Not all bridges look alike but they are crucial connections when we need to get from one place to another.
At its core, leadership communication is about building connections between people – who all have their own lived experience, point of view, culture and ideas. Communication gets more complicated when you want to connect genuinely with someone who sees the world differently than you do!
Authors Claire Raines and Lara Ewing in their book, The Art of Connecting, provide tips and ideas to help leaders communicate across all points of view. They describe five principles that help strengthen connection:
- There is always a bridge. Move from asking if you can connect to asking yourself what you will discover and use to connect. Remind yourself that with persistence there is always something to use as a bridge between two people.
- Curiosity is the key. Stay open to what you are hearing and experiencing when you are interacting with others. Remind yourself that everyone has something to teach.
- What you assume is what you get. Perception is reality when dealing with people.
- Each individual is a culture. Everyone is a complex and unique combination of factors. Don’t rely on one or two pieces to define anyone.
- No strings are attached. You can only control yourself. Your genuine curiosity and connection can’t be used as leverage to influence others. Authenticity is crucial.
If you look hard enough you will find a bridge to connect with anyone!
Todd Thorsgaard
Higher EDge 