Page 17 - voices-2023-02

FROM THE DESK

Thoughts on Focused Communication

Dave Bones, DTM - Club Growth Director

other 20 recipients don't need to be reading

every response.

In this example, calling on the phone would
be a good option, to try to deescalate the

situation. The one-on-one conversation might
go something like this:

“Hi, thanks for taking my call. I just wanted to

check in because I was confused (feeling) by your email
response to me, which you cc'd to all the recipients. friendship because of the time taken to resolve
I was grateful for your offer to help, but was a bit this. By talking about what is most important,
thrown off (again, a feeling) when you said that I namely feelings and values, this is possible.

should have given more notice (advance scheduling as It simply would not have been possible with
their important value), ending with the explanation the 20 recipient cc'd email thread. Certainly,
point. Were you wanting more advanced notice, and there is a balancing act of quantity vs. quality
maybe dealing with a hectic schedule of your own? I in communication.

am guessing that you were feeling frustrated (asking
about their feelings) when I offered only a few days’ A final thought—Something to keep in mind
notice. Did I get any of this correct?” during misunderstandings is to take the time
to communicate the underlying values and

With a response that uses the language of feelings one-on-one. As Toastmasters, we always
feelings and values and tries to draw a person can take the time to support each other with
out, you can help to deescalate, and gain better mutual growth as our common bond.
harmony between us. Maybe the person was

having a bad day, and now we can have a better

VOICES! | FEBRUARY 2023 17