A few weeks ago I got a direct message from a friend on Facebook expressing her opposition to a viewpoint I shared on social media.
This is a friend I lived next door to for a few years and someone I look up to for her parenting skills (she has 6 older boys, I have 5 little boys).
She has a fun personality and tends to be very passionate about many topics. Although I don’t always agree with her I like that she has strong opinions.
After receiving her direct message I tried calling her on the phone.
She didn’t answer.
I messaged her back saying that I’d love to have a conversation with her about the topic on hand.
She messaged back saying that she didn’t want to talk and then continued to write all the reasons she felt I was wrong and why.
As I’ve been reading our next Pro Book Club book ‘We need to talk’ by Celeste Headlee, this interaction has been on my mind.
Celeste talks about how in our modern, tech-heavy society we are losing the skill of communication.
We are too often talking AT each other instead of WITH each other.
There is a lot that is lost through emails and texts and gained through face to face conversation.
Effective communication requires important tools such as tone, expression, and simply the compassion that comes from looking another human being in the eyes.
These are all elements that are often missing and that we need to protect if we are to build connection and confidence in our communication skills and in our relationships.
I hope you are practicing face to face communication. If not, I’d love to help you feel more confident to do so.
I invite you to join me and other like-minded professionals next Thursday at 10am PST for our Pro Book Club Meeting. Click here to register.
I’m excited to discuss Celeste’s book with you and practice these important connecting conversational skills together.
Keep up the great work!
