Have you ever been told to “think before you speak”?
My mom, of blessed memory, shared that directive with me a thousand times!
Maybe because I’ve always talked a lot. (Another story for another time…)
So, when I came across this acronym THINK, it struck a chord.
Is what you are about to say at work, with family, or with friends…
T – Thoughtful,
H – Honest,
I – Intelligent,
N – Necessary, and
K – Kind?
Reflecting on the THINK strategy in your own communication, consider how applying one or more of these principles can make a difference in your interactions.
Use this acronym to THINK before you speak.
As a fellow “talker” the N resonates with me. My tendency to overcommunicate might be resulting in unnecessary communications. Possible negatives are (1) not a good use of my time or the recipient’s time, (2) communicates mistrust about whether the recipient “gets it,” and (3) runs the risk of starting to sound like the Charlie Brown teacher (wa waah wa waah waah waah) — i.e., the overcommunication can drown out truly necessary messages.
You made me think today, Karen!
Esther – GREAT comments. I agree – the “N” for Necessary is the one that resonates with me as something to work on. Your 3 points on overcommunicating are spot on. I’m glad you’ve added those thoughts here. Overcommunicating runs the risk of diluting your message, especially with the limited attention economy of today.
You made me THINK too.