Stop Calling Me Names You Banana Head

We learn at an early age that name calling is bad.

There is often an intent to harm the other person in some way.

Yet, there are so many circumstances where similar patterns occur in business and personal conversations that, while it may not be name calling, it’s a form of it;

It’s labeling.

Have you ever been in a discussion or argument and heard someone start their response with one of these phrases?

🔸 “I think that idea is crazy…”

🔸 “That’s strange..”

🔸 “You’re too sensitive…”

🔸 “You’re overreacting…”

The labels “crazy”, “strange”, “sensitive”, “overreacting” are criticisms that do not provide the recipient with any useful information. They will likely be so focused on the criticism, they won’t hear the rest of the message.

When I’m working with individuals and teams on effective communication, we work on eliminating labels of all kinds. Stick to facts and data. Feelings are fine as well…but no labels.

The result is clarity.

▶ “The problem with that idea is it does not fit into the minimum profit margins we set forth for new business.”

This is critical but no labels. Just data.

It’s concise and clear and the recipient has all the information as to what the issue is…with no labels polluting the message.

If your teams are having issues with effective communication, check and see if this pattern exists.

(The picture is my wife and I on a cruise through the Fjords near Bergen, Norway…still on holiday)

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