Communication Tips
I just read this great, short article. I’ve read similar stuff before but this is clear, concise and has some little things I need to remember and practice. Hope you enjoy.
I pulled this from this article at inc.com
By Justin Bariso
1. Listen first.
Communication is a two-way street. By listening first, you demonstrate humility and a willingness to learn, which will encourage colleagues and clients and make them feel valued.
To accomplish this, resist the urge to interrupt, or to dismiss new ideas or techniques. Instead, dignify those you work with by asking for their opinions and perspectives. Then, make sure you pay attention when they speak–rather than concentrate on what you’re going to say next.
By showing your audience that you value what they have to say, they’ll be more willing to share what they really think.
2. Remember, it’s not just what you say; it’s how you say it.
Many people feel that respect must be earned, rather than given. But taking the initiative to show respect to others will drastically increase the power of your message.
Respectful communication includes:
- remembering and using people’s names whenever possible;
- acknowledging others and their viewpoints;
- showing personal interest, by asking your audience questions and determining what’s important to them; and
- getting the full story before jumping to conclusions.
Respect begets respect. If you show consideration and dignity in the way you speak to others, they’ll be more willing to listen to what you have to say.
3. Think before you speak (or write).
In a world ruled by convenience and speed, it takes major self-discipline to think before speaking. But responding too quickly can cause you to say something out of emotion that you later regret–like sending an angry email or text, or agreeing to something that you don’t really want to follow-through on.
Instead of responding immediately to every question or message, take time to think about your response. When speaking, this may be a matter of just a few seconds. When writing, it may be a few hours, or even a day.
By thinking before responding, you can communicate in a way that’s both effective and in harmony with your core principles and values.
4. Strive for clarity.
You rarely achieve great communication on the first try, especially if the topic is complex.
Speaking face-to-face (or over the phone) is often preferable to written communication, because you can include emotional cues such as tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures. You can also ask follow-up questions to make sure the other party understands and is on the same page.
But if you’re communicating through writing about something serious, you should take time to reread what you’ve written and check for proper:
- capitalization,
- punctuation,
- spelling,
- grammar, and
- syntax.
Remember, conversational and authentic doesn’t have to mean sloppy. Paying closer attention to your writing will allow you to convey your thoughts more clearly. Additionally, by paying attention to detail you’ll stand out among peers and leave a better impression.