Finding Your Voice: Truth-telling in the Workplace

Written by Susan J. Schutz


I had to laugh when a friend told me recently that he’d never had trouble finding his shout, butrepparttar concept of finding his voice was really new to him. When my laughter subsided I was able to assure him that he’s by far not alone! Dynamic tension is a marvelous and necessary source of creative energy inrepparttar 107924 workplace, yet it amazes me that more businesses don’t implode. Oftenrepparttar 107925 tension present is more destructive than it is generative. Fromrepparttar 107926 point of contact with customers to executive offices and everywhere in between I’ve watched at Highest Vision as people launch their words like torpedoes designed to obliterate a monstrous enemy or, onrepparttar 107927 contrary, stuff overwhelming frustrations or brilliant ideas until they all but explode from them. Oftenrepparttar 107928 higherrepparttar 107929 stakes,repparttar 107930 more dysfunctionalrepparttar 107931 communication!

The first impulse for many who userepparttar 107932 bulldozer approach is to say that they don’t care how they sound or how their message is received. They’re convinced that they’ve earnedrepparttar 107933 right, that it’srepparttar 107934 only way to get something done, or thatrepparttar 107935 recipient of their wrath deserves everything they’ve sent their way—and then some! Onrepparttar 107936 other hand, many of those who are unwilling to put their voices out there have developed a “learned helplessness” (no one listens anyway), hold a belief that they don’t haverepparttar 107937 intelligence, right or authority to offer their perspective, or they’ve experienced repercussions and will no longer risk having their thoughts and feelings used against them. Rather than being overbearing, these individuals have voices that are offered as mere squeaks, are targeted atrepparttar 107938 wrong people, or are used long after they could be of value.

Unfortunatelyrepparttar 107939 costs associated with these two communication extremes are more than individuals orrepparttar 107940 organizations that employ them can responsibly overlook. Finding our voices, whether that means having to draw back to find them or having to excavate them fromrepparttar 107941 very depths of our souls, is about reclaimingrepparttar 107942 vitality that fuels meaningful successes.

The sad irony of poor communication is that when people are removed fromrepparttar 107943 person or situation that has evoked their specific reaction they can describe in detail what effect their yelling, demanding, or stifled voices will have onrepparttar 107944 outcome ofrepparttar 107945 exchange. They know that one “side" will either angrily and resentfully capitulate while then seeking to underminerepparttar 107946 other, orrepparttar 107947 two will get locked into a power battle in which, ultimately, everyone loses. The obvious losses include: alienated customers, unspoken resentments that leave colleagues working against rather than with each other, and a diminished bottom line.

Specifically these things translate into lost time, energy, money, and productivity, as well asrepparttar 107948 agility to respond quickly to changes in one’s industry orrepparttar 107949 economy. Increased stress, compromised health and outcomes that are far less than what is possible can sendrepparttar 107950 people involved scurrying to find a more amenable work environment.

If people knowrepparttar 107951 results aren’t going to serve them well either inrepparttar 107952 short or long-term, why do so many insist on staying stuck in ineffective communication patterns? After all, as is so often quoted,repparttar 107953 definition of insanity is to repeatrepparttar 107954 same behaviors over and over expecting different results.

Unfortunately, many simply aren’t conscious of their own pattern, believe that it is caused by others orrepparttar 107955 environment, and/or don’t know what to do instead. For some they’ve simply become accustomed to “power battles” and believe that when there are issues that people feel passionately about these dynamics are unavoidable.

How can you speak out without alienating others?

****Check your intent and be thoughtful of your delivery**** Is your goal to respectfully communicate? Addressrepparttar 107956 issue or behavior without making it a personal attack. Userepparttar 107957 person’s name (when appropriate) and a compassionately assertive tone of voice—even when your voice must also convey an intensity of feeling or conviction. Avoid labels, name-calling or use of “trigger words.” (“You arrogant, self-centered, manipulative jerk” has never beenrepparttar 107958 kind of phrase that invites thoughtful discussion!)

No More Stagefright = Have Fun Speaking

Written by Dianne Legro


By Dianne Legro Speech and Presentation Coach & President of Speaking Success, Inc.

7 Tips that calm and center you before your presentation:

1. Breathe and stretch before your presentation for at least ten minutes. This refreshes you, gets oxygen flowing to your brain and releasesrepparttar hold your mind has on your body which gives you that "pent up" feeling.

2. Bend your knees slightly and bring your torso over your hips, so that your back is long and loose and your tailbone is pointed towardsrepparttar 107923 floor. Let your shoulders drop. This put you directly aligned over your center of gravity and makes you stronger and calmer.

3. Shake your hands loose. This helps with creativity and mental agility.

4. Rehearse your opening and closing. Slowly go overrepparttar 107924 words you will say so that you are confident.

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