As
many of you know I am in Paris for my honeymoon. Many months before our trip we
bought a Rosetta Stone program to learn French. Between starting a new business
and planning a wedding, learning French seemed to get pushed down lower and
lower on my priority list.
As
we boarded our flight I started to have some anxiety about my lack of being
able to communicate or understand French. I soon became more at ease when we
ate out and found that many of the restaurant menus were written in French with
English below it. And while most of the Parisians speak enough English to get
by...I still feel like we could communicate so much better if I knew French.
Communication
is so important to me and yet, as important as it is to me I did not make it a
priority to ensure that my French was sharp enough to eliminate even the most
basic miscommunications. So my question to you is...what are you doing to
ensure that your communication skills are sharp enough to communicate with
others?
One
thing I know is that the French seem to appreciate my goodwill in trying to
learn their language. So don't you think that others will appreciate it when
you attempt to communicate better with them?
So
what can you do to better equip yourself with better communication skills? Let
me share two during this post:
~~~
Listen to what the other person is
saying to you: In other words
sometimes it’s better to listen more than talk. Many people try to dominate the
conversation or worse cut you off before you can finish your thought. Don’t be
one of those people. Listen to what the other person is saying and focus on
their thoughts and the conversation.
When you are unsure of the person’s intent or conversation…ask questions so you are clear on what they are trying to share with you.
For instance, when we went to a little café here in Paris. We were a little apprehensive about reading the menu: this was our first time eating at a local restaurant that did not have English on the menu. Our waiter spoke English pretty well and told us if we had any questions to please ask him. He was gracious as we attempted to read the menu in French.
One of the specials for the day was a white fish…as he tried to describe it to me; he could not give me the American name of the fish. He couldn’t find the right word. So instead he described it by saying it was a white fish…a mix between a sole and cod. By listening to his description and his attempt to describe the taste of the fish I was able to understand the dish much more. By listening and paying attention to him I was more equipped to decide which dish I wanted to try.
When you are unsure of the person’s intent or conversation…ask questions so you are clear on what they are trying to share with you.
For instance, when we went to a little café here in Paris. We were a little apprehensive about reading the menu: this was our first time eating at a local restaurant that did not have English on the menu. Our waiter spoke English pretty well and told us if we had any questions to please ask him. He was gracious as we attempted to read the menu in French.
One of the specials for the day was a white fish…as he tried to describe it to me; he could not give me the American name of the fish. He couldn’t find the right word. So instead he described it by saying it was a white fish…a mix between a sole and cod. By listening to his description and his attempt to describe the taste of the fish I was able to understand the dish much more. By listening and paying attention to him I was more equipped to decide which dish I wanted to try.
~~~
We all speak different languages, no
matter where we are from: It’s
true…even though I am in Paris and their language is French and mine is English
that doesn’t mean that even if we spoke the same language we would be able to
communicate properly. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who
spoke the same language but they just didn’t communicate in the same way as
you?
Most people have a preferred method of communication. At work for instance, do you notice how some of the women you work with want to hear all about your weekend before diving into work issues, while others just want to get right to work and skip all the social conversing? People create their own types of communication styles and you should be aware of what they are if you want to communicate in a way that is productive for both of you.
One thing I have learned in Paris is that when you don’t speak the same language, the most social interaction you can have is Bonjour or Merci…Saying hello and thank you is about the extent of it and I have to say that I don’t really care for that. I want to say “Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui?” (Hello, how are you today?) While I can say that in French…when they start speaking French back to me…I am in trouble!
I am the type of person who wants to create some sort of relationship with you before I dive right in and start talking. Even when working with clients, it is important to me to know who you are and what your communication methods are so I know how to communicate with you.
Most people have a preferred method of communication. At work for instance, do you notice how some of the women you work with want to hear all about your weekend before diving into work issues, while others just want to get right to work and skip all the social conversing? People create their own types of communication styles and you should be aware of what they are if you want to communicate in a way that is productive for both of you.
One thing I have learned in Paris is that when you don’t speak the same language, the most social interaction you can have is Bonjour or Merci…Saying hello and thank you is about the extent of it and I have to say that I don’t really care for that. I want to say “Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui?” (Hello, how are you today?) While I can say that in French…when they start speaking French back to me…I am in trouble!
I am the type of person who wants to create some sort of relationship with you before I dive right in and start talking. Even when working with clients, it is important to me to know who you are and what your communication methods are so I know how to communicate with you.
