20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!

Dear Why Annie Armen Readers,

May you find these select 20 quotes on COMMUNICATION purposeful and empowering, adding productive value in your lives, both personally and professionally!

Once you’ve had an opportunity to read through all 20 quotes, please take a moment to share your thoughts (in the comments section below) to the question posted at the end of this article.  Thank You...    

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1.     “Assumptions are barriers to effective COMMUNICATION both at home and in the work place.” ~Annie Armen

2.     “The single biggest problem in COMMUNICATION is the illusion that it has taken place.” ~George Bernard Shaw
 
3.     “COMMUNICATION - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success.” ~Paul J. Meyer
 
4.     “Good COMMUNICATION does not mean that you have to speak in perfectly formed sentences and paragraphs. It isn't about slickness. Simple and clear go a long way.” ~John Kotter

5.     “The most important thing in COMMUNICATION is to hear what isn't being said.” ~Peter Drucker

6.     “The real art of CONVERSATION is not only to say the right thing at the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” ~Dorothy Nevill
 
7.     “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ~Epictetus

8.     “The most important things are the hardest to say, because WORDS diminish them.” ~Stephen King
 
9.     “Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic EXPRESSION of an unmet need.” ~Marshall Rosenberg
 
10.    "Developing excellent COMMUNICATION skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership. The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others. If a leader can't get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn't even matter." ~Gilbert Amelio, President and CEO of National Semiconductor Corp.
 
11.    "Precision of COMMUNICATION is important, more important than ever, in our era of hair trigger balances, when a false or misunderstood word may create as much disaster as a sudden thoughtless act." ~James Thurber

12.    “Strategic COMMUNICATION is at the core of effective leadership. Through a leader's use of verbal and written symbols employees are motivated or deflated, informed or confused, productive or apathetic. A leader's ability to carve off the verbal fat and get to the meat of an issue, idea or plan will find success at every turn.” ~Reed Markham, PhD

13.   “COMMUNICATE through what you love when words fail." ~Annie Armen

14.    “COMMUNICATION does not depend on syntax, or eloquence, or rhetoric, or articulation but on the emotional context in which the message is being heard. People can only hear you when they are moving toward you, and they are not likely to when your words are pursuing them.” ~Edwin H. Friedman

15.    “Deep LISTENING is miraculous for both listener and speaker. When someone receives us with open-hearted, non-judging, intensely interested listening, our spirits expand.” ~Sue Patton Thoele

16.    “COMMUNICATION works for those who work at it.” ~John Powell

17.    “COMMUNICATION can't always follow the top-down model. With the fluidity of information in business today, leaders need to be masterful listeners; they need to be able to receive as well as send.” ~Joseph Badaracco

18.    “COMMUNICATION leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” ~Rollo May   

19.     “When lack of COMMUNICATION is in the air, assume nothing!  Rather than waiting, over thinking, wondering, doubting and/or assuming for the best or for the worst, preserve your good energy and sanity, grab a cup of courage as opposed to a cup of coffee, and just ASK!”  ~Annie Armen

20.   “A good CONVERSATIONALIST is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember.” ~John Mason Brown

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Let's Get Together and Talk:

Call me with any questions and/or concerns related to speaking topics on bridging the communication gap across cultural divides. Together, we’ll work toward creating an inspired, productive atmosphere, oxygenated with ongoing encouragement and empowerment to heighten collective trust, open communication, respect, confidence, and enthusiasm, impacting your bottom-line. If I can help you achieve that and more, what value would that bring to your organization?

~Annie Armen

Related Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest: 

1.   Grab a Cup of COURAGE and Just Ask!
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3.   30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
4.   30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
5.   Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
6.   That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This! 
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Has Media put a Spell on you? -- Tribute to Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson

 

“I don't like it when they [media critics] see me as this little person who doesn't know what to do with herself -- like I have no idea what I want, like I'm just a puppet . . . . That's demeaning to me, because that ain't how it is, and it never was.”  ~Whitney Houston (August 09, 1963 – February 11, 2012)      

"Speculate to break the one you hate.  Circulate the lie you confiscate.  Assassinate and mutilate as the hounding media in hysteria..." ~Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)  

Has Media put a Spell on you?     Dedicating this article to music giants -- Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Etta James and various others, who have paid a price, unknown to ALL of us, in order to remain authentic to their vision, to their calling as true, "non-conforming" artists!

