“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.
Holly Fisher
My earliest memories involve books. My mom read to me constantly, creating a foundational love of words that has followed me into adulthood and my career. Reading and writing are long-time passions. By age 12, I decided to be a newspaper reporter and never looked back. I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in mass communication. I worked in journalism for more than a decade. Read more>>
Rebecca Branham
Let me take you back to when the thought of speaking up made my stomach do flips. Picture this: a kid so shy, others mistook my silence for snobbery. Fast forward to nursing school, and there’s me getting advice that maybe I was better suited for a behind-the-scenes role because, frankly, I sucked at communicating. Ouch, right? Read more>>
Joseph Tseng
As a child of first generation immigrants, I have been translating, more figuratively than linguistically, my whole life. While my Chinese parents occasionally asked me for help with English, I found myself more preoccupied with translating America to my parents and also translating my parents to the (White) American culture we were trying to build a home within. Read more>>
Lauren Allen
I think I can contribute my ability to communicate effectively in part to being a dancer most of my life. When people think about effective communication I’m sure dance is the last thing they think of but in my eyes, it’s the pinnacle of nonverbal communication. Read more>>
Georgie Murray
The horse industry requires a lot of communication. Whether you are communicating with a horse you are riding, a student you are teaching or a potential buyer, you must be able to effectively communicate. I think horses truly are the best teachers. If you communicate effectively with them, they will do absolutely anything for you. Read more>>
Blair Blanchette
We inhabit a world designed for human connection, where understanding and relating to one another can be profoundly achieved through simple communication. Despite initial perceptions of difference, our shared humanity provides us with a universal capacity to connect. This principle has guided me through various paths in life, enabling me to forge meaningful relationships in personal, professional, and social contexts. Read more>>
Tonya Parker
I think as a child, I was perceived as a good communicator. I was a voracious reader and developed an extensive vocabulary. It was nothing for me to naturally use what we called ‘an SAT word.” I also loved word games and puzzles, as did my mother. I always tell folks I was weaned on Scrabble, and the children in our family played just as well as the college- and law school-educated adults. Little did I know I have an intuitive gift with words—it’s why I have become that opponent to beat playing Words with friends! Read more>>
Valerie David
I was born with the gift of gab. I am sure I was talking in my mom’s belly, forewarning her that my favorite dessert was going to be any form of ice cream and to get a scoop ready upon my arrival. Growing up, when my parents grounded me (which was not often, although my parents might have a different recollection), the worst punishment they could give me was taking away my phone privileges. Read more>>
Huong Vo
To me, to develop true communication skills takes a lot of work and time and it begins with yourself. No one is good at communicating effectively without intentionally putting in the time and effort. I’ve always been a “why” person – wanting to know why people think/believe/take action they why they do. And my curiosity always led me to meet interesting new people by asking them unique questions, which in turn, always led to valuable and memorable conversations. Read more>>
