Rewind for winning communication: A gap analysis!

By Murali Prakash

Can the brain be trained? 

Yes, it can. That’s neuroplasticity – the ability of the human brain to change, in response to different experiences and stimulations. It’s like a muscle, you can flex. As per scientific study, through practice one can stretch it enough to bring about the best in whatever activity you are pursuing. If you do practice rewinding daily on key responses for the day, take stock of what you did which according to you was not the best and consciously program the alternative response that would have been ideal, over a period of time, you will create your own code of responses that would be positive and superior based on the new judgments programmed. 

In this case, programming only needs deep thoughts and acceptance by your subconscious mind. Merely repeating the ideal response several times and firmly embedding it in your mind should do. All what you need is time and the mindset to practice.

Gaps in communication and responses create the world around us. It can also make or break that ultimate moment you’ve been waiting for. Can we get it right most of the time? The answer is yes.

My simple way of responding to the gaps in life has been a steady learning curve through personal experiences. 

Here’s what those who think they need to learn to respond better throughout their lives should do:

• Make it a daily habit to rewind your main activities and analyse how you have responded to the gaps. If there was a gap that you could have responded better, learn and store them in your thoughts.
• Learn that every situation might not demand an immediate response. There are those that you could buy more time if you are not sure of the response. Remember, you may have not properly identified the gap, but after responding, you can’t fill the gap. It’s before falling that you can fill the gap. If you fall into the gap then one needs to come out of the gap first. In this instance, the situation could become more complicated.
• That daily, 10-minute-deep thought to picture what you would like to be or what you would like to accomplish. Well, you can meditate. That is probably better. But if that’s not in you, simply think about positives. That helps to unwind, fill your thoughts with positive energy and above all focus your thoughts. Over a period, your mind can be trained to be focused and respond to activities and thoughts better.

Remember! In everything that we do in our lives, there is a gap. The depth of the cavity will depend on the magnitude of issue, our understanding of it and the response.

Every gap need not be filled. If at all it needs to be filled, it need not be done immediately or fully. We need to be mindful and assess these gap response requirements accordingly. However, there may be some gaps that need to be filled as we move literally within nanoseconds and respond. It is important that the mind is trained to do that.

The way we respond to these gaps will determine whether it’s going to become a crater or small enough of a gap to simply pass through.

Gaps are there to stay….  It’s our responses that need to be mastered. 

(The writer is a thought leader and regular contributor to this page. He is currently the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Taprobane Holdings PLC and Lanka Century Investments PLC with over 35 years of corporate experience. He can be reached on [email protected]).