"Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively."
— Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States
Across the country and in many parts of the world, I often get questions about the most significant attributes that contribute to the success of a leader, a business, and even a family.
Hands down, and no matter the culture, our ability to communicate is at the top of my list. Your actions and results are driven by how you speak to yourself, what your body and body of words elicit internally.
Often, the most powerful form of communication is non-verbal, as those around you tend to “hear” what they “see” (more than what is said).
Yet, it's equally crucial to remember that the words we use illustrate who we are, what we believe in, what we stand for, and what is most meaningful to us.
Words should be thoughtfully chosen as they are the only area of life where we have complete control. This yields an enormously high degree of influence on how our life, work, health, and families unfold.
Ask people what you communicate to them by virtue of how you engage the world around you – it is a powerful and often humbling way to learn about the reality of the future that you are living in to.
