In my tennis class today, the coach said that professionals can play a good game with everyone—strong and weak partners. "It means you are in control of the ball," he said.
As soon as he shared this piece of advice, my mind drifted away from the tennis court to test my coach's words against different social situations. I smiled at the realization that his advice was not tennis-specific, but a life lesson.
In tennis, you hit the ball with partners whose levels of experience differ. Those who have played tennis as kids are good at the game and confident in their positions. Others, with little experience, are less comfortable with their grips and more insecure about themselves. As playing with partners at your own level might be a rare opportunity, you should learn to make the most of every game.
Similarly, life meets you with people who share your academic and professional backgrounds and others who are less in sync with your approach. To successfully communicate with all, you have to make your conversation partners equally comfortable in your company. As my coach said, you should be "in control of the ball."
Communication is not about picking and choosing partners who you inherently get along with. It is about being in control of the conversation and making it equally enjoyable for all.
Photo credit: David H-W (Extrajection)