“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Mastering communication is one of the most important building blocks for reaching your full potential. We are fortunate to have many brilliant communicators in our community and we asked some of them to share their lessons and advice below.
Jackson Harris
When I was 18, I decided I wanted to become a reader. When I told my parents this, they each gave me a book. My mom gave me The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and my dad gave me The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. These books completely transformed the way I viewed relationships and had a profound impact on my communication style. Read more>>
Chantill Lopez
I love this question because I think it’s one of my magic powers, haha. It’s easy to suss out that, at least in part, my ability to communicate well comes from training as a journalist. I have always been an avid reader and have a wide breadth of interests both fiction and non-fiction, so I’ve consumed a LOT of words in my lifetime. As a writer, you’re always told the best way to improve your craft is to read as much as you can. So I did. I do. Read more>>
Jim Higgins
Over the course of years from when I was about 18 till my mid-20s, I spent a lot of time thinking and trying to figure out how to best be understood by people, and also how to have an argument that stayed on the issue in question. In my home growing up, my parents often didn’t have a lot of respect for the opinions of myself or my brother and sister. At times, they were either dismissive or openly devalued what we thought and felt. That hurt. I felt like what I said didn’t matter, or had no value. There were other times where communication was fine and we were able to discuss things. But there were often problems. Read more>>
Abby Strite
I’ve learned that to be an effective communicator, the most important thing is to speak from my true self. The more authentic I can be, the more trust I build, and the more likely a customer or partner or collaborator will be true, authentic, and empathetic in return. I infuse my values into most interactions so that my audience (whether that’s in person or on social media) knows exactly who I am and what I stand for. Those who can relate or want to relate will stick around. I don’t worry about communicating with those who opt out of my style – they aren’t my audience. Read more>>
Tamika Franklyn
I believe my ability to communicate effectively stems from my background and overall experience in sales across varied positions. Early on, I realized that the key to strong communication is listening more than you speak. Active listening allows you to truly understand the other person’s goals, challenges, and needs. By taking the time to process and restate what I believe I’ve heard, I’m able to ensure alignment and clarity. This approach has not only helped me build trust and foster meaningful relationships but also enabled me to tailor my communication to address the unique concerns and objectives of those I interact with. Read more>>
