Happy New Year

Goal Setting for 2003

by Suzanne Saxe

Submitted by Jackie Damrau

"The Return we reap from generous actions is not always evident."

–Francesco Guicciardini

If you are working on your New Year's Resolutions or goals for 2003, we'd like to suggest one to add to your list—Conscious Communication. The concept of Conscious Communication is a fundamental part of working consultatively. It involves communicating with others in a thoughtful and kind manner. Below are the principles of Conscious Communication:

• Do not interrupt conversations or speakers.
• Respect other peoples' space and boundaries.
• Honor other peoples' feelings.
• Practice active listening: First reflect back what others say before adding new information.
• Remember to be a sensitive person and sensitive to others' issues, points of view and needs.
• Keep an open heart when dealings with others.
• Be aware of your own feelings and emotions and communicate them appropriately.
• Keep your voice and tone of conversation soft and gentle.
• Do not finish other people's sentences for them and do not jump to conclusions before they have finished.
• Never criticize others, never judge them, put them down, or gossip about them.

We believe that Conscious Communication is a wonderful and a very attainable goal to have on your list. It is a goal that can have a lot of impact on your business relationships and one that will ultimately improve your ability to work consultatively.

Permission to reprint from Advance Consulting Inc.