It Worked

My blurb on minefields was abrupt, in your face, and totally out of character for my normal style of writing, and it worked.  It got people’s attention.  Rather quickly after hitting send, the responses started coming in.  Most people were asking if something had happened with me and Sally saying specifically, “This is way weird ...out of character/style.”  The funny thing about it is that the piece had nothing to do with me directly.  It actually came out of a brief conversation where the term minefield was used to describe someone conversation this other person had with someone.  I intentionally wrote the minefield piece in an, “out of character/style” way to raise some eyebrows. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are indeed people out there that intentionally set communication minefields.  They intentionally say things in a way to attempt to get the answers they want, and if they don’t, they become the victim.  Personally, I see that as a lot of misdirected effort.  As I’ve learned, and am still learning, to be a better communicator, it is all about timing and speaking from the heart rather than trying to craft the outcome with selective words and questions.