Communication
Let’s be honest about being honest “Well, but that’s just the truth.” “I’m sorry, but I can’t lie — I say it like it is.” “I’m a blunt person.” That’s what you say when you’ve said something you believe is true, but unpleasant. I’
Communication
A model for influencing the people you get to lead There are at least three elements you need to lead. 1. Followers 2. A destination 3. A story All three are equally important, and none, strictly speaking, matters more than any other — like with shoes, missing one leg is tantamount
Communication
And how my experience can help you. I’ve always been a little clumsy. It’s why I’ve never ever been great at sports — any sport. Not that I was outrightly terrible, mind you: I did achieve passable competence at football and table tennis (with a lot of practice,
Communication
A Meditation on The Art of Heart When someone says, “Hey, listen,” they want to get your attention — and more than likely, they want all of it. Sometimes, though, you feel able to spare only some of it — or none. Still, social norms bid us at least make an effort,
Communication
(Hint: It’s not depression. It’s you.) The World Health Organisation, for this year’s World Health Day, not only chose to focus on depression, but also went on to theme it, “Let’s Talk.” That is not a good thing. I mean, think about it. If you’re
Communication
And why you should too—unless something changes I hate instructions. I mean, I don’t really hate instructions, but I am suspicious of them. And I might hate the way people write them. Because let’s be honest, most instructions are written for people who really don’t need
Communication
Hint: it’s not just for communicating I mentioned in my previous post that I learned Hausa during my year in the north. That’s not the entire story, though. You see, from the start of my time in Gombe, I set out to learn Hausa. Right from orientation camp,
Communication
And a major reason children learn faster than adults I spent my national youth service year in northern Nigeria and managed to pick up quite a bit of Hausa, the lingua franca in that part of the country. And by “a bit,” I mean, I started off needing an interpreter
Communication
I don’t much like cooking. I like cooked food, mind you. And I like the sweet smell of food that’s cooking. It’s just the act of actually doing the cooking that I struggle with. I mean, think about it. You spend thirty minutes—sometimes even all of
Communication
Writing often strikes me as rather like having kids. (Not that I’ve ever had kids, but being a doctor does give you a vague idea.) It starts with you conceiving these seeds of ephemeral ideas that drop into your mind. You carry them around within you for days, sometimes
Communication
I’m afraid there’ll be an end of listening. I’m worried we’re no longer listening to people we disagree with. And it won’t matter how strong their arguments are… We won’t listen. It won’t matter if there’s truth in they say… We won’
Communication
When someone says they want to give you “feedback,” you know it’s lion-feeding time, and you’re dinner. And when they ask for feedback, you know what they’re really saying. “Tell me you like my stuff, and that you think I’ll go places.” We’ve gotten it