How we interact with clients and staff will affect how well our organization functions and how satisfying our jobs are. I came across this article the other day titled "The Ten Laws of Human Communication". I thought it was so powerful I have reproduced it here.
First Law of Human Communication. It is not what our message does to the listener, but what our listener does with the message, that determines our success as communicators.
Second Law of Human Communication. Listeners generally interpret messages in ways which make them feel comfortable.
Third Law of Human Communication. When peoples' attitudes are attacked head-on, they are likely to defend those attitudes and, in the process ... reinforce them.
Fourth Law of Human Communication. People pay most attention to messages which are relevant to their own circumstances and point of view.
Fifth Law of Human Communication. People who feel insecure in a relationship are unlikely to be good listeners.
Sixth Law of Human Communication. People are more likely to listen to us if we also listen to them.
Seventh Law of Human Communication. People are more likely to change in response to a combination of new experience and communication than in response to communication alone.
Eighth Law of Human Communication. People are more likely to support a change which affects them if they are consulted before the change is made.
Ninth Law of Human Communication. The message in what is said will be interpreted in the light of 'how', 'when', 'where' and by whom it is said.
Tenth Law of Human Communication. Lack of self-knowledge and an unwillingness to resolve our own internal conflicts make it harder for us to communicate with other people.
