The Case for Authentic and Effective Communication
With Amelia Reigstad, PhD
Season 8, Episode 22 | August 13, 2024
Effective communication is essential to any successful interaction — and that requires not only speaking productively, but also showing up authentically as ourselves. Amelia Reigstad, PhD, shares insights around mastering this skill through the lens of workplace communication, though the strategies and best practices she offers can also be applied to nearly any other type of relationship or environment.
Amelia Reigstad, PhD, is a change agent, speaker, and facilitator with a passion and love for knowledge. With over two decades of experience, she enjoys sharing her expertise across a variety of industries and has designed communication and leadership training programs, facilitated workshops, and has led team members to success across North America.
Reigstad has spoken on a global scale at numerous conferences and events, and she has also taught a variety of university-level courses throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Over the course of her career, she has authored numerous articles on gender, communication, leadership success, and authenticity, and is also a published author. As a Twin Cities Business Magazine Notable Women Entrepreneur 2022 and the founder of The Women Empowerment Series, she inspires and encourages women to use their voice to initiate change through authentic communication.
One important aspect of communication that Reigstad addresses in this episode is listening —specifically listening to understand, not to respond.
“So many times we’re sitting in a conversation with words on the tips of our tongues, just waiting to spit out what we want to say,” says Reigstad. “But when we do that, we’re not actively listening.”
Reigstad describes this habit as “autobiographical listening,” which is what happens when we’re in conversation and listening to someone and start to feel some sort of common ground. Instead of actively listening to the person, we start interjecting — putting ourselves in their shoes and sharing our stories. Though there are times this can be beneficial for creating rapport, it’s not helpful when the other person simply needs us to listen.
To practice the skill of active listening, Reigstad suggests trying this exercise:
- Pair up with another person.
- Pick a topic that one of you can talk about for one minute.
- While one of you is talking, the other person is listening; do not interject in any way, even by nodding your head. The goal is to simply sit and listen.
- Switch roles.
- After both of you have had your turn, reflect on the exercise: How did the exercise you feel? Was it challenging? Did you want to interject? Did you want to start sharing your story?
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Transcript: The Case for Authentic and Effective Communication
Season 8, Episode 22 | August 13, 2024
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