At the Ridgecrest Conference Center we strive to effectively communicate with all of our employees and guests.
“Did you hear what I said” is something that I think everyone has uttered at some point in their life when communicating with someone else. Something that I have found effective for me is to think of my friend LAURA. Now, LAURA isn’t an actual person I know, it’s just the way I have found to remember that there are two people in all conversations.
Listen – Listen to what the other person is saying to you.
Ask – Ask questions to clarify what was said to you.
Understand – Be sure you understand what was said, take a few minutes to absorb if needed.
Respond – Respond appropriately to the other person.
Ask – Ask more questions to ensure you responded appropriately. If you did not, repeat the process.
How do you effectively communicate? I would love to hear any strategies you’ve found effective.
Melissa,
Your LAURA method is great. I hope when I’m listening to someone, I’m emulating “her”.
I once heard a Christian leader say if you’re going to be somewhere, “be all there”. Her idea was to be a full part of the experience on both the giving and the receiving end. One pet peeve I have is for someone to be “listening” to me with his or her eyes darting around to see whom they might be missing by being fully absorbed in the conversation.
I seek to block out other distractions and interruptions and focus solely on the person I’m speaking to, listening with great intensity like I’m going to have to pass a test on my recall later. I also (ingrained in a teaching from my childhood years) almost never interrupt two people talking. Seems commonplace to do so today – even in church circles.
Sometimes interactive phrases like, “uh-huh”, “that’s right” or “really?” Help keep one focused.
Thanks for the good communication reminders!
I couldn’t agree more Ann, if you can’t “be all there” then what be there at all.