Some thoughts about communicating from the perspective of “putting yourself in some one else’s shoes.”
In the workplace (and in all of life, for that matter) putting people at ease pays big dividends. I’ve learned to take the time to help others understand the context: what’s happening, what’s important, what’s not as important, what is needed to do and what can be expected.
I often find myself in situations in which I’ll try to help someone by using phrases like “Stop me if this is going into too much detail, but I want to share what to expect since this is your first time going through this.”
I've discovered that when you provide context in a personalized, one-to-one way, you help people feel more confident about what comes next. And when people feel confident, they bring their whole ability to problem solve to the table rather than having it be narrowed by anxiety or assumptions.
In the process of putting people at ease, you get to share your experiences. Everybody likes to talk about what he or she does, right? For some people, sharing their knowledge can be the most satisfying part of their day.
In the workplace (and in all of life, for that matter) putting people at ease pays big dividends. I’ve learned to take the time to help others understand the context: what’s happening, what’s important, what’s not as important, what is needed to do and what can be expected.
I often find myself in situations in which I’ll try to help someone by using phrases like “Stop me if this is going into too much detail, but I want to share what to expect since this is your first time going through this.”
I've discovered that when you provide context in a personalized, one-to-one way, you help people feel more confident about what comes next. And when people feel confident, they bring their whole ability to problem solve to the table rather than having it be narrowed by anxiety or assumptions.
In the process of putting people at ease, you get to share your experiences. Everybody likes to talk about what he or she does, right? For some people, sharing their knowledge can be the most satisfying part of their day.