Say It With Kindness

I appreciate direct communication. It's seldom that anyone can offend me by being too direct. But, that's not always true about me, and I'm sure that some people find direct communication too much. They resist it. They bristle at it. They send their people to training to overcome it.

I'm not set on changing direct communication except -- except to add this. Say it with kindness. Say it with respect. Dignify yourself and the people you communicate with. Communicate for results in ways that leave room for both courage and compassion.

If I can't say it with kindness then it isn't yet true.

"What do you mean, it isn't true?"

"It isn't yet at its best until it's kind."

"But, it can still be true..."

"Is incomplete still true? Is it still true if it does not return the best possible result?"

"It's the results that I want, I'm just in a hurry. I don't have time to be kind!"

"Maybe. But also, maybe you don't have time NOT to be kind. Think of the reactions. Think of the changes. Think about whether someone feels resentment instead of contentment. No matter how well you say it, won't it sound better with kindness?"

-- doug smith

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