Practices to Create Influence, Space and Peace

Kayla Logue

There are mindsets and actions that can increase the probability of greater influence and desired outcomes. It’s beneficial to learn professional suggestions or recommendations.

Kayla Logue presents three practices today that could be exactly what someone is looking for or needs in their professional relationships or personal ones.

She is the author of the upcoming (May, 2024) book, “Always Squeezing Lemons,” and also a luxury real estate-and-property specialist and the founder of Move Into Words, a non-profit designed to create an environment for advocating sustainable habits towards mental and physical health.

The points she discusses with Communication Intelligence magazine today are 1) the importance of boundaries and assertiveness in coworker relationships and client communications 2) better, more successful, strategic and personalized follow up and 3) the ability and willingness to communicate and share gratitude genuinely, effectively and often.

Boundaries with other people and assertiveness are lessons everyone has to learn. Critical ones for survival and thriving.

“I think one very important reason for them does a full circle back to protecting and respecting our time,” Logue says, because “If we find ourselves constantly being a yes man or woman, we are not respecting our time or energy at all, which diminishes our own self-respect.

“If you do not show respect for yourself, no one else will give you the same. This opens the door for someone to walk all over you.”

Boundaries, she says, reveal to others something important and necessary.

“When you have self-respect by having strong boundaries and being assertive, others will also respect you,” Logue suggests. “Self-respect communicates that you value your needs, emotions and well-being.”

Maybe surprising to some, she says that “Boundaries do not always need to be to stated aloud.”

She argues that “They are standards you hold yourself to and are displayed through your actions. Assertiveness commands respect from others because it demonstrates confidence and self-assurance,” Logue says.

This does require an extra, key step, to maximize the success.

“People are more likely to honor your boundaries when they see you assert them consistently and respectfully,” she adds. “And when we are able to effectively communicate and demonstrate both boundaries and assertiveness, we will never personally — or have someone — neglect our time.”

Communication follow-up quality is a topic that could be examined and debated more often. Much of it falls short in understanding and effectiveness.

“We are constantly absorbing advertisements with every scroll and click, so not only is it easy to get overwhelmed but we constantly have our guards up,” Logue says. “An effective and more skillful follow-up would allow the person you are following up with to lower their guard.”

She communicates how this can be reliably accomplished. It all starts with smarter curiosity and interactions.

“You can do this by asking the right questions, with the right language and with the right intentions. Neutral language, meaning without assumption, helps with forming deliberate and purposeful questions.

“We all want to protect ourselves and our most valuable asset…time. And I value this (psychological need and expectation),” Logue says. “When I am able to effectively communicate I respect their time, my intentions are to genuinely learn their problem or interests so together we can come to an understanding if a working relationship is going to be possible, then I am able to protect and not waste either of our times.”

The byproduct can resonate well with prospects, she asserts.

“This not only builds respect instantly but is the foundation for developing trust,” Logue says. “Once you are able to disarm someone, by having them open up about their interest or problem they are trying to solve, have an honest conversation about how you could help them or not and communicate the respect you have for their time, you are able to remove yourself from the dominant number of people that come off insincere.”

There is available progress and benefits for such an informed, thoughtful, skilled communicator who can show themselves as positively different.

“I love the words ‘positively’ and ‘different’ next to each other and used in congruence,” Logue says. “It is noteworthy because this is an incredible example of why being different is not only a huge positive but also creates opportunities for success.

“In the case of a skillfully communicated follow up, you are able to build the foundations of strong relationships from the forefront. Respect turns into trust and trust turns into long-lasting relationships.”

Her personal experiences proved this concept correct.

“I have noticed these benefits in my job as a luxury real estate expert and property specialist. With this, I have created what I call a VIP client list quickly,” she says. “This consists of people I stay in touch with monthly, bimonthly and they continue to invest with me, send referrals, create mutually beneficial connections or just catch up.

“A wise mentor once told me this, ‘if someone buys from you they like you, if they refer someone to you they trust you.” 

This became a professional commitment.

“Being ‘positively different’ is something I will continue to carry with me… because the benefits are not just a one-time pay off,” Logue says.

Teaching ourselves to think appreciatively and communicate it naturally and often about ourselves and others is a belief that Logue proposes.

“Daily gratitude practice has allowed me to adopt a life-changing perspective when overcoming obstacles, adversity and hardships,” she says. “It is a gentle yet powerful reminder that finding peace and purpose in the present for the blessings you have now is more than worth celebrating.

“Sharing this appreciation genuinely with those who play a part in creating that peace is an incredible feeling. Authentically expressing this not only comes from your words but your actions.”