DLYCBK!: An intro...

 

I've decided to do a series of blogs over the next few weeks, entitled: Don't let your communication be k@k! (DLYCBK!)

Before we go any further... I want to address the title of the series. Let’s be honest, it is a kak title! But, don’t you love the irony of it? (Naturally, my Mom is horrified, and has been wanting me to change it since she has heard what I’m calling it, sorry Ma! It's not changing).

 "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" ~ Vincent Van Gogh

Introduction

kak (ˈkʌk) [Afrikaans] (South African taboo) rubbish, nonsense, malarkey, garbage, faeces, shit. Collins Thesaurus of the English Language

Kak communication skills is the one thing that we all have in common. As with all things, some people are just so much more talented and naturally gifted at being kak communicators than others. Do you find that you tend to be more on the receiving end of someone flexing their kak communication muscle or, are you the kak communicator? Some things need to be learnt, while other things need to be unlearnt.

Having studied communication management was, I will admit, rather ironic, ask anyone from my previous (and in fact, current) relationships, and they would attest to the fact that verbal communication has never been my strong suite. I have been known to rely fairly heavily on telepathic communication in many instances. 

But, being fairly obsessed with building reputations over the last 20~odd years, the crux of a  reputation is relationship building which is driven by communication. This blog series is aimed at helping people to improve their communication skills.

The aim of the series is not to delve into the academics and theory of communication, ok, perhaps a bit, but the purpose is to look at the basics of communication, on a more personal and practical level to improve relationships. All the examples shared in the series, are based on my own personal experiences.

I have had some very interesting relationships and interactions in my life. Some magical, other disastrous. But, I have learnt something from every single one of them; the biggest lesson being that relationships are ruined by kak communication. They say that the same thing happens to you because there is a lesson that needs to be learnt. The lesson stops crossing your path only once you have learnt it. Often, these lessons are caused by poor, or let us just call it what it is, kak communication.

“Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know,” Pema Chödrön

The DLYCBK! series includes advice on how to stop your kak communication and will cover:

• Etiquette. Know the basic communication rules. Please and thank you will never go out of fashion. Spell and pronounce names correctly, confirm meetings, show up for them and when you are invited to someone’s house, rock up with a gift.
• When not to communicate Steer away from communicating when you are tired, hungry, emotional, drunk, or only when you need something.
• How not to communicate Everyone has their ‘go-to’ channel of communication that they prefer. Looking at the different channels of communication for different scenarios and generations.  Did you know that different generations have their communication preferences?
• Communicating in the work environment
• Where to start It all starts with values, and respect for yourself and for others. Treat, and communicate with others like you want to be treated and communicated with, just don’t be kak)

Until next week, Don't let your communication be kak!