Blog Post 3 The Art of Meaningful Communications and Connections

The Art of Meaningful Communications and Connections

As we welcome the new year, I wanted to take a moment to focus on The Art of Meaningful Communications and Connections. In 2025 let’s work on enhancing our relationships and our active listening skills to genuinely grasp and understand the messages our family and friends are sharing.

Let’s work to create deeper conversations and connections.

We can build stronger relationships by showing that we value the viewpoints and perspectives of our family, friends, and colleagues.

This year Commit yourself to being fully engaged and present in every conversation.

Actively listen to truly comprehend what is being communicated.

Be respectful while others are speaking and honor the speaker’s viewpoints.

Show compassion and respect by being present during the conversation.

Listen without interrupting

Here's to a year of creating meaningful conversations and stronger relationships!

Tips for Actively listening to truly comprehend what is being communicated.

• Give Your Full Attention:

  • Put away any distractions like phones or computers, cut off the TV, etc.

  • Show through your body language that you are focused on the speaker, making eye contact and nodding to acknowledge understanding.

• Listen Without Interrupting:

  • Allow the speaker to fully express their thoughts before responding.

  • Please resist the urge to jump in or finish their sentences, as this can disrupt their flow and cause them to feel unheard.

• Reflect and Clarify:

  • After the speaker has finished speaking, you can summarize what you have heard to ensure you've understood correctly.

  • This could be as simple as saying, "So, what you're saying is..." or "I understand that you feel..."

  • This provides you both the opportunity to ensure you understand what is being stated.

• Ask Open-Ended Questions:

  • Encourage the speaker to elaborate by asking questions that require more than a yes or no answer.

  • This helps the speaker and listener to deepen the conversation and will show genuine interest.

  • Be engaged.

• Be Sensitive:

  • Try to understand the speaker's emotions and perspective.

  • When replying use phrases like "I can see why you feel that way" or "That sounds challenging" to validate what they are feeling.

• Provide Feedback:

  • Ask follow-up questions to show that you are engaged and interested in the conversation.

  • Provide constructive feedback, if it is requested.

  • Sometimes, the speaker is only saying what is on their mind and does not want your feedback, understand that.

• Stay Present:

  • Please focus on the current conversation rather than letting your mind wander to unrelated thoughts or future responses.

  • Remain in the Now.

  • Be all the way in the conversation. Do Not try to take over their conversation.

• Do Not Repeat Your Discussion With Anyone Else

  • The speaker has come to you because they trust you, Do Not Break Their Trust.

  • Carry your conversation to the grave. The world does not need to know what you discussed in confidence.

  • Listen and Do Not Judge.

By utilizing these techniques, you can improve your listening skills and create more meaningful and effective communication with others.

As we open the door to this brand-new year and month, let’s be prepared to welcome necessary changes, seize the opportunities that lie ahead, and remember, it all begins with an idea. You Got This!

Author: T.A. Broady, January 5, 2025