“I know you think you understand what you thought you heard me say. But what you think you heard me say isn’t what I really meant.” Have you heard that before? 3-D communication is about first paying attention to what is being said, then interpreting it correctly before responding. 3-D communication style has a beginning and end with the message in the middle, making it more transactional than linear. It’s the middle that matters. The first 3-D is discovering barriers such as past experiences, assumptions, expectations, knowledge, personal mood and values, and other factors potentially leading to misunderstandings. The second 3-D is demonstrating listening by paving the way to effective communication either face-to-face or via whatever communication channel best fits the message. The third 3-D is directing the action to avoid a head-on fight by knowing your purpose, channel, and how to send and receive the message. Learn how to use this 3-D communication model with family, colleagues, team members, customers, and management.
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