A few weeks ago a few micro-events in social media converged in real-time around one idea. ( In social media time, a few weeks ago is equivalent to almost two lifetimes or a complete migration from v2.0 to v6.0. Still, the idea remains relevant.)

The first was a tweet from Scott, aka Nametagscott. Here’s what he wrote (tweeted):

LET ME ASK YA THIS: Is your style of communication blocking the listener’s ability to hear it?

Ouch. Ever stopped listening when the speaker’s style succeeded only in closing your ears and your mind? Yeah, annoying.

Ever seen an audience close their ears and minds to your ideas? Yeah, big ouch.

The second was Kevin Eikenberry. Kevin Eikenberry shared a quote while he was a recent guest on my radio show. The quote was:

No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.

Scott tweeted the challenge: a communication style that blocks the listener’s ability to hear your idea.

Kevin shared a solution: deciding we care more about our audience and their world than we do about our world and our ideas.

Hold the kumbayahs. That remains a big gap. That gap has existed for eternity and only in rare cases has it ever been bridged. That is the gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it.

I don’t have solutions. However, I have some steps that have helped me. Maybe, they'll help you.

Listen, listen, listen.

Ask questions of, about, those around me.

Turn the computer off.

Always be curious.

But, others are much farther along this path than I. Here are a few experts who can help:

Kevin Eikenberry: Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, author of Remarkable Leadership,

Dr. Nick Morgan: founder and CEO of Public Works and author of Trust Me: 4 Steps to Authenticity and Charisma

Steve Farber: Best-selling author, much sought-after speaker and consultant, author of Greater than Yourself.

Their names are linked to their Twitter profile. (It all begins and ends on Twitter...)

I hope this helps. Let me know, either way.


Link to original post