“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.

Par Chadha

I think it starts with recognizing that communication isn’t about telling people what to do. It’s about being in service to the people around you, helping them succeed. When you focus on that, you stop thinking about how to sound smart or polished, and you start thinking about how to remove obstacles for others. That’s where communication becomes powerful. If someone on your team has a gap, maybe it’s a technical skill or confidence in a certain area, your job is to fill that gap with them, not just point it out. That creates a very different type of relationship. People don’t just listen — they engage, because it feels like their mission too. Read More>>

Shafonya Turner

The attribute of self-awareness is both a blessing and a crux. I recognize my own triggers and motivators when it comes to interpersonal communication. (The effort and work of my internal dialog is still ongoing, however. ) While the words that are said are what we are told to rely on, an honest person knows that we search for intent and motive behind the words we hear or read. Many times, we are analyzing subconsciously but we learn early to decipher meaning from tone, cadence, and even the “vibration” of the speaker we are engaging with.  Read More>>

Jessa McKinnis

I have always had the ability to speak to anyone. Usually, small talk was just the way to move through a crowded room full of cousins I had only really met once or twice. Being from a Mexican-American family, I had plenty of cousins from multiple generations who knew who I was well before I knew who they were. So small talk was the way to go. Even in possibly uncomfortable situations, I just knew what to say to make someone laugh or help ease their discomfort. I think this really just came to because of my ability to read the room, to quickly asses the needs of someone else, or even just a simple smile to break any tension. Read More>>

George Peebles

There are many factors that have influenced my ability to communicate effectively. Growing up I learned the stepping stones to communicating through my interactions with friends, family, and teachers. But I started to really develop a more advanced understanding in college.

For my Undergraduate and Graduate degrees I studied communication and learned how to determine my audiences needs and background and how to convey my message accordingly. I have always been a people person and when I am teaching fishing I feel a connection with nature and those around me wanting to receive my message. Read More>>

Nathan Garcia

I’ve been in sales since I was 5 years old. I started off selling pencils to kids in my class. Fast forward 30+ years and now I help families and businesses create millions of dollars of value per year. The road wasn’t linear. There were setbacks based on confidence, but wins along the way gave me confidence to take bigger risks. With each risk came a lesson for growth that multiplied into skills that I’ve grown from. I’ve cold called doctors, knocked doors, sold at dinner seminars, taught at classes and done live webinars. It’s a process that requires scripting and effective listening. Read More>>

Jennifer Sobel

I have been sensitive from the very beginning, shaped by a family marked with conflict and silence around deeper wounds—addiction, betrayal, jealousy, rage, money. Early on, I learned that relationship is among life’s greatest challenges, and that parts of myself felt unacceptable to others.

Over twenty years ago, sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous awakened me to the truth that resentment and blame are never “out there,” but within. The 12 steps taught me the essential discipline of owning “my part.” Read More>>