Please Use Other Door: The Path to Better Communication Starts with Self-Awareness

How many times have you done this? You walk up to a door that you use regularly, whether it is your favorite coffee shop or gym, and there are two doors, but you constantly pull on the handle of the door with a sign that reads: Please Use Other Door.

Why do we do this? Is it because it makes no sense for there to be two doors but only one that actually works? Or is it that you always open a door with your left hand? Or do you always open a door with your right hand?

If you think about it, we’re faced with these kinds of decisions in our personal and professional lives every day, and with figurative and literal signs right in our faces, we always seem to pull the wrong handle.

Could it be because we’re all so terrible at self-awareness?

Or could it be because we’re all so?amazing?at?learning?

Think about it. Every time you pull the wrong handle, you get a chance to correct yourself. You get a chance to try something new. You get an opportunity to grow.

That’s what self-awareness is all about. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being?curious. It’s about being?open. It’s about being?honest.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is also the ability to see how they affect yourself and others. Self-awareness is essential for effective communication because it helps you be more?authentic,?empathetic, and?respectful.

Have you ever heard the story of two fish swimming in a stream? They meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” The two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and says, “What the hell is water?”

This story was shared by David Foster Wallace in his legendary 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon College and illustrates the importance of self-awareness. We often take our own reality for granted, and we need to be more mindful of the way we see the world. As Wallace said, “The most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.”

This is especially true in communication. When we’re communicating with others, we need to be aware of our own biases and assumptions. We need to be aware of the way our words and actions are likely to be interpreted. And we need to be aware of the context in which we’re communicating. If we’re not self-aware, we’re likely to say or do things that offend or alienate others. We’re also likely to misunderstand what others are saying to us. And we’re likely to have misunderstandings and conflicts.

Self-awareness is an ongoing process. It takes time, effort, and practice. But it’s worth it. The more self-aware we are, the better communicators we will be. And the better communicators we are, the more successful we will be in our personal and professional lives.

Self-awareness is a key ingredient in successful communication. If you want to be a better communicator, it’s important to work on becoming more self-aware.

Do you know how you can do that? Here are some tips:

• Reflect on your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regularly. Ask yourself why you think, feel, or act the way you do. What are your motives, values, beliefs, and goals? How do they influence your communication style?
• Be open-minded and curious. Try to understand different points of view and experiences. Don’t assume that you know everything or that you’re always right. Be willing to learn from others and challenge your own assumptions.
• Be empathetic and respectful. Try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagine how they feel or what they need. Don’t dismiss or criticize their feelings or opinions. Show them that you care and respect them as human beings.

Remember: Every time you see a sign that says, “Please Use Other Door”, don’t think of it as a mistake or a failure. Think of it as an opportunity or a challenge.

Think of it as a reminder that there’s always more to learn and more to grow.

Think of it as a sign that says, “Please Use Your?Potential”.

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