5 Things you can do to improve your communication and “connect”
As a leader, you spend a lot of time dealing with other people.
In your position, you advise, inform, coax, explain, instruct, discuss, review, clarify, counsel, guide, suggest, convince, persuade, coach, respond etcetera etcetera etcetera (from the king and I!)
So often, communication between people are misinterpreted, as people have different interpretations and different messages from the same words which could result in wasted time, frustration and redoing work, causing unhappy customers, an unhappy team and potentially lower profits!!
To ensure that you communicate effectively…. It is imperative that you are able to “connect”!!
Here are five areas for improvement:
1. Manage Expectations
Be clear on what is expected helps your people have time to think, strategise and get on with important business, as well answer enquires in a timely manner.
2. Delegate Effectively
If you delegate – communicate!! Define clearly the scope of the task, areas of responsibility, reporting and review arrangements, resources available etc. Good communication will cause time and money saving with people not having to reinvent the wheel. Communicate clearly before the project and give effective feedback after the project… giving and getting praise or positive feedback is an awesome feeling. Negative feedback is good if you can improve processes going forward.
Good communication helps the person take responsibility, learn for themselves and improve quickly.
3. Listen with 100% focus
Avoid interruptions when listening. FOCUS on what the other person is saying. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth…. Use these senses in that proportion. One connects when one hears what the other is saying!
4. Set Tight Agendas and stick to them
Keep to the subject, keep to time, push for clear decisions wherever appropriate and above all, keep it short.
5. Shut down the grapevine
Good communication means informing your people of what your plans are, where the business is going, and involving them in getting there. If they are not clear on this they will get this information “from the grapevine”… distorted and incorrect!!
If there are concerns, make it easy for your team to air them so that you can deal with them and get your team focused on the job at hand and ensure they are clear of why they are doing it and how it is benefitting the vision of the company….
The janitor at Nasa when asked what he does… he said “ I help people get to the moon”
I look forward to being a part of “the Inner Circle Club” group of 10 to discuss “Everyone Communicates and Few Connect” – who wants to joi n me?
Posted on January 31, 2012
Just something I read and reminded me of the breakfast …….
Here's to growth
Your voice will give you away
It's extremely difficult to read a speech and sound as if you mean it.
For most of us, when reading, posture changes, the throat tightens and people can tell. Reading is different from speaking, and a different sort of attention is paid.
Before you give a speech, then, you must do one of two things if your goal is to persuade:
Learn to read the same way you speak (unlikely)
or, learn to speak without reading. Learn your message well enough that you can communicate it without reading it. We want your humanity.
If you can't do that, don't bother giving a speech. Just send everyone a memo and save time and stress for all concerned.
From the iPad of Troy Eggins
John Maxwell says "Connecting is the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them…and the ability to communicate and connect with others is a major determining factor in reaching your potential."
In a world where we are constantly bombarded with everyone and everything trying to communicate with us, it stands out when someone, especially a leader that you meet, leaves you feeling that they truly understand you.
As a leader, your sense of community improves. Your ability to create team work increases. Your influence skyrockets.
If you can learn how to make every communication an opportunity for a powerful connection, chances are, you will succeed as will your team.