You are not your beliefs
As I was writing the draft of The Good Communicator, I realised a fundamental flaw in any conversation in which we are passionate about the topic.
Because we live and breathe sustainability, it is likely part of our value set. We feel it's part of our identity.
Unfortunately, when we are so close to the topic, we can't open up to other people's ideas and beliefs.
Many such conversations become arguments, we might become inflamed and defensive.
We are effectively imposing our beliefs on others. We think we are right and everyone else is wrong.
How can the person in front of us listen to our ideas if we sound like the nutty preachers at Hyde Park Corner?
Communication is a two-way street.
And if we really want to address humanity's biggest problems, we need to listen to others. We need to assume our ideas are just that: ideas, and others' are just as worthy to be listened to.
True transformative conversations happen when we each share our thoughts and, most importantly, listen deeply to each other: not only to what we are saying but also to our feelings, needs and wants.
Something transformative will then happen: new, innovative ideas much more powerful than the combination of our single ideas will bubble up.
Next time you have an important conversation, try and put some distance between you and your ideas, and open up to listening to the person in front of you.
Then see what happens.
This article was originally written for the Green Gorilla weekly newsletter. If you liked it, subscribe to receive more articles like this and learn how to communicate sustainability better, how to be more productive without selling your soul to the work devil, and how to make an impact in the world. Here is the link: https://newsletter.thegreengorilla.co.uk/