Own the Room
I was challenged by Own the Room. The language and approach is different from what I am used to, so I had to really think about the material.
As I worked through it, there was one particular idea I took hold of and am thinking more about: how we all have a default way of communicating, one that is natural to us and has probably been effective in different situations. Yet, if we are going to continue to be effective, we have to develop a variety of communication styles and the self-awareness and the situational-awareness to know when and how to use them.
I suspect most of us don’t think much about that. We easily fall intothe “this is just who I am” way of approaching things, which justifies us not having to change or grow. The understanding that we can change, that we can develop new skills, that we can become more effective, is a key to doing it. But once we do it—develop new ways of communicating that fit different situations—we get hooked.
I don’t think that is always easy. I have to think hard about how I naturally communicate and what approach I take in different situations. I’m realizing that I am not always intentional in what I do. Taking a moment to take stock of what is happening and identifying what is needed is a habit and a skill that I intend to develop as I go on. I can see the value in it.
Part of the challenge for me in doing that is the high value I place on authenticity. I never want to be a fake or a phony or act in a way that is not true to who I really am in order to get a result. (That is not what the authors are suggesting, to be clear). I want to be intentional and effective, so I need to make sure I’m acting with integrity even as I develop different communication skills.
What did you take away from Own the Room? I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.
-Dave Frederick
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