Jacqueline’s Field Notes
reflections on communicating
Hello! It’s my intention to share sporadically, as ideas and information that feel meaningful arise.
You’re receiving this newsletter because you’re a client, collaborator, or workshop attendee.
Have words ever gone flying from your mouth, and you instantly wished you could stuff them back in…pangs of regret?
Suffice to say, we’ve all had a moment or two like that. Such is the nature of being human. But what if you had a secret little system for having fewer moments like this?
That’s the question that arose this spring when SafeCare BC asked me to host a webinar for Psychological Health and Safety Days. Their theme was: Words Matter.
Words matter?!! Come on, what an amazing theme for a workplace safety event. I was struck by the sophistication of this. It’s not the first thing most people think of when it comes to workplace safety.
But yes! Words absolutely matter. In my view, workplace conversations are your organization’s culture, far more than the parties you throw or the even values you articulate. How you interact with each other every single day is truly where the rubber hits the road.
My mission
So, I had my mission: create a workshop that will help people keep their cool in difficult, heated moments. That’s how Before You Speak was born. I taught a technique for interrupting yourself before charged communication occurs (a secret little system that helps you stop, reset and choose). After the session, 94% of participants said they'd use what they learned.
Unlikely bedfellows
My workshops draw from two unlikely bedfellows: 25+ years of communication coaching and 18 years of meditation practice. Meditation is all about illuminating things: your patterns, your triggers, the gap between what you feel and what you say.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that how you communicate is entirely changeable. You can evolve it endlessly. You can overcome fears and shake habits. You can be a stronger communicator than you ever imagined.
The power of neutrality
Another huge lesson is the power of neutrality. To quote my meditation teacher, you can say anything with neutrality. When you speak with neutrality, you’ll choose different words. You may choose a different moment too. You speak without blame or judgment, and because of this, your words are usually better received.
How do you handle charged conversations at work? Do you have a go-to technique?
Happy communicating, everyone!
Warmly,
Jacqueline
P.S. Before You Speak is now available as a half-day workshop for teams. Here's the link. Or just hit reply and ask me anything.