“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?”
“Because wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure”
Paulo Coelho

Speaks-For-Itself: Communication training in the broadest sense

During the explanation of the basic principles of communication, the importance of the art of listening becomes very clear. In this training a lot of attention is being paid to a number of exercises to enhance listening skills.

I work with the Thomas & Kilmann model which shows us how to deal with conflicts during opposite interests or concerns, as well as the Shulz von Thun model with largely examines 4 levels of communication and communication disturbances.

The Dialogue principles are explained through an 8-fold model, which offers practical experiences in discussion skills and the giving and receiving of feedback.

Neuro scientists have established that the intestines and the heart each possess a 2nd and 3rd brain respectively, with their own nervous- and neurological systems. These brains have an independent intelligence, and predominantly deal with our feelings, emotions and intuition. 

This explains why we sense butterflies in our stomach when we fall in love, and not in our heads!

The heart has an electromagnetic field which is 5000 times stronger than the brain, and it often directs the brain. It has been proven that people with a heart transplant not only experience a strong change in their preferences and personality but also in their memories. They literally remember things that belonged to the previous ‘owner’.

This endorses my own personal experience of letting my body speak and listen, instead of my head. When this happens, an entirely different form of communication takes place. A communication that is so honest and unrestrained that it rarely hurts another person, even though you are saying exactly what you want to say.

Most of us were raised in a culture where we rarely rely on our intuition or emotions, unless we are ill or have no choice. During dialogue from your heart you experience that at every moment in time your body is talking to you in a language that is just as complete and sophisticated as the verbal language you speak.

The body in its nature is never violent, just honest. This natural honesty is often controlled by all sorts of fear and feelings of shame, guilt and insecurity, which obstructs our capability of expressing ourselves in an uninhibited way. This leads to communication problems that are (often) accompanied with far reaching effects and consequences, among which relationship disturbances and a negative and undermining self image.
During the past years I have designed a number of exercises addressing this theme. During the listening exercises you experience the difference between listening and really listening. The various dialogue exercises show you how to conduct conversations and situation that cause conflict and misunderstanding in a very natural and easy manner. Alongside we work with a model that clarifies how the (often negative) self image influences  behavior and the way we relate. Through a series of remarkable exercises you learn how to change a negative self image to its positive counterpart.

Results:

These programs will support you in:

    • The resolution of old behavioral patterns
    • Effective listening- and discussion skills
    • Giving and receiving of feedback
    • Knowing what to say and how to say it, regardless of the situation—with tact, honesty and finesse
    • Giving a presentation or facilitating a group process, especially in the face of difficult or critical questions
    • Acquiring a sense of balance and peace in relationships
    • Personal and professional growth
    • Becoming clear in what you want, where you want to go and how you are going to do it


"I've been in the communications business all my life but I've rarely if ever experienced a truly honest process that effectively enables (and empowers) people to look, listen and properly hear another person speak their truth... and to feel what they really mean and want to express - and then be able to express my truth back to  them with profound feeling.  
A truly wonderful gift that helps people say what they mean... and hear the other person's truth without antagonism, deflection or game-playing... a deeply life-enhancing experience - thank you Janaki!"
Michael A Vanderosen
(Programme Development - Angsbacka Centre for Sustainable Living, Sweden)