Thought for the Week – Are We Really Having a Conversation?

are-we-really-having-a-conversationHow do we know if we’re truly having a conversation – or just broadcasting our thoughts?

Last time, we explored “Listening Between the Lines” and how communication isn’t just what’s exchanged in words, it’s how we show up for each other when words fall short. If you missed it, you can catch up here

We live in a world of constant updates, opinions, and noise. From meetings to messages, social posts to performance reviews – communication is everywhere.

How do we know if we are really having a conversation?

It’s easy to mistake talking for communicating. But what if, more often than we realise, we’re just broadcasting?

This week let’s pause to consider the difference between real dialogue and performative exchange – the kind of surface-level interaction where we speak at each other, rather than with each other.

Real dialogue asks something more of us. It asks us to:

  • Listen with curiosity instead of waiting to speak.
  • Stay open to being changed by what we hear.
  • Ask questions not to confirm our assumptions, but to deepen our understanding.

So, here’s a gentle reflection for the week ahead:

“How often do you invite – rather than simply allow – others to influence your perspective?”

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation or meeting feeling flat, one-sided, or disconnected, you’re not alone. Sometimes we’re so focused on what we’re contributing that we forget to truly receive what’s being offered.

This week, see what shifts when you approach conversation as co-creation rather than performance.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

– George Bernard Shaw –

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With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
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Thought for the Week – Listening Between the Lines

listening-between-the-linesWhat if the real power in communication isn’t what you say … but what you’re willing to hear?

Last time, we explored “From Tension to Trust” – the art of repair and how to rebuild trust when connection breaks down. If you missed it, you can catch up here

We can spend so much energy trying to be clear, clever, or correct in what we communicate. However, deep trust isn’t built on how well we speak – it’s rooted in how fully we listen.

So, this week, let’s turn to something quieter, yet just as radical: The kind of listening that makes people feel safe, seen, and truly understood.

It’s the kind of listening that hears what’s said, what’s meant, and even what’s unsaid. And it doesn’t come from technique. It comes from presence.

When was the last time someone listened to you without interrupting, fixing, or rushing to respond?

That kind of listening is rare – and unforgettable, right?

It’s not passive. It’s not silent agreement.

It’s a courageous choice to:

  • Put your agenda to one side for the moment.
  • Resist the reflex to defend.
  • Make room for the other person to find their words, even if they’re messy or slow.

This kind of listening doesn’t mean you agree with everything – it signals care, and opens the door for collaboration, empathy, and yes, repair.

This week, I invite you to reflect on:

  • Where might deeper listening shift the energy of a relationship?
  • What gets in the way of your ability to be fully present?
  • How might you listen – not to respond, but to understand?

 Because communication isn’t just what’s exchanged in words, it’s how we show up for each other when words fall short.

 

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

– Winston Churchill –

 

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With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week – From Tension to Trust

tension-to-trust (Kintsugi)When was the last time you truly repaired a relationship rather than just moving on?

We’ve all been there.
You speak with care. You stay present with someone.
And yet somehow … the other person hears something completely different.

It’s frustrating. Disorienting. Even painful.

Last week, I wrote about how being misunderstood is part of real human connection – and how we can respond with curiosity and grace rather than defensiveness. If you missed it, you can catch up here

That’s only the beginning …

Because true communication doesn’t end at talking and understanding.
It goes one step further – into the brave and transformative territory of repair.

What happens after the misunderstanding is what matters most.

  • How do we come back into connection when there’s been a misunderstanding?
  • What does real repair sound like?
  • And how can we do it without shame or blame?

This week’s “Thought for the Week” dives into these questions – with practical tools and a fresh way to think about relational resilience.

Because communication isn’t just about what we say.

It’s about co-creation.
It’s about the courage to stay in the room – and find our way back to each other.

When we learn the art of repair, we move from transaction to transformation. We cultivate a field of trust where people feel safe enough to be real – even when it’s messy.

This week, I invite you to reflect on a conversation or connection that felt strained.

  • Is there a thread you might gently pick up again?
  • What would it mean to repair, rather than retreat?
  • Where could you lead with grace, even if you weren’t “wrong”?

Because regenerative communication isn’t about perfection.
It’s about staying in connection – and finding our way back to harmony.

 

“A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month’s study of books.”

– Chinese Proverb –

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With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week: Misunderstood – Now What?

misundertstandingMisunderstood? It’s more common than you think.

