Grab a Cup of Courage and Just Ask!

"Assumptions ARE barriers to effective communication, both at home and in the workplace." ~Annie Armen

ASSUME NOTHING!

Recently, I was asked this question:  “Annie, what can I do to achieve, maintain, and sustain a drama free environment both at home and at work?”
 
Great question! Short answer, as a starting point: ASSUME NOTHING!
 
When lack of communication is in the air, 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!

If you’re looking to achieve and maintain a drama free environment, it first begins with YOU! Communicate clearly what it is you want, and don’t stop there!

Be certain that all parties present are on the same sheet of music with you, with a mutually clear understanding of what has been discussed, and what is expected. Leave no room for doubts and assumptions!

Here is a checklist I prescribe to my clients that works without fail:

1. Proactively encourage questions to improve open communication,
2. Aimfully terminate doubts and assumptions to establish clear communication,
3. Mindfully lay out your expectations from the get go to exemplify and evoke trusted communication.

Easier said than done? Without a doubt! However, tremendously doable when fully committed! When you implement this checklist consistently over time, you will then “protectively” enjoy a drama free environment with those you choose to share your space with, whether in business or in life!

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Reality Check

Any organization which lacks in trust will soon discover they will lack in funds down the road, negatively impacting their performance, productivity and bottom-line. Building trust within an environment where communication is scarce, preferential, fragmented, or just shattered presents a complex challenge. Therefore, an experienced communications consultant/advisor can be invaluable toward bridging those gaps of misunderstandings, tensions, unintended consequences, and lingering internal divisions to evoke collective trust, maximize performance, and generate desired ROI. 

Call us with any communication related concerns and/or questions.  Together we’ll explore favorable service deliverables tailored to your business needs and expectations.  We look forward to serving you!  

~Annie Armen
The Communications Artist

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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!
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6.   That Does it... I've Had Just About Enough of This! 
7.   Are you Working With a Resistant Employee?
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