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On Rethinking Communication (formerly The Follow-Up Question), independent journalist, speaking coach, and communication expert Michael Ashford explores how we can better connect with each other through the power of our words. For most of us, our formal education left gaps in our ability to communicate well with each other, especially when trying to navigate conflict, inspire change, and overcome misunderstandings. The goal is to get you to rethink how you connect with others, from the stage to the meeting room to the living room and everywhere in between.
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AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this sixth and final episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of being yourself. Great communication values human intuition, emotional understanding, and critical thinking to create genuine connections and effective messaging, traits that AI simply cannot reproduce. To learn more about my communication coaching, go to https://michaelashford.com.
AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this fifth episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of pausing before you respond. I share my perspective on how taking a moment to reflect can transform conflicts into growth opportunities and improve leadership effectiveness. Practicing the skill of pausing before you respond to criticism, feedback, ideas you don't agree with, or disrespect is difficult but essential for effective leadership. Asking questions like "What could I be missing?" opens the door to growth, with empathy and curiosity being vital tools in your communication toolkit. To learn more about my communication coaching, go to https://michaelashford.com.
AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this fourth episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of staying present and observant. I make the case for how being fully engaged in conversations can enhance communicative understanding and connection, which leads to better conversations and outcomes. Remaining present and observant in the moment requires intentionality and focus with all that exists to distract you these days, but doing so is possible. To learn more about my communication workshops and trainings for teams and groups, go to https://michaelashford.com/team-communication-training.
AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this third episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of asking questions. I emphasize what being a great question-asker can do for you in conversations, and I detail the importance of leading with curiosity rather than weaponizing questions. I also walk through how using my ASK then SEE approach to communication can help you bring a more curious mindset to conversations. Sign up for my newsletter at https://michaelashford.com/newsletter Get your copy of my book, "Can I Ask a Question?" at https://michaelashford.com/can-i-ask-a-question-book
AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this second episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of impromptu speaking, or speaking on the fly. Despite what you might believe, the people who can confidently speak in front of a room or in front of others are not inately born with this ability. Just like other skills, communicating well — and in particular, speaking on the fly — is a skill that can be learned and developed over time. Rather than only speaking when you have your notes in front of you or shying away from the moments when you're called upon to speak or give your thoughts in an impromptu manner, follow the tips in this episode to release yourself of the pressure you might feel as a way to unlock this important communication skill. Sign up for my newsletter at https://michaelashford.com/newsletter
AI is all the rage these days, and while there are many benefits to it, I'm concerned we're outsourcing too much of our thinking to artificial intelligence. When you do so, it's affects how you show up as a communicator. And so, I'm releasing a 6-part series on the communication skills you need to improve in the age of AI. In this first episode of the series, I explore the essential communication skill of storytelling. Storytelling enhances communication, fosters connections, and inspires change, and your ability to craft relatable stories helps create meaningful moments that resonate with audiences. I cover the key elements of effective storytelling and discuss its relevance in both personal and professional contexts, highlighted by the reality that AI cannot replicate the human experience and connection that storytelling provides.
Do you think you are a good communicator? I've observed ove the past year that most of us think we're great at communicating when, in reality, we struggle! Because effective communication is not just about speaking your mind; it's about inspiring and connecting with others. So many of us are stuck in the outdated communication styles we learned in our youth, and in this episode, I walk you through what it looks like to truly communicate well as we head into a new year. Learn more about my communication coaching at https://michaelashford.com.
In this episode, I explore the nuance and complexity involved in trying to answer the question: Who should lead the way into difficult conversations? What about in the face of moral exclusion? What about if the other party denies your humanity? What if you are the victim? This episode was inspired by a recent LinkedIn post I made on which Brené Brown commented, and the whirwind that followed. You can view the post here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaeldashford_i-deeply-want-to-ask-bren%C3%A9-brown-one-question-activity-7391892434491846656-99PB
In this conversation, Emily Kasriel — author of the book, "Deep Listening: Transform your relationships with family, friends, and foes" — discusses the concept of deep listening, emphasizing its transformative power and the courage it requires. Emily has had a two-decades-long career at the BBC as an award-winning journalist, and she shares her journey from being a transactional listener to embracing deep listening, highlighting its effect on her personal relationships and professional environments. Our discussion covers the importance of creating safe spaces for listening, the role of silence, and the challenges posed by power dynamics. Emily also details the outcomes of deep listening, including fostering connection and understanding in a polarized society, and the ethical considerations involved in listening. You can learn more about Emily and her work at https://www.emilykasriel.com/. To learn more about my speaking and leadership communication coaching, visit my website at https://michaelashford.com.
