Positive Communication

“Every professional context is created by the conversations that people have. (..) Every moment of interaction is important. Positive communication can help create positive organizational climates, high-quality relationships, and affect a wide range of outcomes such as health, learning, or morale.”
That’s what researchers Julien Mirivel and Ryan Fuller found out.

Even something as simple as the absence or presence of greetings in emails influences an organization’s climate, as Joan Waldvogel also researched.

Every professional context is created by the conversations that people have. Click To Tweet

At a certain university, emails were short, to the point, and without warm greetings or closings. This organization suffered from low morale, conflict across departments, and low social cohesion.
In a factory, the majority of emails featured friendly openings and closings. This organization featured a culture where managers and staff were “more in harmony and supportive of each other”.

Julien Mirivel designed a pragmatic model of positive communication to maintain high-quality relationships.

Positive communication model

In every interaction, but not necessarily in this order:

Greet people to create human contact.
Ask open-ended questions to discover the unknown – it shows you are interested in the other.
Compliment people to affect their sense of self – but do it genuinely. People perform better when they feel good.
Disclose something about yourself to deepen the relationship.
Encourage people to give them support.
Listen to transcend differences.

When you practice these behaviors, you influence others. This proven model looks simple but you need the Personal Preparation I discussed before to do it right. You need to be genuine, authentic, congruent. If you fake interest, or you phrase your compliments ambiguously, or your questions are rhetoric – then nothing will work. What you need is congruent communication and the I-You attitude where you see others as equal people.

This is book post #50 – Part “YOU”

Here‘s the earlier post
Here is the next post

If you’re confused – please start with post #1 or check the Positive Power overview and read the Positive Agent Manifesto.

By the way, if you want to contribute to a positive workplace culture, my next open workshop on Positive Culture Change Leadership is scheduled for May 2018! More information and registration is available at a first come first serve basis.

Leaders, employees, consultants, citizens – everyone can make a positive difference from any position, without needing permission or resources from others. This blog will help you see positive possibilities and (re)claim your positive agency. Unstuck yourself and engage others via your interaction and actions. Transform into a positive organization where people and performance thrive.

I’m blogging my next book: “Positive Power at Work – How to make a positive difference from any position.” Your feedback is appreciated!

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