What do you say?

Reba McIntyre sings a song called What Do You Say. For all my country music loving friends reading this, you probably remember it coming out in the 90's. I really like it.
The song is about what to say in uncomfortable situations. She gives a few examples. One is what to say to your young son when he asks what the XXX means outside of an adult bookstore. Another is what to say to your teenage daughter when she calls to ask you to pick her up from a party because she drank too much. Her last is what to say to a spouse on their death bed. Check out the 3 lines of lyrics below:
What do you say in a moment like this
When you can't find the words to tell it like it is
Just bite your tongue and let your heart lead the way

It seems that each day we all get an opportunity to speak the truth to those that we love or those that we lead. It is a privilege to get to be the person that communicates this truth to those in our lives. The catch is, sometimes it isn't something someone wants to hear. Or, we may not be speaking it with kindness or compassion.
Communication is tricky. We each have our own style, and it is comfortable for us to communicate in that style. For example - you may be a people person, social butterfly, life of the party type of communicator. You love to speak with enthusiasm and are optimistic that those you speak to want to hear what you have to say. Well, if you are speaking to a introverted, task oriented individual, you could come across as overly enthusiastic and disorganized - which in turn will shut down that introverted individual.

On the flip side, if you are an extremely detail oriented individual - loading up someone who is not with too many details is a no-no.

So, how do you figure out how to speak truth to someone who may not share your communication style? First, consider getting a DISC profile. It will spell out exactly how you like to be communicated to as well as take you through an exercise to identify those in your life and what style they fit into. Also, if you are a leader, consider getting your team profiled as well. Second, take a moment to slow down and think about the person you are talking to. Don't jump to conclusions about them or their specific profile. Ask yourself to pause before speaking truth to them, and then consider how to move forward with your communication.

The better you communicate with those around you, the more opportunity you'll have to positively impact their lives.