communication skillz
how would you rate your communication skills? are you good at listening? are you good at expressing yourself? communication is often the most overlooked factor in a relationship, be it friends, colleagues, family or even significant other. miscommunication, more often than not, is one of the main reasons for ‘fuck ups’. please excuse my language. i shouldn’t be cussing since i’m fasting, but this happens to be the most accurate description of some events that have come to pass.
take for instance, a person is at the table dining with a couple of friends and he/she can’t reach the salt shaker. there would be multiple ways to gain the possession of the salt shaker. let’s analyse a few from different perspective or viewpoints.
1) Get of the chair and walk over to retrieve it
2) Could someone please pass me the salt
3) Erm, Carl (substitute name), could you please pass the salt?
4) Hey pass me the salt
5) Pass the <insert vulgarity here> salt!
now let’s have a look at the first approach. the only person inconvinienced is you, as you would have to get up and get the salt yourself. not much interaction involved.
the second approach is a polite request open to the table, but secretly targeted at the person closest to the salt shaker.
the third approach would be a polite, yet direct request to the person you assume is closest to the salt shaker.
the fourth approach, is impolite and is a general request for the salt to be passed over.
the fifth, is plain outright rude and uncouth. generally unacceptable in most situations, unless called for.
i recently attended a customer service training course aimed at improving our customer ’soft-skills’. it was not difficult as i basically put on a mask and ‘voice’ on the job with customers. a little restraint and a lot of common sense will tell you that a screaming, shouting and rude customer will not be nice, if you were to mirror the same behaviour. what then? kill them with kindness. turn the other cheek to be slapped. this is just the theoretical approach, but is not practical in reality. what is practical is to bear with the situation. i don’t care if it is a clenched fist, teeth grinding or hair pulling. just take it like a sponge and try to focus on the task at hand, while speaking to these troublemakers. after the call or conversation, look for a healthy channel to unleash the fucking fury and anger pent up. bash that desk. kick that wall. punch that bag. break that pencil (not encouraged due to environmental issues). DISCLAIMER: i don’t take responsibility for any injured or fractured limbs for the above recommendations.
an integral part of my relaxation routine is music. i listen to a variety of music genre. R&B, pop, hip-hop, classical and so forth. each brings a different mood and different relaxation to emotional nerves. for those without the benefit of a music playing device, consider humming or singing your favourite song softly, lest ye disturb thy neighbours or colleagues.
there is more to pen, but i am running out of literative juice today. take care and relax. communicate if you can, if you can’t. smile and move on.
emo: nothing like a good ‘ol guilt trip, down misery lane
