The NCD Mantras for Clean & Clear Communication

The NCD mantras are the principles of Navigating Challenging Dialogue®. Each mantra is a simple saying that acts as a reminder to let the NCD Process guide you.

The more you practice the mantras, the more they will be integrated into how you show up as a communicator who listens, is empathetic, and holds space for others to be fully seen and heard.

I even find myself using mantras to stop my brain from spinning stories. When I catch myself playing a scenario over and over, or feel emotions start to bubble up, I can tell myself, “That’s Fascinating”, and that’s enough to break the cycle.

The NCD Mantras

  • Be Aware of the Energy You Bring to The Room

  • The Only Person I Can Manage Is Myself

  • Grace in the Space

  • That’s Fascinating

  • Curiosity is the Pathway to Empathy

  • Trust is Built One Conversation at a Time and One Experience at a Time

  • You Can Only See the World Through Your Own Lens

  • At the End of the Day, Everyone Just Wants to be Seen and Heard

Rachel took one of the first NCD workshops I ever led back in 2009. She’s moved jobs since then, but we’ve stayed connected. She continues to tell everyone about NCD and how much it has benefited her professionally and personally.

We were talking via Zoom one day when she showed me a poster she had made for her office wall. On the poster were the NCD Mantras. “I keep these right in front of me because if I start to get pulled into drama, those mantras remind me to use the tools of NCD,” she said.

Now Available As a Free Download

You can now download the mantras explainer as a PDF — and it includes a printable mini poster to keep at hand for your easy reference!

Beth Wonson