--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: COMMUNICATION: If I had to pick a first…" description: "\"COMMUNICATION: If I had to pick a first rule of communication-the one practice above all others that opens the door to connecting with others-it would ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/john-c-maxwell-113_amount_communication-if-i-had-to-pick-a-first-r_2369696.jpg" --- # COMMUNICATION: If I had to pick a first rule of… ![“COMMUNICATION: If I had to pick a first rule of communication-the one practice above all others that opens the door to connecting with others-it would be to look for common ground. Too often people see communication as the process of transmitting massive amounts of information to other people. But…” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/john-c-maxwell-113_amount_communication-if-i-had-to-pick-a-first-r_2369696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/john-c-maxwell-113_amount_communication-if-i-had-to-pick-a-first-r_2369696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/john-c-maxwell-113_amount_communication-if-i-had-to-pick-a-first-r_2369696.jpg) > “COMMUNICATION: If I had to pick a first rule of communication-the one practice above all others that opens the door to connecting with others-it would be to look for common ground. Too often people see communication as the process of transmitting massive amounts of information to other people. But that's the wrong picture. Communication is a journey. The more that people have in common, the better the chance that they can take that journey together.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates finding common ground as the core of effective communication. **In simple terms:** Connect by sharing common interests. Key Takeaway Seek shared interests to build connections. Themes communication leadership collaboration Mood encouraging practical Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - team meetings - networking events - negotiations - conflict mediation Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you discover common ground quickly? - What if common ground seems absent? A Different Perspective Finding common ground can be difficult with opposing values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Common ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-ground/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Connecting With Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connecting-with-others/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Journey together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey-together/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) ## Related quotes > [“It teaches only that you may become a vehicle of love and communication through this process of enlightenment. 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