For every one person fired for performance-related issues, two lost their jobs for failure to deal successfully and professionally with other people. -- Harvard University's Bureau of Vocational Guidance
Not only must you have excellent job skills, you must also have excellent people skills. "You SAID What?! and You DID What?! by co-authors Kim Zoller and Kerry Preston offer solid techniques that can be used right away to achieve effective results.
Many things can get in our way when it comes to communication. We can let these things bog us down or we can deal with them in order to improve our situation and our relationships. Poor business communication can prevent career growth.
All of this happens very quickly, and what seems to be clear in our own minds might be obvious only to us. We select what catches our attention and we dismiss what we don't want to see. We add meaning to what we do see; hence we make assumptions and draw conclusions based on those assumptions.
It is important to start with the awareness that this is taking place. Then we have to change behavior in order to not make mistakes that can cost us a relationship.
The key is to know what is emotional and what is real.
Sometimes we create drama in our personal and professional lives based on a variety of factors. It is our obligation to stop creating the fiction and seek more facts.
Your goal is to do and say the right thing; to have more of a verbal filter and only take thoughtful action with your colleagues, friends, customers and family members.
Kim Zoller: You Said What?!: The Biggest Communication Mistakes Professionals Make (A Confident Communicator's Guide)