I feel really grateful that I get to take part in training courses at work, for free. We are actively encouraged to take time to develop ourselves, through coaching, Linked In learning and trainers.
One course we did a while ago was called the ‘Five Voices’, the theory is that we tend to have a leading voice and the other 4 fall in line behind that. Each voice has tendencies.
On this scale my leading voice is a ‘Connector’, this means I focus on the future, speak a lot and don’t listen too much. It is totally true. Part of the exercise that taught us this new way of thinking invited the ‘voices’ to work together, the ‘Connectors’ were a bit of a disaster at getting the task completed. We spoke too much, interrupted each other, sought first to be understood then to understand (sorry Covey) and generally spent too much time communicating and not enough doing.
There is no ‘best’ voice of the five but each one blends together to form very different areas of focus in teams.
As a consequence of this course I now try to spend more time trying to understand where people are coming from rather than explaining my point. It is a helpful thing and obvious to a lot of people.
My weakest voice is a ‘Guardian’ this is the one who likes to keep things just as they are, they like a very clearly defined process (which is funny as I love a good process and spreadsheet). When I communicate, it means I have to actively dial up the area that looks back to the past and celebrates it, and then demonstrates how things will be today before leading into future visions (my comfort zone).
I am grateful to have learned through the Five Voices and believe it would help anyone who takes a quick scan of the theory online. Communicating with others is a key life skill and can be a source of great joy and great loss.
Check it out and see if you can work out your loved ones voice, if you speak to that, it will go even better.
MrsSlimmer 