Last time, we explored “The Energy of Presence – Are You Really Here?” – how showing up fully and attentively is often more powerful than words. If you missed it, you can catch up here

Now, one thing that many of us struggle with is being misunderstood – even if we are being truly present and are great communicators. It happened to me this week.

How often have you found yourself in a conversation where you believed that you were being clear, open, present and showing care, and yet the other person walked away with a completely different impression than intended?

Yes, it can be confusing and frustrating, and we have to remind ourselves that communication isn’t just about how we deliver; it’s about how it’s received. It is the space between intention and interpretation is where misunderstanding lives.

So, this week, let’s unpack the nature of misunderstanding – why it happens, how to handle it without defensiveness, and how to respond with grace when our best efforts still miss the mark.

Why Misunderstanding Happens – Even When We’re “Good” Communicators:

  • Everyone hears through their own filter – shaped by past experiences, fears, perceptions and assumptions.
  • Presence doesn’t override perception – even the most grounded delivery can be misread.
  • Tone, timing, and context all carry weight – and sometimes they say more than our words.

How to respond to Misunderstandings, gracefully:

  1. Don’t Rush to Defend: Your instinct might be to explain or justify. Instead, pause. Take a breath. Respond, don’t react.
  2. Get Curious, Not Combative: If appropriate, you could try asking something like this: “Can I ask how that came across for you?” You might uncover a blind spot – or an emotional undercurrent that needs tending.
  3. Clarify, Gently: Once you’ve listened, reframe your intent. “Thanks for sharing that. What I meant to say was …” (Not to prove yourself right, rather to re-align the connection).

Being misunderstood doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re in a real human interaction / relationship – one that involves risk, repair, and growth.

Connection isn’t built through perfect communication – it’s built through the willingness to stay in the room when things go a bit pear-shaped!

 

“Whenever you feel misunderstood, remember that every person you meet has a different internal dictionary.”

– Haemin Sunim –

[Korean Buddhist teacher, author of ‘The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down.’]

 

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With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week: The Energy of Presence – Are You Really Here?

leadership-presenceWe live in a noisy world – and yet the loudest thing in any room isn’t always someone’s voice. It’s their presence.

You’ve felt it. That unmistakable calm when someone is fully with you – not rushing to fix, perform, or speak. Just being truly present.

It’s rare. And that’s what makes it powerful.

Here’s a thought exercise you can try: 

Mini Self-Check – Presence in Practice:

  • Body: What’s your posture saying in most of your interactions lately – open or guarded?
  • Mind: Are you running an inner script when others speak, or genuinely tuned in?
  • Energy: Are you in a rush to fill the silence, or comfortable holding space?

Each week, I offer more insights, exercises and tips to those on my list. If you would like to Subscribe to Thrive, click here.

Being Heard Without Saying Much:

So, you don’t have to say a lot to have impact. You just have to be there.

 

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Presence is how you guide others without speaking a word.”

– John Maxwell –

[New York Times Best-selling Author – he wrote many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ and ‘The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader’.]

 

This week, I invite you to practise not just listening better more about being better at being present.

In conversations. In meetings. With loved ones. And maybe most importantly – with yourself.

Because presence is the true language of trust.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week – When Words Aren’t Enough

when-words-are-not-enoughHave you ever said all the right words … yet felt totally misunderstood?

Words Matter of course – they’re just 7% of the story though!

Communication is more than what we say.

In fact, research by psychologist Albert Mehrabian suggests that in our face-to-face communication:

  • Only 7% is about the actual words.
  • 38% is our tone of voice.
  • And a powerful 55% is body language – facial expressions, posture, gestures, even the quality of our presence.

That’s staggering.

It means we could be saying all the “right” things … and still creating dissonance if our energy tells a different story.

Changing the narrative on how we communicate recognises this deeper truth.

It calls us to connect not just from the head, also with the heart and body.

It’s not just about being articulate – it’s about being aligned.

This week, I invite you to ask yourself:

  • Where are your words coming from – head, heart, or gut?
  • Is your tone reinforcing or contradicting your message?
  • How are you being in the spaces between when you speak?

When we show up with coherence – words, tone, and body in alignment – we create trust, safety and connection.

Because the most powerful language we speak is who we are when we walk into the room.

 

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou –

 

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week – The Space Between Words

The-Space-Between-WordsWhen was the last time you let silence do the talking?

