Our communication mode needs a serious upgrade.
Communication sits at the core of every failed project, an unhealthy team, and any operational disharmony. It isn't a mystery either. We all know that great communication does more than just move us forward. It increases clarity, embeds morale, and embraces all involved. It boosts creativity, encourages collaboration, and enhances more wholistic, valuable, and systemic decisions.
Where our current transactional model of communication strengthens the most dominant power and inhibits collective growth, generative communication brings a fresh and valuable mode of interaction that harnesses available resources and builds new synergies that lead to more creative and relevant outcomes that benefit the whole system.
What is Generative Communication?
"Generative communication is an interactive process of intentional co-creation that seeks mutually desirable outcomes." - Mary Ferdig
Generative communication creates community. It compels people to engage with one another for a common purpose. By its very definition, 'generate' is about bringing something new, setting things in motion, or building on what is there.
Practicing generative communication requires a growth mindset, thus adopting the below in every one of our interactions as guiding principles:
Stay Awake: Be present and pay attention. Explore visible and invisible data. Become aware of your gut feelings in order to maintain a centred and grounded stance.
Ask Questions: Examine your assumptions and question everything with the intention of harmonising ideas together. Investigate the possibility, the details, and the definitions held by all involved.
Embrace Discomfort: See any obstacles and resistances as new opportunities to deepen your understanding. Let go of any preconceived agendas, outcomes, or views. Be open to not knowing.
Take responsibility: Set aside blame and reactivity by being willing to see how you contribute to the situation. Be clear on where you have control and where you do not. Observe your impact and how others trigger you.
Favour Movement: True generative conversation motions people forward to a positive outcome that adds value to all involved. Err away from wallowing in the story by leaning into the next steps.
Welcome Diversity: Every perspective holds a part of the greater truth. Be open to different views, cultures, ideologies, and beliefs. It is only through diversity that the whole system can sustainably thrive.
How do we start?
We can begin this new practice by releasing all efforts. For example, where active listening requires intense concentration, generative listening asks us to be open and soft, with no pressure to have to solve anything. It is in this relaxed state that more data can be absorbed and higher solutions can be seen.
"Our capacity to connect to the highest future possibility that can emerge starts with generative listening, where we are connected to something larger than ourselves." - Otto Scharmer
Generative speaking can be practiced by first asking ourselves, "What is the core message I want to express here?" and starting from here. It also includes mirroring what others have said back to them so that they feel heard. And it means speaking from a place of neutral, non-attached authenticity.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there. - Rumi
There are many powerful tips and tools to activate generative communication. This is just a short overview to instill some curiosity and perhaps even some awareness when relating to others.
Want to find out more? Get in touch.
