Calling Down, Calling Out, Calling Forth: Exploring Effective Communication Dynamics

09/01

We call all the time. I receive calls and send calls out. There are many types of call. For
instance, what is it like when I ‘call you down’? Like that? Which form do you like more, to be
called down or to call another person down? When someone is ‘calling down’ another, what is
behind that? My guess… it is not exactly respect. How often do you use this variant of calling?
How come?

Calling Down

Thinking more on the ‘calling someone down’ it strikes me that I, as the caller, am hurting
somehow, at least that is my memory of those times. Taking it one step further, the likely
reaction is not too friendly which has a result like, “oh yeah, well zing boom bang to you!”. Now
what? When I receive a calling down, what if I skip this part? What do I need to understand in
order to choose another response?

Calling Out

I can also call someone out. This is high noon at the OK Corral and you’d better have a gun.
The reason can be that I have just had it with you. It is a threat, often delivered with a few labels
and insults to get a rise out of you. Calling you out means I have given up on you, done, not one
more concession. It can also be that I am terrified of you, I feel inferior around you. Notice the
feeling as the deliverer or as the recipient. Hmmm, how effective is this from of calling? It is not
encouragement though the words might later be argued to have been that. Not true.

Calling Forth

Another way is to call someone forth. When I call you forth there is an underlying faith that there
is more to you, that you are worthy, that something ‘higher’ is in you and that it would be
welcomed if you brought more of yourself forth.

Calling forth is a Divine invitation to shine. How would that feel to feel called forth? A little scary perhaps but really gah gah awesome, high, like a flower turning towards the sun. Yeah, I want that. Effective ‘calling forth’ is the alchemy of the most accomplished business Leader.

Lots of ways to call forth. Lore tells us that Henry Kissinger, in his first interactions with new
staff, would ask, when being offered the results of some task, “and before I take this, can you
please assure me that it is your very best work?”. Well, don’t know about you, but I’d take it
back and go through it with a fine toothed comb before offering it again. From the get go Mr
Kissinger called forth the very best in his staff. No insult, no demand, just a question.

Call forth. It brings the most out of us all.

Joseph Seiler

How would you like to be called or call others? Let’s connect and chat, book your time to connect here.