On Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2018 at 6:30 p.m., retired U.S. Ambassador Harriet Lee Elam-Thomas spoke to students of Syracuse University in the I3 Center, 432 Newhouse 3. The event was sponsored by the public relations and international relations programs at Syracuse University.
It was a pleasure to hear Elam-Thomas speak, as she has a gracious, friendly and welcoming personality. The evening started off with Elam-Thomas personally greeting every person in the room – she said she prefers to speak to people who she knows by name, rather than a room full of unknown faces. Much of the night focused on relationships and civility, something she is well-versed on given her career as a diplomat and was shown by her actions.
Elam-Thomas said “civility is one of the main ingredients to effective diplomacy,” and something she believed to be a rare trait these days, along with humility and respect. It costs very little to understand people and treat them well, so why not do so? Empathy is key in any relationship and even more critical in a position as a diplomat.
Elam-Thomas stated that in order to exercise effective empathy, one must be an active listener. She stated that “the most effective dialogue requires listening,” and that undivided attention is so important when speaking to someone. If you have ever spoken with someone who scanned the room while you spoke, you will understand this. Why would you want to communicate with someone who is clearly looking for a better conversation and not fully invested in the conversation at hand? Thus, a task as simple as listening to someone will show them that you care and are interested in what they have to say.
One of the last things that Elam-Thomas shared with us was that “we never touch anyone so lightly that we do not leave a trace.” This served as a simple reminder that even the smallest interaction with someone will impact them in one way or another, so it is best to have thoughtful interactions in order to leave a beneficial mark and a good memory.
Although Elam-Thomas touched on many topics during her speech, including insight on how to be an effective diplomat, all of the topics related back to the importance of communication; moreover, the power of words (both spoken and unspoken) and the importance of being an engaged listener. Especially in today’s political climate, the need for productive relationships cannot be emphasized enough and the best way to form these relationships is through thoughtful communication.
This event was particularly interesting to me, as a possible career in public diplomacy always intrigued me. Elam-Thomas spoke about her experiences in such a fascinating and thoughtful way that it was easy to be captivated and engaged with her speech. I wholeheartedly believe in the principles that Elam-Thomas spoke about, and I look forward to putting them to practice.
Elam-Thomas is currently the director of the diplomacy program at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Prior to that, she served as diplomat-in-residence at UCF. Elam-Thomas recently published a memoir, “Diversifying Diplomacy: My Journey from Roxbury to Dakar.” The book offers an inside look at her service as a diplomat, as well as her perspectives on how to overcome anti-American views abroad and how to create productive and meaningful relationships.