Last time, we explored Beyond the Buzzword – What Does “Connection” Really Mean? This was about how real connection happens, when both inner understanding and outer acknowledgement happen in synch with each other. If you missed it, you can catch up here

In a world that rewards fast replies, constant updates, and high output, silence can feel like a threat. A lost moment. A missed chance.

Yet what if silence is the moment when real communication actually begins?

We often think of communication as what is being said. What about the pauses though? The breath before a response? The moment someone hesitates – or chooses not to speak.

To take communication to the next level, we’re not just exchanging information – we’re cultivating presence. And in that presence, silence isn’t empty. It’s alive.

Why Silence Matters

We’re taught to listen for words, and yet the nervous system listens for more:

  • The pause before someone answers.
  • The breath between thoughts.
  • The moment someone doesn’t say something – and everything that still speaks – our facial expressions, gestures etc.

Silence can signal thoughtfulness. Respect. Emotional safety.

Or it can bring up discomfort, impatience, even fear – not because it’s bad, but because we’re not used to it.

In Indigenous and wisdom traditions, silence is often sacred, such as within the peoples of the Northwest Coast in North America. It’s where the unseen becomes felt. Where stories gestate. Where truth surfaces without being forced.

Deeper Listening

Of course, deeper listening comes hand-in-hand with silence. To practice regenerative communication is to recognise silence as a co-creative space.

Just as soil needs rest between seasons, so too does speech need space to breathe.

Try this:

  • After someone finishes speaking, count to three before you respond.
  • When you feel tempted to fill a pause, ask: What wants to emerge here if I wait?
  • If you’re unsure what to say, honour that. Let the silence speak for you.

 What Becomes Possible in the Pause?

When we stop filling every space with sound, a few surprising things start to happen:

  • People say more meaningful things – because they feel listened to.
  • We notice more – tone, emotion, body language.
  • Conversations slow down – and often go deeper.

Silence can also be a form of invitation. It allows others to reflect, to speak from a truer place, to feel held without pressure.

Reflection for the Week

  • Where in your life are you rushing to fill the silence?
  • What does silence feel like in your body?
  • How can you practice listening beyond words this week?

 

“Silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything.”

– Gordon Hempton –

[Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton collects sounds from around the world.]

 

In communication, silence is not a lack – it’s a doorway.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
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Thought for the Week – Beyond the Buzzword – What Does “Connection” Really Mean?

connection-jigsaw“Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you weren’t really seen or heard – even though the other person was apparently ‘listening’?”

Last time, we explored Shifting from Listening to Sensing and not just hearing words, but tuning into the unspoken, the energy, the presence behind them. If you missed it, you can catch up here

This week, I want to dig a little deeper into what often gets associated with that conversation: Connection.

“Connection” is one of those words that gets tossed around easily. It sounds great. It feels good. Yet when you sit with it … what does it actually mean?

Is it about being kind? Empathetic? Present?

Yes, and yet that’s only part of the story.

At a fundamental level, Connection = Understanding + Acknowledgment.

It’s a bit like ‘two-factor authentication’ for communication – we need both to truly “log in” to someone else’s world.

  • If I understand you, and yet you don’t feel seen, we’re not connected.
  • If I acknowledge your words and yet miss their meaning, we’re still not connected.

what-is-real-connection

Connection happens in the overlap.

It’s not just about what’s said, it’s about what is sensed and expressed. And when both of those pieces are present, something shifts. You don’t just talk – you resonate.

So, this week, I invite you to notice:

  • Where is real connection happening for you?
  • Where isn’t it happening?
  • Where might only one circle be present?
  • What might shift if you brought both? 

 

“When someone really hears you without passing judgment on you, without trying to take responsibility for you, it feels damn good.”

– Carl Rogers –

[An American psychologist who was one of the founders of humanistic psychology and was known especially for his person-centred psychotherapy.]

 

Connection isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a practice.

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!

P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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Thought for the Week – Shifting From Listening to Sensing

shift-symbolLast time, we explored moving from debate to discovery, and how curiosity can transform conversations.  If you missed it, you can catch up here

This week, let’s go one layer deeper:

What happens when we truly listen – not just with our ears, but with our full attention, presence, and even intuition?

This shift invites us into a more grounded, attuned way of being with each other. One that fosters trust, empathy, and new possibilities.

Many of us have been taught to listen with the goal of responding rather than understanding. This approach to communication often limits the depth and possibilities of our interactions.

Sensing goes beyond hearing words. It’s about tuning into:

  • What’s not being said.
  • The emotion under the surface.
  • The patterns and energy of the conversation.
  • What’s trying to emerge between you.

This kind of deep listening builds trust and nurtures a space where new insights – and even transformation – can take root.

Try this shift in conversation:

Instead of Listening to Reply: e.g., “I see what you’re saying, but here’s what I think…”

Try Listening to Connect: e.g., “That’s an interesting perspective – can you tell me more, so I fully understand where you’re coming from?”

Sensing invites us to pause – to be still enough to notice what’s not being said. It opens up a space where empathy, intuition, and innovation can come alive.

Here are some ‘Sensing Practices’ to try:

  • Pause before responding! This lets silence do some of the work. (Yes, many of us can be uncomfortable with silences and this is usually why we feel the pressure to fill those silences right)?

Yet, when we do that, rather than allowing the natural flow to evolve, this disconnects us.

  • Ask yourself: “What’s not being said?” to invite hidden insights.
  • Notice your own inner response: What do you feel in your body as the other person speaks? Notice what comes up for you and trust this.
  • Reflect what you’re sensing: “It sounds like this really matters to you…”
  • Notice tone and pacing:Usually, how someone speaks tells us more than what they say.
  • Ask for clarification: e.g., “What feels most important here?”

Why does it matter to ‘sense to understand and connect’?

Our interactions thrive on deep connection, mutual understanding, and emergent insight. When we practice sensing, we move from transactional exchanges to transformational conversations. We stop trying to contrail and drive outcomes and begin to be in flow with what’s unfolding.

 

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood.”

– Ralph Nichols –

[Dr. Nichols was a pioneer in drawing attention to both the importance and scientific understanding of developing proficient listening skills]

 

This week, I invite you to try one moment of “sensing instead of solving.” Notice what shifts.

Wishing you a week of deeply connected conversations,

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page
Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

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Thought for the Week – From Debate to Discovery

shifting-perspectivesLast time, we explored “Turning Conflict into Co-Creation” and how shifting to a both / and mindset opens up more expansive, creative, and sustainable solutions.

If you missed it, you can catch up here

Have you ever been in a conversation where both sides seem locked in opposition, without any room for movement?

How often to we enter discussions with the goal of proving a point or defending our perspective? While healthy debate can be valuable, it can also create division rather than connection.

What if we approached conversations not as a battle to be won but as a discovery to be made?

The Shift: From Argument to Inquiry

When we engage in debate, we tend to focus on what separates us.

Shifting to discovery means approaching conversations with curiosity and an open mind. Instead of assuming we have the answer, we explore the possibility that there’s more to learn.

Try these shifts:

X – Debate: “That’s not correct.”

Y – Discovery: “That’s an interesting perspective. Can you share more about what led you to that conclusion?”

X – Debate: “I disagree.”

Y – Discovery: “I see it differently – here’s why. What’s your take on that?”

By replacing defensiveness with curiosity, we invite a richer, more meaningful exchange of ideas.

The Power of Generative Questions

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to shift from debate to discovery is by asking better questions. Thoughtful, open-ended questions encourage deeper dialogue and lead to unexpected insights.

Here are a few to try:

  • “What’s most important to you about this issue?”
  • “What experiences have shaped your view?”
  • “How else could we look at this?”

Expanding the Conversation: From Either / Or to Both / And

Debate often forces us into a binary mindset -one side is right, and the other is wrong. Discovery, on the other hand, embraces complexity and nuance.

Instead of asking, “Should we prioritise X or Y?” try, “How might we find a way to support both X and Y?”

When we shift from either / or thinking to both / and possibilities, we create space for solutions that are more inclusive, creative, and effective.

From Resistance to Possibility

When we engage in discovery-based conversations, we move from resistance to possibility. We replace the need to “win” with the opportunity to learn. We step away from conflict and toward collaboration.

 

“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance.”

– Robert Quillen –

[American Journalist and Humourist hailed as “the Sage of Fountain Inn” by the highly influential critic Alexander Woolcott]

 

What’s one conversation this week where you can shift from debate to discovery?

Wishing you a week of conversations filled with discovery!

With warmest wishes,

korinne-sig

Korinne Le Page

Thrive Coaching & Training – Empowering You to Thrive!
P.S. Feel free to share your experiences and insights!

P.P.S. Book a complimentary Clarity Session with me here

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