In a recent training on Creating Customer Intimacy, I tabled the idea that all the communication tactics in the world would never enhance your ability to have customer intimacy. Most of us live in a world where we think we have no customers. But as long as you have to work with at least one human being in the world, that person is considered a ‘customer’. It could be a team member, your family, a boss, a friend. At the end of it all, we have to be very clear that in order for customers to want us, we need to make a special change to the way we do things.
Personal Development MP3: Communicate So Others Understand
There’s a saying that was popularized by Stephen Covey (originated from the Bible): “Seek first to understand, then to be understood”. It is probably one of the most important concepts in communication because to be effective in communicating, you must be able to adopt “other-centered” thinking.
What is “Other-Centered” Thinking?
Some people are self-centered. No, I’m not referring to them being ‘selfish’. Rather, I think they have little concept of “other”. In other words, they don’t consider the thoughts or feelings of other people.
Personal Development: Generation Gaps or Experience Gaps?
I’m certain you’ve heard of the concept of a ‘generation gap’. In fact, this gap happens in many other places too. Racial gap, religious gap, cultural gap… the list can go on.
What exactly is this “gap”?
I was listening to the radio today and they were discussing the case of the 14 year old teenager in school who had beaten up her teacher. The main topic was, whose responsibility it was. It was quite funny because the first caller dialed in to blame the Minister for Education. The most of the rest contributed points that were borderline illogical (“I blame the teachers because they have no dress code themselves”).
Psychological Dynamics: Creating New Habitual Patterns
In my experience working with clients, I’ve often discovered that the biggest issue in creating change is the fact that they are surrounded by a system within their present environment that enables them to continue to be the way they are (psychotherapist Paul Wachtel calls them ‘accomplices’ in his book Therapeutic Communication).
photo credit: alancleaver_2000.