Insights for Successful Communication
Red diamonds are known as the most expensive and the rarest diamond color in the world. It is Communication Intelligence’s hope that the quotes shared in this section of the magazine will be rare “finds” that will be highly valued.
“Each company I've been trusted to peer inside has evolved to have different cultures and leadership patterns. In general, most leaders rise through the ranks of their companies based on their expertise and competence at a particular job. And when they advance to be managers or leaders, they have little training and can be victims of a well-established culture.
“My better clients’ biggest strengths are their intentions to do great work and their willingness to learn and grow as leaders. And for others, their weakness is blind ambition and an ‘I don't need help’ attitude, accompanied by a sense of entitlement.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
“Most people I've worked with have good intentions and they want to serve and succeed, but many bad habits emerge without taking the time to be more self-aware and learn how they can best lead. By default, leaders' personalities take over. I have worked with leaders from the extremes of being overbearing to uncommunicative.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
“My best clients aren't those sent to be fixed, but they are great leaders that accept their limitations and are willing to explore their thinking and behavior by engaging with a coach/advisor to stay on top of their game.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
“Letting go of deeply held beliefs starts with self-awareness and vulnerability. Our interactions and reactions are conversational patterns. I like calling them patterns because it is less judgmental and caught in a spiral of negativity of criticizing ourselves.
“When we label how we talk or listen as patterns, we can observe them without negativity. Rather than identifying with them, we can have some distance and see them as productive or unproductive.
“We can practice changing our thinking and reactions with self-awareness and understanding. So first, recognize patterns, and second, practice changing them.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
“I say ‘practice’ because it is like learning to play golf or the piano; it takes time to change old habits. I say ‘vulnerability’ because much of our patterned thinking is cultural in that we are trained to have answers, compete and think we have to be the most intelligent person in the room.
“The more a leader rises to the C-suite, the more likely it is that they don't — and can't have — all the answers. Vulnerability at work or home is the antidote to our cultural patterns of being the know-it-all.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
“In conflict, we often defend our perspective or position on a particular subject. I liken this to entering a conversation or meeting with a closed fist.
“We have our view, and with our ego fully intact, our minds are busy peddling our perspective and our ability to hear or absorb other views is impossible.
“When we multiply that pattern by ten in a meeting, we have many fists clashing and bickering. Collaboration and idea generation is lost and decisions are often made in a rush and not fully vetted.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
“One major thing that can help people adjust and learn is to accept that everyone comes to the table with a point of view.
“The first part of my book is about storytelling conversations. Our stories are made up of facts, opinions and the emotional reactions accompanying them. It is so easy to identify with and get stuck with our stories.”
Chuck Wisner
Business and personal consultant
Author of THE ART OF CONSCIOUS CONVERSATIONS: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact
