CREDIBLE COMMUNICATION
by Karen Anzola,
Family Voices Staff
First, and foremost, speak the truth. Be honest and upfront. In our work within our organizations, we need to be open with our policies, procedures and our decision making processes. “Transparency breeds legitimacy. . . .” I would add to that, when appropriate, we identify “where” we are coming from. Is it from a place of excitement or a point of frustration? I believe this is especially important when communicating with peers. Secondly, don’t hide bad news. We’ve all heard about the large corporations that kept critical information from their employees and their shareholders. I would take it a step further in saying, when sharing “bad news,” be sure to note what solutions are being explored. In our family, we never offer a complaint or criticism without offering a potential solution or way things could have been done differently. Also, never over-promise. In other words, practice what we all grew up hearing. . . don’t make a promise you cannot keep. Our children routinely remind us of this! Maxwell says “A highly credible leader under-promises and over-delivers.” Lastly, do what you say you will do. Follow through on what you said you would do, and provide follow up when necessary. Be sure to include action steps in your written communication and notes following a call or meeting, and hold each other accountable to complete those steps.
When our communications “run short” or when we make mistakes, there are steps we can take to restore our credibility. First and foremost, acknowledge the mistake. Sometimes things do not turn out like we expected, and it is up to us to provide an explanation or admit an error in judgment. Apologize and accept responsibility. Make amends and share the steps that will be taken to address the situation. I found these tips to be great reminders of what I need to work on at any given time, but for now I will continue to work on not over-promising!
This article was adapted from “Credible Communication”, by Dr. John C. Maxwell as it appeared in the free monthly e-newsletter 'Leadership Wired' available at http://www.maximumimpact.com/
Network News
Our
heartfelt sympathies are extended to Patty Holmes (FV NM) and
her family upon the sudden death of Patty’s 17-year-old nephew, Taylor Hall. On
Monday, September 11th, Taylor was on his way to school in Rawlins, WY, when he
was involved in a car accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with Patty, her
brother, Mike Hall, and their entire extended family.
Dennis Moore’s (FV MT) current community and the one he left behind are rallying around him to make sure that he has what he needs to continue as the ED of PLUK when he comes home from the rehab hospital in a few weeks. People from Billings have donated time, money, building supplies and energy to renovating his home. People in Memphis are raising money and doing what they can from sending words of encouragement and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Dennis is still running PLUK from his room in Salt Lake City! Send notes to Dennis and his family at dennis@pluk.org and view updates Dennis’ blog- http://pluk.mt.typepad.com/moorefriends/.
Family Voices of Virginia is no longer in Richmond, VA. We have moved back to northern Virginia, but remain in close contact with the many folks working hard for children in the Richmond area. Our new address is: Maureen Mitchell 12617 Thunder Chase Dr., Reston, VA 20191. Phone and email remain the same.
News You Can Use:
Resources and More
The
Maternal Child Health Library at Georgetown University is part of the National
Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), funded under a
cooperative agreement with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. The library provides accurate and
timely information including the weekly newsletter MCH Alert, resource guides,
full text publications, databases, and links to quality MCH sites. The home page
includes a link—Resources for Families—which includes a link
Bright Futures materials. Check it out at http://www.mchlibrary.info/.
Don’t delay in checking out TechSoup—The Technology Place for
Nonprofits at http://www.techsoup.org/. TechSoup has become the leading
resource center for nonprofit technology. They also offer deep discounts on
software for nonprofits. FV Network members and staff have looked to TechSoup
for helpful information and resources.
Families USA is accepting applications for the Wellstone
Fellowship for Social Justice and the Villers Fellowship for
Health Care Justice. The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice aims
to advance social justice through health care advocacy by focusing particularly
on the unique challenges facing communities of color. Through this fellowship,
established to honor the memory of the late Senator Paul D. Wellstone, we hope
to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from underrepresented
racial and ethnic minority groups. The Villers Fellowship for Health Care
Justice was created in 2005 by Philippe Villers, Founder and President of
Families USA. Villers Fellows work in our health policy department and assist
our organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all
Americans, especially for low-income and other vulnerable communities.
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Email: kidshealth@familyvoices.org
--Pema Chodron