Austrian-American family therapist, psychologist, and communication theorist Paul Watzlawick [1921-2007] was famous, among other (many) things, for his idea that "One cannot not communicate."
Communicating with someone is communicating, not communicating with someone is also communicating.
The same applies to showing up.
One cannot not show up.
Showing up is a way of showing up, not showing up is a way of showing up.
Just like silence and the absence of communication are a way of communicating, lack of contact and non-appearance are a way of showing up as well.
More often than not, we don't pay that much attention to the way we show up and what our showing up style can mean for ourselves and others.
And yet, it makes a difference whether we are consistent on not, whether we are usually reliable and on time or not, whether we are the ones that keep their promises or the ones that go "missing in action" for days, weeks, or even months while expecting others to be there for us on short notice if we need them to.
It takes two to tango, they say.
It takes two to communicate and to show up as well, because showing up is a form of reciprocity.
Coaching question of the day:
"What's your style of showing up?"
Communicating with someone is communicating, not communicating with someone is also communicating.
The same applies to showing up.
One cannot not show up.
Showing up is a way of showing up, not showing up is a way of showing up.
[In-person, via e-mail, on the phone, at all...
Someone's showing up style tells a lot about them
and about their relationships]
Just like silence and the absence of communication are a way of communicating, lack of contact and non-appearance are a way of showing up as well.
More often than not, we don't pay that much attention to the way we show up and what our showing up style can mean for ourselves and others.
And yet, it makes a difference whether we are consistent on not, whether we are usually reliable and on time or not, whether we are the ones that keep their promises or the ones that go "missing in action" for days, weeks, or even months while expecting others to be there for us on short notice if we need them to.
It takes two to tango, they say.
It takes two to communicate and to show up as well, because showing up is a form of reciprocity.
Coaching question of the day:
"What's your style of showing up?"
Tags: Coaching question, Self-coaching, Self-awareness, Showing up, Reciprocity, Human interactions, Giving and Receiving, Communication theory, Quotes
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