Please excuse me
How rude. I sat back this week and thought, I hadn’t done the most basic, communicative thing one can do when entering a conversation. I didn’t really introduce myself or tell you what you should expect from these regular newsletters. So, shall we start there?
Hi! I’m Anna Michele Bulszewicz. I can imagine a majority of you haven’t had a chance to read my mission statement on the AMC website. I know you’re busy. You can click here to read it and find out what qualifies me as a communications professional.
My intention is that this newsletter is a free weekly resource that provides you with insights and tools to help you and your teams better communicate. I will often write about relevant topics related to communication and miscommunication, but make no mistake, our professional tips and tricks may be applied to your personal lives as well. Don’t you just love a good two for one? Same.
Things you should know about me and my writing- 1. I’m not usual. 2. I’m rather quirky. 3. I love to have a good time, as often as possible, even at work. 4. I use exclamation marks in my professional communications. If these things sound like criminal acts to you, this letter might not be for you. I’m most definitely a “Whistle While You Work,” kinda gal.
We believe listening to others is crucial when becoming a more effective communicator. As a former journalist, I want and need your input. During the week, on our LinkedIn profile, myself or a member of our team will post questions. You are the audience, and we place your needs first- so please provide input to our prompts and posts, as often as you see fit. Don’t be surprised if your comments are mentioned in these newsletters.
For instance, this week, we generated a post that reads: “When you sit back and think about it, isn’t the word communication vague?” We then asked LinkedIn audience members to write their personal definitions of communication. There were three comments in particular that stood out.
“Simply: Persons fully understanding each other.” -Mary Jo Polidore, Corporate Communications Executive
“Communication, to me, is a means to convey thoughts, ideas, boundaries, expectations, and emotions to those around you. Communication can be conveyed through conversation, body language, data, written form, emotions, and even silence. Everyone has their own style of communicating.” -Alexandra Bulszewicz, Senior Consultant at OneStream Software
“To me, communication occurs in many mediums, but the primary goal is to convey thoughts and ideas between parties.” – David Ennis, Global Sales Leader at Momentive
My point is, we want to hear from you, because you are the hardworking professionals striving for excellence in communication and achieving your highest potentials. Who better to talk and share ideas with?
By the way, my current definition of communication, was inspired by the authors of the posts featured above. Simply put, my definition of communication, in one word, presence. This week I am creating new practices for my students and clients to help them practice presence, so they can more mindfully and effectively communicate. Dave, Alex and Mary Jo, thanks for the inspiration and variety.
Every good party has a parting gift, right? So, last thing to note, in every newsletter you can expect takeaways, to test out and apply immediately. Our overall mission, is to help you generate community, through effective communication practices, achieved through mindfulness.
In this letter, I’d like to give you something to takeaway. When I begin working with clients and students, I have them intentionally create a list of five personal values. When we assess our values or what is important to us, we make clearer decisions and are more likely to reach our highest potential, at a faster rate. Right now, I’m reassessing my personal values system, and in typical “Anna fashion,” I can’t settle on just five. So here are my top six personal values, to help give you a thought process boost:
In my exchanges and experiences, I value:
1. Depth
2. Humility
3. Trust
4. Respect
5. Joy
6. Integrity
Exercise continued- Next to the value, list your “why?” Keep the document handy. Consider it a sort of makeshift, personal branding statement. Use it as a communicative guide. See how things change for you.
Final thoughts, I dedicate this post to my brother, Stefan Bulszewicz. Your continued support means more than you’ll ever know. To the professional communicators out there, It’s great privilege to work for you. Salute to self-improvement, mindfulness, communication and community.
Are you curious about the Anna Michele Communications practices discussed in this newsletter? Reach out! Let’s talk. I’d love an opportunity to come in and work with your team. Schedule your complimentary consultation with me here. I look forward to meeting you.
Anna Michele Communications, Primally Speaking