Effective Communications

Jason D Durrant

My kids used to love to play “Telephone” when they were younger. If you’re like me, you certainly remember little voices whispering a phrase or sentence to the person sitting next to them, passed on until everyone has heard something. When the message arrives at the last person, they reveal to the group what they heard -- usually vastly different from the original phrase -- and everyone giggles at how the message has evolved and changed.
 
This game always reminds me that good communication isn’t easy. What we say might be misinterpreted or received in a way that we didn’t intend. Effective communication is a skill that needs to be practiced and developed. As I’ve been thinking about our cultural focus, I’m challenging myself to improve my communication skills and invite you to do the same. A couple ideas:
 

• Compliment someone for speaking up and sharing an idea
• Spend some time getting to know a member of your team better on a personal level
• Practice “active listening”

 
As we embrace the value of open, candid, and clear communication in ICS, we can all follow the Savior’s perfect example of communicating with love and kindness. Thank you for all you do and have a wonderful weekend.
 
Jason