Making Waves

 

Well, that last blog really made some waves and rattled cages. Several phone calls, emails, and I see that my unsubscribes were almost triple what they typically are.

Sign of the Times!?

I didn’t mean for folks to get all freaked out, it’s really just a public service announcement. A tough conversation that needs to be brought up now and now again to check in make sure we’re all on the same page. Open the door for some good (yet awkward) discussions for everyone. I have a similar conversation about cleanliness so you don’t stink during training. You know, take a bath and wash your gear, come to class w/clean clothes, so you don’t smell of B.O. when you’re rolling around with someone in class. Now those academy members who called me were just curious if there was something going on. Don’t worry, it’s just a precautionary measure to open further discussions if necessary.

It’s Interesting…

I know, tough conversations are… Well… Tough! And these days they are happening less and less thanks to smartphones, social media, texts, and email. Passive aggressive behavior like ghosting is a real thing now-a-days in both personal and business interactions. The other end of the spectrum is it’s common for people to over react emotionally and verbally (sometimes even physically) to something that needn’t be handled that way. When people lack skills they often over or under react to things. And make no mistake, dealing with difficult conversations IS a skill. When people haven’t had much practice dealing with emotions when it comes to small conflicts, how do you think they’ll perform when faced with larger conflicts? You already know the answer… It’s horrible how our lack of interpersonal skills have degraded over the years. That along with other factors have paved the way for many of the conflicts that are avoidable today. This lack of skill adds to anxiety, depression even suicide if not addressed. It is not uncommon today for people to misinterpret disrespect with disagreement. Just because I don’t agree with what you are saying, doesn’t mean that I am disrespecting you. (As long as I am communicating respectfully) But in our “all in” or “all out” society, many people feel this way. Many folks are overly emotional, dramatic and reactionary when it comes to people who don’t see things the way they do. Neo-tribalism, identity politics, and the like have not helped either. Adopting an “Us or Them” mentality along with demonization and dehumanization makes it difficult to find mutual ground to settle differences.

Your Superpower!?

If you hone your ability to have difficult conversations in a tactful, open way, you will find yourself with a Superpower yo! One that is woefully lacking in our overly electronic society today.

Business Is Good…

The past several years I am working more and more with corporations that bring me in to teach their employees simple tools to communicate better. Addressing potential conflicts early on, before they grow to be big hairy monsters can pave the way to avoiding problems before they arise, not to mention, getting through problems better when they do slip though the cracks.

It’s Pretty Simple…

To practice having better communication skills, start small. Practice breathing and keeping your composure. Learn how to pick your battles. Know what your objective is in the interaction. Communicate clearly. Treat people with dignity and respect even if you don’t agree with what they are saying. Don’t cut their character down just because you don’t like their perspective. Remember, they don’t have to agree with you. It’s alright to have differing opinions. Heck, you can still be friends even if you don’t see eye to eye! (Imagine that!) Draw boundaries Remember the difference between Adversity and Adversaries. Most good / least harm!

Godzilla!

Having pre-emptive conversations that are awkward or difficult can stop a bigger, badder situation from happening! When is the best time to Kill Godzilla!? When he’s a gigantic lizard with atomic breath wiping out Tokyo, or when he is still little baby lizard inside his oversized, yet still tiny egg?! Obviously, kill him when he’s tiny. It’s that way with tackling conflict as well. Just like my last email was an attempt to prevent a situation before it was a situation. No fun, but better than dealing with a situation when it gets out of control!

Put On Your Cape

If you are looking to learn how to deal with conflicts inside of and around you, then you are in the right place my friend. You’ll develop a SuperPower as you learn how to use conflict as an opportunity. This skill will help you to be more safe, successful and effective in everything you do! Join us on our Free PeaceWalker Network. It’s a place where you can gain skills on how to protect yourself and those you care about more effectively. You’ll also feel less stress and be more successful in your relationships, job and Life. Learning how to protect yourself (and others) is so much more than physical defense. Follow the link below to get access to our free network where you’ll find more resources to help you transform into more of who you want to be. https://peacewalker.mn.co/share/TF38eL-uJGM8PjdO?utm_source=manual

Keep Going, ~Craig