| Greetings,
Welcome to the latest issue of Be Understood a discussion of Emotionally Intelligent Communication. It's a regular roundup of ideas that touch on the communication challenges we face in the 21st century.
This newsletter has been "off the air" for some time as I re-evaluated its usefulness. I often find myself distracted from my own work as I read the many e-zines that now come my way. When I started Be Understood, in 2003, the number of electronic publications was pretty small. Now we are overwhelmed with them. As I unsubscribed from those that a) come too frequently and b) have a "sales pitch to valuable content" ratio of less than 1:1, I wondered whether I would subscribe to an e-zine like mine.
Yet I have new subscribers every week, people interested in human conversation. So, trusting that there is an interested group, I'm resurrecting Be Understood. I welcome your feedback.
| Leadership Lit |
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 In the past few months (make that years) I've read everything I can on the topic of leadership. Several bifocal prescriptions later, I must qualify for guru status.
Ostensibly, I'm gathering information that can help my clients. And I'm doing research for my own book. But mostly, I'm hunting for the elusive key that will unlock the mysteries I face daily in being a leader myself.
As I stand before the great wall of leadership titles at my local Chapters store, I wonder if there is anything more to be said on the topic.
There are books that will show us how to lead from the back, the middle or the front. They'll teach us how to lead like Jesus, Einstein, Colin Powell, Billy Graham, Attila the Hun, or even Harry Potter. Authors share their laws of leadership and secrets of success, which (oddly?) always appear in uneven numbers. Unless there are 10. Speaking of numbers, these titles tell us to run our business by the numbers - or not to take the numbers too seriously, depending on the author. Some of them wisely tell us not to take ourselves too seriously.
My reading has led me to the following conclusions . . .
Read the whole story. »
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| Something to honk about |
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 When you live in Canada, you are never very far from a goose. That is, seeing one, not being one. Some time ago, I wrote about the leadership secrets of the Canada Goose. The other day a friend said it was a story more people should hear. So I share it with you, here.
I've always believed I could learn from anyone. But a bird? Teaching me? About leadership communication?
In recent weeks, the skies around me have been filled with migrating Canada Geese. I've never been interested in these critters, unless I had to chase one off the bow of my little sailboat or scrape their droppings off my shoes after an evening walk. But coasting along the highway, I had a chance to watch them in action.
Geese travel in a distinctive V shape. One goose's flapping wings create an uplift for the one that follows. Apparently, that arrangement allows the flock to travel 71 per cent further than one bird could travel on its own. For the geese, this is instinct at work, yet it's as if each trusts the other geese as well as the V formation to get them to their destination. As leaders, we start a process where the group understands and agrees on the goal and the route to get there. When we emphasize the interrelatedness of individual contributions, people see where their work fits into the whole and where other people's work supports them.
Geese take turns leading. This is amazing to watch. When the lead goose has had enough, it drops back and someone else takes over. Sharing leadership helps the group go further. Using individual strengths strengthens the whole team. Leading can be hard; give yourself a chance to recover.
Read the whole article »
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| Illumination - New Ideas |
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 I'm convinced real conversation is the most powerful business tool we will ever use. Three new arrivals on my bookshelf line up nicely with that idea. They describe how conversation creates learning, meaning and, even, who we become.
Social Intellgenceby Daniel Goleman
I read this book on a long train ride and it held my interest all the way. My seat-mate even decided to buy a copy. In this book, Goleman describes has shifted his focus from the individual to people in relationship. He describes, in plain English, the findings of brain researchers. The Big Idea is that humans are hard wired to be social and that our interactions with others don't merely shape our experiences, they create who we are. The author suggests that social intelligence, like emotional intelligence, can be learned, and sets out to show us how. It's a fascinating read.
Informal Learning by Jay Cross
Think about how you learned to do your job. Was it in a course? Probably not. The Big Idea in this book is that formal programs account for just 10-20% of what people learn at work, while getting almost all the organizational attention and budget. Yet most learning comes through interactions with "people and stuff." The author challenges conventional wisdom - and also challenges businesses to create what he calls learnscapes, places that encourage conversation and natural learning. Lots of new ideas, real-world examples and things to wonder about.
Communities Of Practice by Etienne Wenger
If you're looking for lively writing with practical "How To" information, this is NOT the book. Wenger is a seriously researchy academic. The Big Idea here is that learning is not an individual process. It's social. Participation in groups shapes what we know, what we do and who we are as we come together to achieve goals. It's a wonderful idea and, as slowly I pick my way through the book, I find explanaations for things I always "knew" but couldn't explain.
Talk To Me by Sue Johnston
Yes. I'm delighted to say that my own book, Talk To Me: Workplace Conversations That Work, will be published this spring. It's the foundation of a learning program for every manager who's ever asked, "How do I get these people to understand?" It weaves a real world story around the principles of effective face-to-face communication. The Big Idea is that real conversation is a powerful tool anyone can learn to use. In the next issue of Be Understood, I'll include a special link to download a sample chapter. If you'd like me to inform you, by e-mail, when I post more information about the book, please join the list using the link below.
Learn more about my book »
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| My 2-week e-course - with my compliments! |
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Here's a little gift for my subscribers, my new e-course, Can We Talk? It helps you use the most powerful business tool you'll ever have - real conversation. Every other day, for two weeks, you'll receive an e-mail with a lesson and a little field work to do.
Using techniques drawn from professional communicators, you will be able to:
* Identify your purpose and context and get to the point of your conversation.
* Use language your audience will understand - and avoid words that trigger trouble.
* Ask for and get useful feedback on your communication.
* Use active listening not only to understand, but also to be understood.
Whether you're the team leader or an individual contributor, developing your face-to-face conversation skills will improve your career - and maybe your life. Get started today. Sign up using the Can We Talk? eCourse link, on the right.
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"Reproduced with permission from Be Understood, a regular publication of It's Understood Communication.
www.itsunderstood.com"
See other articles at our web site . . . »
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| Recognizing the power of conversation |
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| I was delighted to learn that Ragan Communications, publisher of outstanding journals for professional communicators has included Face-To-Face communication as a full track in its 16th Annual Corporate Communication Conference, May 8-10, 2007, in Chicago.
Pro communicators are great at deveoping strategies, creating publications, handling media and public relations, advising corporate leaders and creating content for everything from annual reports to podcasts. Yet they rarely venture into the realm of communication that affects us all - face to face interaction.
It's good news when an organization with the respect and reach of Ragan deems face-to-face worthy of its own track.
AND I'M PRESENTING
I'll be the kickoff speaker for the face-to-face sessions. My job is to show professional communicators how they can get conversation onto the agendas of busy managers. If we can get this right, we can change the world.
Also on the face-to-face track:
Carol Kinsey Goman author of This Isn't The Company I Joined, helps us understand and use informal communication.
Brady Wilson, co-founder of Juice Inc., invites us into his world of organizational energy, engagement, and what he terms the "pull" conversation.
Acknowledging face-to-face communication is a big step forward for professional communicators and for organizations. It's an area with huge potential.
Learn more about the Face-To-Face Track at the 16th Annual Ragan Corporate Communication Conference - May 8-10 in Chicago - Sue's a featured speaker!
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