EMBODIED: Dynamic Communication

Moving up the pyramid to the next level is a concept I call Dynamic Communication.  

I use the term Dynamic Communication because people often think they are communicating yet what they are saying isn’t fully aligned and maybe even understood. As a result, they’re really just talking at each other or even coming across as lying. 

With Dynamic Communication one takes the time to get clear on their varied levels of experiencing the situation. Often when something that creates a strong charge and involves others occurs various alarm systems can go off. 

This is precisely why at times we default to communicating and treating each other in harsh ways. 

For those committed to compassionate leadership and an overall way of life, learning to listen to and integrate these various alarm systems for clarity can be useful.

It may be helpful to sit down, set a timer for 5-10 minutes, and reflect on what is present for you. What are your initial thoughts or feelings? What lay underneath those initial thoughts? Is anything else at play?

As you get clear on what is present for you, then take the time to get clear on the communication necessary to relay this and address what is at hand. 

Inner clarity creates the alignment that allows for authentic full-body communication. 

I once had a coaching client who was a Manager at a Big IV Consulting firm. She was struggling with her teammates and the person she reported to on a project. 

There were repeated incidents where she felt marginalized, dismissed, and at times, unseen by her coworkers – not to mention simply left out of the camaraderie. 

We worked through what was present for her in these repeated interactions and how she had been responding until now. 

She had mentioned the incidents to her manager, but he essentially told her not to worry about it or take it personally. 

Using the Embodied Communication framework, we cleaned up the energy around the situation. This was to no fault of her own, yet still, their behavior affected her and really impacted how she felt about herself. 

Once we cleaned that up, we got clear on what she truly needed and wanted in the situation. The issue at hand transcended their one-off comments and behavior to the crux of her wanting more from her career. 

From this space, I coached her on the communication (and actions) necessary for her to step into the desired outcome. This included a conversation with the person she reported to again. This time, her entire communication verbally and non-verbally had shifted. 

Her request for full ownership of a portion of the project and to move forward with a strategy she had developed was approved. 

Oddly enough, in this conversation, her manager acknowledged how others had treated her and said he would address it. That was no longer a primary concern for her and handled it herself. 

He experienced fully embodied communication when she got clear. 

Our Embodied Communication framework is a powerful tool to deliberately walk through the various layers in which you may be impacted and distill the communication required.