    
  

The music industry and the world has suffered a tragic loss when an authentic artist has come and gone... Therefore, it is so important that we, as human beings, do not take the role of judges, but rather choose to practice compassion and respect for the timeless legacy each has left behind!
    
"Just because you read it in a magazine, or see it on the TV screen, don't make it factual!" ~Michael Jackson 

     
Dear friends, before you allow media to put a spell on you, please read the lyrics below to Michael Jackson's song called, Tabloid Junkie, taken from his "HIStory" album.  Regardless of what you and I may think or believe we know ... artists who are in the public eye day in and day out, are the ones who genuinely KNOW what they speak of out of real, everyday experiences!         

Therefore, if one is curious and looking for truth... I find it important to show our respect to artists by reviewing ALL sides of the stories reported... including especially, hearing the artist's music and reading through their lyrics.   This is the least we can do, not only as compassionate, understanding human beings, but also as beings of intelligence.    

Lyrics to Michael Jackson's Song, Tabloid Junkie (HIStory Album)  
Michael's message will live on!  

"Speculate to break the one you hate
Circulate the lie you confiscate
Assassinate and mutilate
As the hounding media in hysteria
Who's the next for you to resurrect
JFK exposed the CIA
Truth be told the grassy knoll
As the blackmail story in all your glory

It's slander
You say it's not a sword
But with your pen you torture men
You'd crucify the Lord
And you don't have to read it, read it
And you don't have to eat it, eat it
To buy it is to feed it, feed it
So why do we keep foolin' ourselves

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Though everybody wants to read all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual, actual
They say he's homosexual

In the hood
Frame him if you could
Shoot to kill
To blame him if you will
If he dies sympathize
Such false witnesses
Damn self righteousness
In the black
Stab me in the back
In the face
To lie and shame the race
Heroine and Marilyn
As the headline stories of
All your glory

It's slander
With the words you use
You're a parasite in black and white
Do anything for news
And you don't go and buy it, buy it
And they won't glorify it, 'fy it
To read it sanctifies it, 'fies it
Then why do we keep foolin' ourselves
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Everybody wants to read all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
See, but everybody wants to believe all about it

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
See, but everybody wants to believe all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual, actual
She's blonde and she's bisexual

Scandal
With the words you use
You're a parasite in black and white
Do anything for news
And you don't go and buy it, buy it
And they won't glorify it, 'fy it
To read it sanctifies it, 'fies it
Why do we keep foolin' ourselves
Slander
You say it's not a sin
But with your pen you torture men
Then why do we keep foolin' ourselves

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Though everybody wants to read all about it
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
See, but everybody wants to read all about it

Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual, actual
You're so damn dis-respectable"
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With love and respect to all fellow musicians and artists, who work tirelessly to create music for the world!   ~Annie Armen

Communicate Anyway!

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." ~Oscar Wilde
(I dedicate this piece to my International Circle of Clients, Colleagues, Artists, and Friends ... Personal Message further below)

When Does Real, Mutual "Communication" Occur? 

"The most important thing in 'communication' is hearing what isn't being said."
~Peter Drucker

Allow me to paint the picture in this manner...

Imagine for a moment you are at a concert where various classical pianists are about to perform. The first pianist (Pianist #1) plays with all his heart and soul. From the moment he strikes the ivory keys with a dissonant chord, the conflicting sound heard, sends chills up your spine leaving you fully engaged, in a state of mystery and intrigue.

