Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship and a leader is expected to build and maintain relationships at different levels. Consequently, this article proposes ten tips to bridge the gap and increase your effectiveness.
10 tips
- Understand your communication style.
In addition to knowing your communication style, it is also essential that others know it. Tell the people who work with you how you work best. Do you have an open communication style? Are you used to a practical approach? Communication flows better when they know. They shouldn’t have to guess.
- Eliminate barriers.
Barriers block your ability to communicate effectively. Be clever in recognizing and eliminating them (cultural diversity, language, space, jargon, perception, distractions, presentation, personal behavior, too much information, etc.).
- Be flexible.
Try to understand as well as to be understood. We often block communication by pushing our idea and ignoring the ideas of others.
- Listens
Listening is easier said than done. Like many of you, I am thinking of the next thing to say, or my mind is processing five things at once. Decelerate. Give the person your undivided attention.
- Ask questions.
Great leaders ask questions, and no question is dumb. Better to ask a question than assume you understand.
- Stay connected.
Walk around to determine how things are going. Examine the land! At the same time, be accessible. A cold or hostile posture will keep you away from the troops.
- Get feedback.
Take advantage of constructive criticism. How else are you going to grow? It is equally important to seek feedback on processes and policies, as well as on products and services. Take advantage of suggestion boxes or short online surveys.
- Maximize meetings.
Most people view meetings as a waste of time because they lack structure and meaning. Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. Instead, turn them into problem-solving sessions. Just as important, stay on task and stick to the schedule. By the way, always have an agenda.
- Present yourself with poise and confidence.
If you have difficulty presenting yourself with poise and confidence, seek help. Not everyone is talented in this area; But you can hone this invaluable skill by joining a Toastmaster, enrolling in a course, attending a seminar, or working with a coach. Remember, your professional image says it all.
- Keep people informed.
One way is to provide regular updates in writing (via email or memo). Now, I am not suggesting overwhelming people with extensive correspondence. Keep it short. A little communication is better than no communication.