The title of this piece is very significant! I used to count myself as a great communicator! In fact, if you had asked me to name my five top strengths, “my ability to communicate effectively” would have been in the top three at least, and yet I find myself looking in the proverbial mirror realizing that I have become a terrible communicator.

The tell-tale signs have been there for some time; tentative comments from my associates and clients, misunderstandings with my family, frustration with myself - all signs that I had dropped the ball.

Now you may feel this is a little over the top, and maybe it is, but in my role as a sales person, trainer, consultant and publisher my ability to communicate effectively is a key competence for survival.

An analogy that comes to mind is that of a beautiful garden. I have a number of friends who have proven themselves especially talented in this area. Each garden is unique; carefully crafted French beds, luscious tropical forests and awe inspiring Rose gardens. Though unique, all have one thing in common; without careful cultivation and care, the beauty would be lost, the expense wasted and the experience forgotten. Weeds grow and stifle the plants, lack of water brings scarcity and lack of nutrients brings death. Similarly with our ability to communicate, bad habits suffocate our effectiveness, lack of practice makes for wooden presentations and tiredness leads to misunderstandings.

I have recently picked up a phenomenal book by Dr Marshall B. Rosenberg called Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life. This book has been purging and revitalizing. In his book, Dr Rosenberg effectively outlines a method of communication that is incredibly simple and yet has great power. Essentially, Dr Rosenberg teaches one to withhold judgment, manager ones feelings, understand our needs and to communicate these needs effectively. This book has not been a mere sprinkling of nutrients; rather it has been a deep “turning of the soil”. I am keeping a daily journal of the practical application of how I can adjust my communication with myself and with others to ensure greater harmony and alignment of my communication to my values.  

Coming back to the garden analogy, my friends are constantly planting new seeds for the next season. In my career, I am entering a season in which I will be standing in front of people presenting on a regular basis. The majority of these presentations are sales orientated or consultative; both require a degree of persuasiveness. I could rest on my laurels (no pun intended) or I could actively work on my ability to present and persuade. I have elected to do the latter. I have sourced two fabulous courses to plant valuable seeds that will flourish and grow in my communication garden. “On the Spot” is a presentation skills course and “Persuasive Conversations” is a communication skills course that enhances your ability to converse with others. I am intentionally planning on using these training days to get me back on the road. Why don’t you join me? You can find out more about these courses by visiting Avocado Visions website, www.avovision.co.za.  

I watched (sometimes with horror) as budgets were frozen, contracts cancelled, meetings postponed, people retrenched and operations streamlined. These could be seen as purely negative but they initiated very positive responses too. I saw businesses returning to core, business leaders grappling with ideas of how to ensure their employees remain engaged and the big question on all minds was how do we sustain and increase productivity in the midst of all these challenges?

Being a small business owner, my economic challenges started earlier than the slump late last year. I am thankful for the crisis. It forced me into thinking outside of the box in order to find a way to secure my business going forward.

 

Strategic Partnership has been the key.

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About

Every Woman Education & Training Solutions (PTY) Ltd, is an empowerment organisation that seeks to uplift and equip women in a number of diverse ways. The company was founded by Rachel van Doorene in July 2005. Our clients range from multinational corporations to individual subscribers to our products or services.  

At the heart of our organisation is a desire to see the issues facing women in the workplace addressed, utilising a multi-faceted strategy of consulting, publishing, training and events. We impact women working in the marketplace by consulting to business owners on their female retention strategies, delivering training that builds skills and competencies in a fresh and meaningful way. Publishing content that speaks the language of working women and fun events that grow working women through engaging dialogue. 

 

Avocado Vision is the Training Partner of Every Woman.