'Step Up to Leader' Post > Tangential Question

[Dori Green]

Re:  "flat refusals" -- most companies can benefit from periodic tuneups
of everybody's basic communication skills.  Intent of sender does not
always equal perception of receiver.  

As the "professional communicators" in the herd, we are justifiably
expected to lead by example in this area.  For instance, if we think we
just heard a flat refusal from a subordinate, we're supposed to swallow
our initial reaction ("Oh yeah?  Well buddy, I've had it up to here with
your <insert gunnysack of irritations here> and you're outta here!") and
instead do a good Active Listening exercise ("Wow, let me make sure I
just heard you correctly...etc.").

It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it.  I admit that I often feel
some frustration about feeling like I'm the only person in the plant
who's bothering to be careful and respectful and precise and accurate
with my interactions while everybody else gets to ride rough-shod over
me.  But that's the way of the world and I did choose this career path.

I try to think of this area as "oh goody, another educational
opportunity".

Dori Green