“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.
Jennifer Horspool
One of my favorite sayings about communication comes from a “Fortune” magazine article authored by William H. Whyte in 1950, “The Biggest Problem in Communication Is the Illusion That It Has Taken Place.” Read more>>
Alexandra O’Sullivan
I am a photographer and on photo shoots I need to pose people. One of the most important parts of that is communicating effectively. Have you ever tried to tell someone to put their body in a very specific position? It’s not that simple. That being said, in order to know my left from my right I have to put my fingers in an L in front of me. Read more>>
Laura Demetrious
As a Communications Director for a large software company, my ability to communicate effectively is not only helpful in my role, it’s essential. Read more>>
Lani Harmony
When asked how one develops the ability to communicate effectively I thought, this is a great question because there are different communication styles that must be accounted for. For example, you have the communication styles: director, thinker, socializer, and relator. Additionally, you have communication styles like passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, or assertive. Read more>>
Marquise Wells
I developed my ability to communicate effectively mainly from the military and working with a large variety of people. The key is to break everything down to its simplest form and build from there. In the military, it was referred to as “breaking it down Barney style” and when they explained things it would be in a form that was simple enough for everyone to understand and follow. Read more>>
Scott Churchson
Growing up I was the kid who couldn’t talk to anyone. I was the type who’d mutter under his breath when he tried to communicate, barely if ever make eye contact and walk away from a conversation with the other person trying to figure out what my issue was and me walking away hating myself to being unable to simply talk to another human being. For years I was like that, even into my 20s. But I learned that to overcome that I first have to overcome being afraid. Read more>>
Kalaani Reynolds Shuvona T. Rembert-Spann
Kalaani (Founder): You have to listen to those you are compassionate about. When I started the Melanated Money Mondays Facebook Group, I started it with the people in mind that were hurting. May 2020, we were at the height of a pandemic and social unrest. There was no work, but there was always a hustle. Read more>>
Henry Dombey
I always say, ‘you don’t create beautiful work by mistake – you have to be intentional’ and this intentionality comes from clear communication. The first step of every project is to align all of the stakeholders and figure out their vision and aspirations for the final deliverables. By proactively getting everyone on the same page we develop a clear intention for the work, add value to the client, and set my team up for success. Read more>>
Shawna Mang
My earlier career as a hairstylist for 18 years really cultivated great communication skills which 100% lends itself to the career I am in now, Modern Floral Preservation. I preserve bridal bouquets and have clear communication and expectations is so necessary to deliver not just a great product, but a great experience. Read more>>
Weiqian Han
Effective communication has been something I’ve worked on over time. It started with a genuine curiosity about people and a desire to understand different perspectives. I found that listening actively and asking thoughtful questions helped me connect with others on a deeper level. Read more>>
Delany Giannoble
Learning to communicate effectively involves continuous education. I have been honing communication skills for many years. Beginning as a writer for our high school newspaper, to a degree from the University of Florida in telecommunications, to years working in marketing, I have spent a considerable amount of time learning to become a better storyteller. If I had to give 3 tips to those looking to develop their communication and storytelling abilities, I would say this: Read more>>
Lindsay Cochrane
There’s actually not an easy answer to this question because I do believe that it varies from person to person but my story is I actually worked in the restaurant industry for a long time since I was 15 I was a hostess than a server than a bartender but really when I started bartending you know you see a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life some that want to talk to you all day long someone she did not talk to them in and you learn Read more>>
Rachel Sellick
I love this question! I’ve always found it easier to communicate when I feel that I know what I’m doing. You know that feeling when you’re super confident that you know you belong, and you’ve worked hard to get to where you are? That’s when communicating has been my forte. However, when I know I’m not the smartest in the room and I might not have the qualifications that others do around me, that’s the moment when communication goes out the window. Read more>>