Then, when the tension eases into melodic harmony, you can feel and instantly relate to the various emotional layers and undertones within his heart, as he opens his soul to you through his music and takes you on a personal journey with him, "communicating" feelings of happiness, sadness, intense passion, anger, loneliness, and sudden moments of silence, by applying purposeful dynamics through crescendos, decrescendos, pianissimos, and fortes -- leaving you on the edge, as you storm through intrinsic emotions, glued to your seat, with anticipation for what's next.  

At that moment, you feel as though you are watching a movie, where YOU are the main actor/actress, emotionally experiencing moments of your life flashing by.  Has this happened to you? 

Continuing... with this particular performer, you are so in tune with his playing, that your ears, eyes, mind, heart, spirit, soul, and body are completely connected with every note played, as if he is speaking directly from your core being ...as if you and the pianist are mutually "communicating" as one in the same -- exciting, real, meaningful, memorable, and timeless!  Dear friend... when was the last time you experienced real, mutual "communication" like this, whether personally, musically, or professionally?

So you ask yourself, "How can that be?  How can a complete stranger know what you are feeling within, and be able to 'communicate' your feelings through his music without ever having met you?"  

When Pianist #1 ends his performance, you then find yourself unable to let go, loudly applauding for an encore, while feeling disappointed within that the music, in essence your personal story was interrupted, much like conversations left unfinished.

However, there is nothing you can do... the next performer is already walking up the stage... 

Pianist #2, unlike the first performer, technically plays by the script in perfection, without missing a note ... without missing a beat... almost like a human machine ... however, without soulful feeling.  You can appreciate his work in mind, but completely find yourself disconnected in heart, and perhaps even confused.  In other words, as a listener, you can hear the notes being played... much like hearing and watching a technical Powerpoint presentation during a seminar for example, but you are unable to feel, relate to, and connect with the music, with the performer's heart, with the composer's purpose behind the composition. Is there real, mutual "communication" here?

Now .... Rewinding Back to the Original Question
When does real, mutual "communication" occur?

Answer:  When the message shared is felt by both the recipient(s) and the composer relating his/her piece!  Meaning... when words -- whether written, spoken, or sung (much like musical notes played as illustrated above by Pianist #1) -- are genuinely "communicated" with relatable feelings of love, comfort, trust, compassion, respect, and sincerity, nourishing one's mind AND heart, while transcending all cultural barriers ... THAT is when real, mutual "communication" occurs, leaving a lasting, purposeful impact , both in business and in life! 

Personal Message to my International Circle of Clients, Colleagues, Artists, and Friends With all my Heart:

THANK YOU for doing your best everyday to try and communicate in English with me in private messages on Facebook as well as in professional messages shared on Linkedin... a language that is not your mother tongue. YOU have my utmost respect for Communicating Anyway!  NEVER, EVER apologize to me for your spelling mistakes and such.  Are you kidding me? It is I who should apologize to YOU for not trying hard enough to communicate with you in your language!

I appreciate you more than words can express... Grateful to you for making my life, and the lives of fellow Americans easier with your committed efforts!  

As Dr. Seuss says, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter, don't mind." 

Bottom-line:  It takes TWO hands to clap to the symphony of life, so Communicate Anyway!  Just because you are unable to technically speak in a particular language, does not mean you are unable to "communicate" with a person who does and is ready to listen with intent and heart!

Always Remember to: 
"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." ~Oscar Wilde

Be empowered to Communicate Anyway,
~Annie Armen

List of Articles and Quotes you may Find of Interest: 

1. Are You Leaving Your AUTHENTIC Mark?
2. 30 Quotes on ENCOURAGEMENT in Business and in Life!
3. 20 Quotes on COMMUNICATION in Business and in Life!
4. 30 Quotes on COMMITMENT in Business and in Life!
5. 30 Quotes on CONFIDENCE in Business and in Life!
6. 20 Quotes on GO FOR IT in Business and in Life!
7. When Did s/he Give the Impression s/he Needed Your Advice?

8. That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This!

9. Write Your way Into the New Year With Your New Book!

10. Did You Say, Can't?
11. AnnieBiotics