Is your communication style like a thermometer or a thermostat?
Do you have the right types of people in your circle?
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:
- ‘Network’ well – Proverbs 13:30 reminds us to “Walk with the wise and grow wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” This timeless wisdom underscores the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who will uplift and inspire us, rather than dragging us down.
It is often said that we will be the same person five years from now as we are today, except for the books we read and the people we meet. This rings true for me, as I can trace much of my personal and professional growth to the positive influences of the friends and mentors I have chosen around me.
I recently completed Craig Groeschel’s book Divine Direction. In it, he described the three types of people everyone needs in their life to reach their God given potential:
- Someone who will challenge you
- Someone who will help you find strength in God and grow your faith
- Someone who will tell you the truth, especially when you don’t want to hear it
If you find yourself lacking such relationships in your life right now, I want to encourage you to pray for guidance and intentionally seek out those relationships that will help you grow and thrive. I speak from experience when I say that God has a way of bringing the right people into our lives at the right time. In 2023 alone, I have been fortunate enough to have at least a half dozen new voices enter my life, providing me with mature and valuable guidance.
It only takes one friendship, one relationship, to change your destiny and transform your world. So, take the initiative to seek out those positive influences, and watch as your life can change for the better.
- Work Hard – I have defined disciplined as doing what you need to do when you need to do it even when you don’t feel like doing it… SO THAT you can do what you want to do when you want to do it with who you want to do it. While that definition on the surface is very simple, it is not easy. And, if I am being totally honest with myself, it is often tedious and dull. On my time hop this week, I came across a photo from a book I read a few years back that described this challenge:
- Practicing is not amazing.
- Studying is not amazing.
- Showing up is not amazing.
- Working hard is not amazing.
- Changing is not amazing.
- Trying is not amazing.
- Failing is not amazing.
- Trying again is not amazing.
But every one of these things IS necessary. They are the price you must pay every day to reach your potential. If you pay that price and do it consistently, the result CAN be amazing!
- Read More –Each week I have been sharing my takeaways with you as I read The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication – Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message. This week I review Law # 13 of 16:
Law # 13 – The Law of the Thermostat
Communicators Read the Room and Change the Temperature
The Thermostat vs. Thermometer analogy is a powerful one that can be applied in many different contexts. While a thermometer can only measure the temperature of a situation, a thermostat has the power to change it. A skilled communicator who acts as a thermostat can adjust the temperature of a conversation or situation, either raising it to a more positive level or lowering it to defuse tension.
But being a thermostat requires a high level of situational awareness and the ability to read the room, so to speak. It also takes significant communication skills to effectively influence the mood and direction of a discussion. By embodying the role of a thermostat, communicators can have a significant impact on the outcome of a conversation or interaction. That is the Law of the Thermostat.
So, how can we be a thermostat in our conversations and presentations. In the chapter, John outlines seven practices to practice the Law of the Thermostat. Here are 4 of them:
- Read the temperature in the room BEFORE the people arrive – It is important you have a checklist to understand the environment you will be communicating including lighting, sound, screens, staging, and maybe most importantly, proximity. When communicating to groups, be as close to the people as you can so that you can have a personal conversation.
- Know and understand temperature ‘indicators’ in the room – For example, are people ‘required to attend’, or have they made their own decision they ‘want to attend’. You must be prepared for more work to change the temperature if people have been told they have to be there.
- Watch the people in the room – You never want your group to which you are presenting to be finished before you are. “The moment your audience is finished, you are finished!”
- Be flexible – As a communicator, the first temperature to set is your own. You need to be prepared for things to not go as expected. You need to warm yourself up before you try to raise the temperature of the room. Here are John Maxwell’s tips on how he becomes more flexible:
- Get over my situation
- Get after my attitude
- Get into my adjustments
- Get on with my mission!
The other ways he discusses in the chapter are to: “Remarkableize” your communication (make something so unusual that people are surprised and take notice), be 100 percent present in the room, and interact with people in the room.
Always remember that the presentation is not about you! It is about the people to which you are presenting or communicating. This takes a lot of practice, but if you can learn to read the temperature in the room, and change the temperature with these tips, your effectiveness as a communicator will rise.
Quote of the week:
“Your circle should include people who would defend you in your absence and speak highly of you when you aren’t around. If not, find a new circle.” – Allistair McCaw
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Consider the three types of people that Craig Groeschel says we all need in our lives. Do you have those people in your life right now? If so, I encourage you to let them know. Send them a hand written note thanking them this week. If not, what is one step you can take this week to identify one of or more of those people in your life?
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.
Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!
P.S. – Are you a podcast fan? Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you. Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast? Do you have a story to tell? Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!
