The Communication Code Breakers

The Communication Code Breakers

 

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Cutting off discussion: She persistently¹ cuts her peers off, sometimes in mid-sentence. The code: “I’m overly eager to get my point across.” Cracking the code: “Why don’t we each take two minutes to summarize our individual views?”

 

Having side debates: He discusses some aspect of the meeting with the person seated next to him. The code: “I have a side agenda.” Cracking the code: “Let’s explore what you think about this issue.”

 

Defending the status quo: She says, “But we’ve always done it that way.” The code: “I’m fearful of changing my habits and trying something new.” Cracking the code: “It seems like change may be very hard. Let’s use your expertise² to figure out how we can test what we’re talking about.”

 

Techniques for cracking the code

 

People who crack the communication code are great listeners. They hear every word that’s being spoken, but more importantly, they hear the message behind the words. They’re also able to skillfully direct conversation toward more productive ends.

 

A few of the techniques great code breakers use include:

 

Affirmation: Confirming the validity and worth of both the person speaking and his views.

 

Empathy: Publicly articulating—and legitimizing—the feelings of other participants.

 

Examination: Asking productive questions.

 

Reflection: Encouraging participants — either individually or as an entire group — to pause and contemplate³ issues under debate.

 

Summarization: Realizing the group is approaching agreement on an issue, and helping⁴ shape group consensus⁵.

 

Perspective: Helping other participants focus on the big issues, leaving the petty concerns behind.

 

Urgency: Keeping things moving through subtle encouragement and task-making suggestions.

 

Silence: Emphasizing the importance of careful deliberation by remaining silent. Good code breakers’ silence can be eloquent⁶. Then, when they speak, their concise⁷ and thoughtful views are respected.

Vocabulary Focus

status quo (n) the present situation or condition

articulate (v) [B:5tikjulit] to explain in words, especially to express something clearly

legitimize (v) [li5dViti7maiz] to make something legal, reasonable or acceptable

 

Specialized⁸ Terms

facilitator (n) 促进者；主导者 someone who helps a group reach a decision; a person who enables others to find their own solutions to problems or tasks

side agenda (n) 计划外的议程；另外的讨论事项 a plan or goal that is separate from the main issues scheduled to be discussed

沟通解码家

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打断讨论：她不断地打断同僚的发言，甚至不让对方把话说完。她的密码是：“我很渴望表达自己的看法。”破解方式：“我们何不每个人花两分钟，扼要表达出个人的想法？”

和别人私下讨论：他与邻座的人讨论会议的某个层面。他的密码是：“我有别的事想讨论。”破解方式：“我们来探讨一下你对这个议题的看法。”

固守现状：她说：“可是我们一直都这样做啊。”她的密码是：“我害怕改变习惯、尝试新事物。”破解方式：“改变好像真的很难。这样好了，让我们借用你的专长，看看能如何试试我们讨论的想法。”

 

破解密码的诀窍

能破解沟通密码的人是极好的聆听者。他们不但听到别人所说的每一字每一句，更重要的是听懂话语背后所传达的讯息。同时，他们也能很有技巧地将谈话导向建设性的结果。杰出的译码家会使用的一些技巧包括：

♦ 肯定：肯定发话者及其观点的正确性和价值。

♦ 同理心：当众表明并承认其它与会者的感受很合理。

♦ 检视：提出建设性的问题。

♦ 深思：鼓励每个与会者或大家暂停，以便好好思考一下正在讨论的议题。

♦ 作摘要：明白大家正逐渐在一个议题上达成协议，并协助形成整体共识。

♦ 具宏观角度：帮助其它与会者专注在重要议题上，并把小事置于脑后。

♦ 敦促：通过不着痕迹的鼓励和任务导向的建议，使工作持续进行。

♦ 沉默：以保持沉默来强调深思熟虑的重要。杰出解码家的沉默也可以是动人有力的。这样一来，当他们开口时，精确、深思的论点就会受到敬重。

1 persistently   

ad.坚持地；固执地

参考例句：

• He persistently asserted his right to a share in the heritage. 他始终声称他有分享那笔遗产的权利。
• She persistently asserted her opinions. 她果断地说出了自己的意见。

2 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

3 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

6 eloquent   

adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。

7 concise   

adj.简洁的，简明的

参考例句：

• The explanation in this dictionary is concise and to the point.这部词典里的释义简明扼要。
• I gave a concise answer about this.我对于此事给了一个简要的答复。

8 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。