Think ‘See Saw’ When Communicating

I walked by a neighborhood park the other day and noticed two young kids gleefully playing on a see-saw. The see-saw is a throwback, but still extremely effective as a crowd-pleaser. Each kid sported a grin as wide as Texas as the see-saw teetered and tottered rhythmically on a clear Sunday afternoon. Each kid reveling in the moment when they are on top, waiting for gravity’s inevitable pull.

The give and take of the see saw then caused me to reflect on communication. For communication to work, two must actively participate. One person communicating is a performance not an exchange. The same holds true for the see-saw. One kid sitting on a see-saw is a lonely kid searching for a buddy.

Next time you are in the midst of communication, visualize the see-saw as it ebbs and flows from one to another. Don’t overtake or overwhelm the conversation. Listen actively and let the other person ‘take the floor’ just as often as you open your mouth.

Take this tip to heart and you are letting each person in a conversation know what it feels like to be on top of the world. They might even start grinning, which isn’t a bad thing.

Until next time,

Dan Naden

Naden’s Corner

Photo credited to photosandhobbies.com