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Culture. What you believe really matters. Communication

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Business Attorney and Success Advisor

CULTURE really does matter.  What is your business's culture?  If the owner hasn't set it, have the employees?  Is the culture best for business, or is it an accident?  My business coaching firm has well defined points of culture that guide the company and the coaches...and they're spot on for quality, accuracy and results!

Our fifth point of culture is COMMUNICATION.  I obtained my undergrad degree in communication.  I love public speaking and I see communication as necessary for success in business and in life.  In fact, I also believe the lack of effective communication as the downfall to business success and relationships alike.  Here's what communication means to me as a business coach and attorney as well my ActionCOACH firm:

"I speak positively of my fellow team members, my clients and ActionCOACH in both public and private. I speak with good purpose using empowering and positive conversation. I never use or listen to sarcasm or gossip. I acknowledge what is being said as true for the speaker at that moment and I take responsibility for responses to my communication. I greet and farewell people using their name. I always apologize for any upsets first and then look for a solution. I only ever discuss concerns in private with the person involved."

That's a tall order, and I don't always live up to this ideal...but I strive to do better daily.  In an Information Age, it's difficult not to notice (or be caught up in) gossip...even something as innocent as Morgan Freeman's car crash is none of my concern (this was blogged about by others and I commented...was I fueling gossip?).  It's also unbelievably difficult to avoid sarcasm, since I find that a "natural" part of my sense of humor.  I guess there are levels of sarcasm...and that which hurts or insults is never funny enough to be appropriate. 

I also believe that it takes a lot of skill (especially for the cynical lawyer in me) to consider "as true" what other people say.  Their truth is their truth, and just because I don't believe it doesn't mean they don't believe it.  It's a mindset that, when achieved, allows for more open communication and less antagonism.  Effective communication is no accident...it takes effort and skill and constant improvement (see my previous post on Kaizen).

If you want to improve your communication skills, I'd recommend a great book titled Thank You For Arguing.  Author's name slips my mind at the moment, but I'll update this post if I can find the book in my stack of recent reads.  :) 

For the first point of culture (committment) please see: http://activerain.com/blogsview/567470/Culture-What-you-believe

For the second point of culture (ownership) please see: http://activerain.com/blogsview/568737/Culture-What-you-believe

For our third point of culture (integrity) please see: http://activerain.com/blogsview/624259/Culture-What-you-believe

 The fourth point of culture I highlighted was excellence.  Please see http://activerain.com/blogsview/628762/Culture-What-you-believe.

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