Part 1 - What do we mean?
So what is “restorative workplace communication”? Let’s take that one word at a time.
Workplace?
In this modern world of virtual and hybrid everything, ‘workplace’ isn’t an actual place. It’s the space that we occupy as we do our work together. It’s the email space and zoom space and corridor space and restroom space. It’s anywhere that we work even though “where” is no longer geographical.
Communication
That’s the lifeblood of our work. It’s the exchange of information and ideas and solutions it. It can be verbal or not. And our modern virtual hybrid Place, what we communicate could be pictures and movies but it could also be the quirk of an eyebrow, and an encouraging nod. So communication is the exchange of information.
Restorative?
That’s something that gives more than it takes. It’s nourishing, healthy. It’s a an experience, idea, action that adds value, that supports. The opposite of restorative is harm.
It would seem as if restorative communication should be the norm. What we know is that everything we experience can be communicated in ways that feel harmful and violent to others.
Especially now.
Suffice it to say, after the past few years of a collective, global trauma [the pandemic] we’re all a little tender. Issues and experiences that would have been “water off a ducks back“ all feel like it might just be a little too much.
Attending to our tenderness as we figure out our communication with each other could be the balm that we all need while we get work done.
Activity
Think about the time during the past two years when you’ve communicated something, or when something was communicated to you in a way that somehow felt ‘off’. It may have felt uncomfortable, or you may have felt like the interaction cost you in some way and took more from you than it gave to you.
What was it?
What was the value of the communication?
What did it feel like it took away?
What were you craving?
What would’ve been better for you?
Set a timer for five minutes and just write your thoughts and all this.
Find a colleague that’s participating in this experience that you already feel safe with I’m sure share a little about what you noticed in your reflection. all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.