Communication is one of the most fundamental skills we develop as human beings tobe communicators. As social entities, the vast majority of us communicate with others at least once a day, every day in many different ways.
The ability to articulate ideas and thoughts verbally and nonverbally is a wonderful thing according to the experience of juan luis bosch gutierrez . However, it is true that despite the fact that we all communicate so often, are some of us better at it than others? How?
So what about these principles that make up a good communicator, or an organization that is good at communicating, can ultimately help companies perform?
1. Leave no doubt
Perception and interpretation are powerful things. Rarely will you find someone who thinks exactly the same as you do. That’s why, when it comes to delivering a message, good communicators are precise and clear.
Some instructions and topics can be quite confusing and complex. Breaking down a message into digestible chunks for the receiver may be a necessity. What are the most important points you need to get across? Make sure you cover them without any ambiguity.
There should be no doubt in the mind of the receiver of the message as to what the message means. If there is room for creativity or the receiver’s own ideas, this will be described in the message.
Asking if the message was understood or if the receiver has any doubts is a good practice. Then you can be sure they have the information they need.
What if the message you just received was not accurate and clear…?
2. Ask for clarification
Have you just left a meeting without understanding what you were asked to do next?
In this situation, some people may hesitate to ask for more information, thinking that if they didn’t understand it’s their fault.
Not necessarily, maybe the boss hasn’t been concise or clear about what he or she wants? The best thing you can do is ask for clarification. You should always do this if you need further clarification. After all, if you don’t understand something, how productive or helpful are you going to be. You will save a lot more time if you find out exactly what is expected of you before you start working on it.
3. Time
One of the biggest contributors to miscommunication in organizations is time, specifically, giving people messages about something that needs to be done close to or after the deadline. The results can usually be seen in stressed employees rushing to meet these deadlines.
This sounds pretty basic, don’t ask for something to be fixed or done after the deadline has passed. Are you going to ask them to come to a meeting that happened yesterday? Probably not.
However, is it better to ask for a delivery a day before the deadline? Well, that depends on your message, if you just want an email forwarded, then that’s probably fine. If you need to get a design project done, then you will most likely miss the deadline.
4. Positivity and empathy
Attitude goes a long way, it’s best to interact with someone who has a cheerful disposition about the subject. As humans, we are far more receptive to a positive attitude than a negative one. No one can be positive all the time, but providing positive reinforcement and including positive elements of feedback along with criticism is a good tactic.
Empathy can be described as emotional awareness, and those who can put themselves in the shoes of those with whom they are speaking can anticipate and guide a conversation to a successful conclusion. Different people respond differently to the same situation.
Knowing your coworkers and teammates and how to have fruitful conversations with them will help.
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