When Communication Bites You in the Ass (And You’re Supposed to Be the Expert)
Let’s talk about communication—the sexy little skill everyone thinks they’ve mastered until it turns around and spanks them in public. I recently made a video outlining what I believe are the four essential elements of being a good communicator. They are: Stay true to your principles. Start from a balanced position. Put your emotions away. Use empathic communication skills. Sounds solid, right? Very educated. Very mature. Very… textbook. But here’s the twist. I’m someone who’s studied psychology and sociology, someone who lectures, teaches, runs workshops, and helps people literally fight their way through life—and even I get bitten in the ass by communication. Repeatedly. Why? Because no matter how skilled you are, communication is a two-way street. You could be the smoothest talker alive, but if the other person’s not ready to hear you, it won’t matter. Sometimes, it’ll just blow up in your face. Let’s walk through these so-called golden rules—through th...