3 Easy Steps to Low Stress Communication
Peter Murphy
Life is all about choices. And so is the way you communicate.
You can fill your days with frustrating high stress communication
or you can have days of low stress effective communication
with your peers.
Now take a moment to learn three ways to have low stress
communication.
1. Recognize Positive Intentions
When someone you are talking to is unkind, negative or downright
rude it is easy to get annoyed, angry and even aggressive.
However this will just makes the situation worse and even
faster than you can imagine.
There is a better way. Instead look for the positive intention
of the person you are talking to. What do I mean?
Ask yourself -- what is the positive intention behind this
behavior?
If the person you are talking to is angry maybe the positive
intention is to express some hurt or frustration. What is
important is looking for a positive not to get the correct
answer.
When you assume the person has a positive message hidden
underneath the negative exterior you will have more compassion
and patience and you will not feel so stressed dealing with
the individual.
2. Choose Your Own Emotional State
I talk a lot about the importance of managing your emotional
state. Why? Because it is an essential life skill.
Unless you are in charge of how you feel your ability to
communicate effectively will always be limited and dependent
on other people.
When you are in a potentially stressful situation and everyone
around you is losing their cool this does not mean you have
to join them! You will be able to contribute a lot more if
you remain calm and centered.
Staying calm and resourceful is a choice you can make. Unfortunately
it is all too easy to be a sheep and simply follow the crowd.
Nobody says you have to be a sheep!
Instead make a point of keeping yourself in a resourceful
state.
3. Step Outside The Situation
Whenever I am in a highly charged situation I will often
step outside the situation -- in my mind. This helps to defuse
the event for me.
You can do this too. Simply imagine that you are at the other
end of the room watching the interaction between you and the
other person or people.
It is as if you are a neutral observer with no emotional
involvement in the discussion at hand.
When you do this you will think of ideas to handle the situation
better and you will also feel less bothered by the stress
of the other people.
This is one technique you need to play with first in easy
everyday conversations. Once you get familiar with it you
will find it easy to mentally step outside the event while
still participating with the people in front of you.
Stress or relaxation - which do you prefer?
Article Source: Info-Articles.com
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