When I talk about a LACK of communication skill, people often think I'm talking about people who are terrible communicators. It's NOT what I mean at all. Most people who come here for workshops are already successful and very good communicators.
What I'm talking about are the skills to create change. Changing the other persons mind, changing the other person's attitude, changing their decisions, changing the outcome, changing their operating basis, changing how long it takes them to go into action, changing how much you get paid, changing how they listen to you, changing their level of respect, changing WHATEVER it is to match your concept of the ideal. I’m talking about creating ALL the change you want.
When people don't have the skills to change something, it always seems like it’s impossible and can't be handled. Often this isn't true because when they come here for training, they discover exactly what they need to do to turn that situation completely around and, after they leave here, they do so successfully.
Let me give you an example. See what you would do in this situation.
One of my clients, Eve (not her real name), is working for a wonderful company that has great people, a fabulous product, and a gorgeous mission statement. About a year ago, through a merger and acquisition, they were taken over by a group many in the organization referred to as “evil snakes”.
This new senior leadership team disrupted the entire organization. They got rid of, and demoted, the wrong people, including Eve’s wonderful boss. They put their own inexperienced people in place. They didn't listen. They were arrogant. They proposed things that were ludicrous. They criticized everything that was good. They were condescending.
A number of good people left. You can understand why.
Eve didn't.
She's not in a position of power, but she took it upon herself to transform the situation, not just for herself, but for everyone.
Her goal was to bring the new management group and the existing organization into collaborative harmony, and to educate the new management in all that was good so they’d appreciate and support, rather than destroy, it.
While most in her organization viewed the new group as villains, she learned not to villainize.
She learned there are no borders for outstanding communication, that really GREAT communication reaches beyond all limits.
She communicated freely to everyone, high and low in the organization. A little bit here, a little bit there, always communicating, gently showing and guiding them to the road to success.
She saw wins from the very beginning. Small ones at first, then larger and larger. Until there was a complete transformation. In only 90 days.
The new group is no longer arrogant. They listen and defer to the experienced members of the organization with respect and admiration. The last email I got from her she said they were working together as a "family”, they have trust and she added, “It’s authentic trust.”
She did not have the power, nor the position, officially to do this, she didn't have the authority, she didn't have permission, she didn’t initially even have anyone on her side, she didn't have anything except her own desire and her communication skills. She had to manage both sides of the fence.
I personally know what she’s done to develop these amazing communication skills. She worked hard to develop them, and even harder to strengthen them to the point where they stand up in a hurricane.
When the hurricane hit, she was ready.
She communicated, listened, educated, enlightened, changed minds, got them talking to each other and created breakthroughs.
She now has the trust of everyone in the organization, including the C-suite, even though she’s not at that level.
She is simply universally recognized as possessing a value that has no borders and no limits. A value so high, she’s been invited to attend the most sensitive discussions at board meetings. She has responsibilities and scope in her job role now that are extraordinary considering the position she started from.
Best yet, it's a great company again, everyone gets along, there's respect and harmony. They’re collaboratively accomplishing new goals, new missions. It's a great place to work again.
One person made that happen for everyone. All it takes is one. You.
That's what I mean by communication skill.
The word skill means a great ability to do. The more difficult the situation, the more skill it takes to turn it around. The more skill you use, the quicker the turnaround. When you have a full range of skills, the turnaround can happen almost overnight. The more skills you use, the wider your impact on the world.
I have been teaching this subject for 30 years and I have certainty there is no limit to our, to your, communication skills.
As well I know, once you have these skills solidly, you can feel free to imagine the impossible.
As Eve told me, “If you don’t communicate well enough that you can choose what happens to you, then the organization chooses for you.” Who wants that? Yuk!
Communication skills set you free and put your destiny back in your own hands.