So much of conversation is about understanding context. From determining which conversations and relationships are worth engaging in to understanding the alignment in values to solving conflict, if you don't pick up on the context, you might create problems. As you'll hear from my guest in this episode, John Wang, culture also provides context clues, which he discusses in his new book, Big Asian Energy, and on his podcast. Often, John explains, the most important context comes from conversations you have with yourself first before you seek to engage with and understand others. This can make all the difference in communicating across differences and divides. You can order John's book at https://www.amazon.com/Big-Asian-Energy-Unapologetic-Leadership/dp/0593475437 Check out John's work at https://www.bigasianenergy.com/.
This episode's content comes from a webinar I delivered earlier this year titled, "You Want Me To Talk To Them? How To Communicate With People You Disagree With." In this presentation, I walk through what we get wrong about conflict communication and how conversations get stuck. I also cover a new way to approach uncomfortable conversations, my ASK then SEE method, which can help us lower the temperature of heated discussions. Looking for a presenter or keynote speaker at your next event? Learn more about my speaking at https://michaelashford.com/speaking.
I had the joy of joining Rick Barron on his "That's Life, I Swear" podcast for a conversation about… well... conversation. More specifically, how we can communicate better with each other when conflict arises. Even though I was the guest, Rick told a story about him and his neighbor that is the perfect example of what I mean when I ask that you set aside your certainty and what you think you know about others and instead follow your curiosity.
We've been taught that when faced with disagreement, once you get a chance to speak, go on the offensive and don't back down. However, one conversation I had recently revealed a far better and more productive approach — one that emphasizes asking questions beyond the point of your own comfort.
Humans were not designed to know all that we know, and it's crushing our ability to communicate well with each other and affect positive change.
Speaking coach Neil Gordon joins the podcast to recount how school "educated me out of an interest in reading and communication," and his journey back to a love of both. Neil specializes in persuasion and helping speakers create more compelling narratives in their stories. Out of that work, Neil says, a path to ward off pessimism and skepticism emerges. Check out A Prayer for Owen Meany, the book Neil references in this conversation, at https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Owen-Meany-John-Irving/dp/006220422X To learn more about Neil's work, visit https://neilcanhelp.com/
I had the opportunity to join Steve Leskovec — a former guest on this podcast — on his radio show in Ohio to discuss effective communication. As you'll hear, Steve and I spent most of our conversation focused on conflict communication and how we can show up better in situations where we disagree with others.
In this episode, I speak with Mischa Zvegintzov about his journey to sobriety at 17 years old and how getting in touch with his emotions and his curiosity fueled a new approach to relationships with others. Check out Mischa's work at https://www.theinfluencearmy.com/.
Clichés and jargon are hampering your ability to effectively and confidently communicate your views and ideas with others. In this episode, I walk you through a few ways you can ditch throwaway sayings and phrases and replace them with more impactful language. Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to grab your free worksheet on the Detail Sprinkle Method at https://michaelashford.com/newsletter.
Rich Harwood, President and Founder of The Harwood Institute, joins me on this episode. Over the past 35+ years, Rich has used his philosophy and practice of how community leaders can solve shared problems and deepen people's civic belief worldwide to tackle some of the most deeply divisive issues. As Rich explains, we need a better way to communicate through change, where we get out of the cul-de-sac of toxicity and step into our shared narratives of being builders, creators, and producers. Rich's philosophy is grounded in what he views as an important prerequisite for change: finding a way to see more than what you want to see or are willing to see. Watch the PBS Newshour feature that showcased Rich's work in North Carolina: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-north-carolina-community-is-confronting-divisions-talking-through-its-differences Learn more about the Harwood Institute at https://theharwoodinstitute.org/
This episode exposes a cunning and sometimes dangerous communication tactic we employ when we face disagreement or opposition. The "stick to sports" clapback that has pervaded our discourse on deeply challenging and controversial topics is an attempt to limit another human being, relying on strict and uncompromising assumptions and presumptions about who they are and the value they bring to a particular issue. To communicate well with others beyond the ways you were taught in school, you must know yourself and your motivations far better than you were led to believe. If you're interested in working with me as a speaking coach, go to https://michaelashford.com/speaking-coaching. If you're interested in bringing me in to facilitate a communications workshop for your company, check out https://michaelashford.com/workshops.
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