The Dance Of Communication

I often think about communication as a dance. In full transparency often, my rhythm of communication can be so out of step with the people in my life I care and love. In business, the necessity for an outcome sets the pace and often a defined set of movements that everyone must abide by if they want to have permission to join the dance. This is why in business scenarios, I tend to be somewhat better skilled. 

I want to offer this frame to our business community to amplify verbal talking's value and purpose. I understand talking is just one mode of communication we are often very biased towards. Nonetheless, when one considers humanity's fragility having a technique to think through talking can only help. 

This frame needs talking to be facilitated with the physical sight of the people we are talking to. Side note, I have this formula that I apply to measure whether or not successful communication has been achieved.

Successful communication = Message, and intention sent are equal to Message, and intention received. When this does not happen, we have miscommunication because the 'Message' received somehow got scrambled between sending and being received. Scrambled communication is an article I will share at a later point in time.

The Frame: Talking

Intention : To let you know I see you

Outcome : True Collaboration

Business Benefit: More Innovation and Lower Attrition in your teams

Method for application: You decide

May I suggest you decide what you want to achieve with every dance. I want the person or people I engage with to be inspired and feel treasured. I want them to know that I think their humanity is beautiful. I want them to know I see value in having equal interaction with them. That is the intentional outcome I want from talking. 

To reference an article written by Agile Affinity group MuHinShu. Aligns to my personal assertion that all are equal and valued in communication and is supported in mind by Agile value number 1, 'Individuals and interactions over processes and tools' and principle 6 'The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.'

See, face to face says I can look you in the eye as equal to me in your humanity and aligned to me in purpose. Then added to this Individual and interactions says, I value you and want to engage with you as who you are and what you are in that moment.

Who are you willing to learn to dance with? Who are you willing to invite to your dance floor and dance party?

I invite you to look at talking again with intention from this moment on. Let me know the thoughts and feelings this frame brings up for you.