others react. So while we find the perfect balance between reason and emotion when interacting with others, it is always a completely different ball game, because no two people are identical and think exactly the same.
Related: 9 best practices for improving your communication skills and becoming a more effective leader
How to balance workplace conversations
When I think about this kind of thing, I want to think about how it fits with my business. Although we can not fully control how People communicate, we can teach each other how to understand the difference between the types of communication.
1. Acknowledge the lack of self-awareness
I’m not sure people actually know There is a difference in how we respond to things. I’ll admit – until a few years ago, I didn’t do it myself. Our subconscious does not seem to care so much about retaining this information. Awareness is the first step towards becoming a successful communicator.
Keep this in mind when communicating with colleagues. Acknowledge the lack of awareness, then ask yourself what you can do to identify others when others respond to something rationally and when they respond emotionally.
Related: 6 Strategies for Being a Good, Active Listener
2. Acknowledge emotions
Active listening skills are important for promoting harmonious communication. Start by asking investigative questions to make sure you understand the problem. You become purposeful as soon as you hear the answer.
It is important to acknowledge the other person’s feelings at the beginning of the conversation. Something like, “I understand how this situation can be so frustrating for you” can help listen to the other person and spread the excitement. It provides integrated startups for finding a solution.
3. Reframe the conversation
Another way to communicate is through the lens of positivity versus negativity. The latter is rooted in emotion. Embrace the day with a negative mindset, and you will begin a chain reaction of negative energy, which will move between you and those you interact with.
The mentality and response share a common ground. Choose a positive mindset, and you’ll be prone to positive feedback. Channel negativity and, well … you know the deal.
4. Identify the source of the conflict (hint: this is not another person)
Let’s face it: people often see people as problems and their emotions grow. Communication breaks down when people project the source of the conflict on another person. The reality is that the conflict is between two people. By focusing on issues rather than individuals, you are able to find common ground. Once both people are looking for a solution in the same direction, you have gone to the logical way of resolving the conflict. Everyone has won!
5. Include your workplace training
Do you have regular training at work? Good. Add something like your curriculum. If there is no one in your team responsible for this, hire a professional to give the lecture. It is important to teach communication skills using real-world examples.
Be sure to check yourself regularly. Are you effective communication modeling?
Being able to distinguish between rational and emotional communication is a superpower of leadership. Heck, it’s a People Find a balance between the two superpowers – examples of the right-time-right-place – and help others to do the same.
No one likes conflict. Everyone wants to understand. Start by evaluating your own communication style, then build a culture of reasonable communication with your team. Who doesn’t want to lead a company full of exceptional communicators?
