Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Have you noticed that tone either nurtures communication or creates conflict at work…? If tone is the body language of words … then good tone starts by affirming remarks that show another’s view …  before you respond with your ideas. In this way … tone is an art… If tone is the mental stuffing of views … then good tone motivates different positions that lead to participation from all and it pulls differences together like iron filings to a magnet. In this way … tone is a science…

To build good tone together, is to create positive communication across differences… without bullying one side to lose itself in the other. The evidence of good tone when two different ideas come together …  is a third idea ... born as a result of opposing views…. Positive tone elicits new possibilities at work because it enables people to review facts in revolutionary ways … through the eyes of others with different viewpoints and unique backgrounds.

So why is tone and all its benefits...the missing ingredient in so many circles?

When people limit tone to a soft skill … by default… any hard skill growth is lost.  Similarly… when people say tone is an art... acumen needed from science is lost… The soft skill … which is body language of words… and the hard skill … which is the mental stuffing of issues… combine for positive tone at the MITA International Brain Based Center…. In brain based communications… we prefer the term… “Smart skills”….  Why call tone a “Smart skill?” … because it draws on hard skills and soft skills… and mixes both art and science… in ways that employers and employees all:

-- feel free to express their minds, in respect and without any attack in response
-- expect the best from others concerning topics raised, but accept imperfections
-- contribute freely to ideas and feel valued in small teams and in the whole group
-- see ideas and issues as others receive them whenever they encounter conflicts
-- look forward to engaging different voices in thoughtful ways for diverse responses
-- show positive attitudes to others’ different ideas, even when they disagree
-- state specific supports that back up why they agree or disagree with topics raised
-- apologize whenever offence is taken by any member because of words used
-- think deeply and then state ideas so that others can learn from and add to these
-- laugh at self bloopers, and shake off personal offenses whenever they come
-- maintain consistent tone, that affirms different people and leads with creative ideas
-- learn skills and share their applications so that others  benefit from new solutions
-- take the risk to lead, and also don the humility to be led by any others in the group

Why not create your own criteria to build a stronger work community with a tone that promotes success for your entire group.  To start your list … ask: How can each person in my department speak and feel heard more because I am here?

Then tell somebody else about your commitment to cultivate more brain based tone at work…. Oh…one final thought… good tone starts with each of us… and is far less problematic in others when drawn from the hard and soft skills in art and science ….What do you think?