What’s Your Communication Style?
How you communicate will determine how successful you become in business. Communication is critical in interacting with others, providing direction or feedback to your employees or presenting a business idea. Strong leaders know that how they communicate affects the outcome.
No one is perfect at communicating and we generally have a certain style that we revert to in our communication. Communication is both verbal and non-verbal and the non-verbal messages are read more often than verbal. Check out this site and take a quick test: Communication Styles There is no judgment here…rather give some time to recognize the style you use most frequently and how it could potentially affect how your manage your employees.
The Voice of Authority: 10 Communication Strategies Every Leader Needs to Know by Dianna Booher. The author clearly states what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and even how to present yourself…which are important skills in the business environment. One can learn how to communicate because it is a skill. Like the other skills you learned, you could increase your communication ability.
Basics are important when you are managing your employees:
- Be Open – listen to the employee and take time to discuss the issue first. Then you can make a decision around how to handle the situation. Take notes while they speak because you can refer to them in your decision-making process. You also indicate to the employee that you don’t want to forget what they say.
- Know your employee – all employees are sensitive and sometimes that sensitivity blocks their ability to listen to what you are saying.
- Choose words that are respectful to the employee. Even if you don’t agree with them or they frustrate you, take the time to think how you will present the issue. Be careful what words you emphasize to communicate and how you phrase them. Try to be specific about your expectations and present the points in a positive light. Speak to the employee’s potential.
- Acknowledge what they say…very important that they know you are listening to them. Then they will become open to your needs as their manager.
- Find areas where you both agree…this way you can build up your relationship with them.
- Communicating frustration or anger is really more of a reflection of your inability to handle the situation, so if you want to be seen as a strong manager, you will need to find tools to work out your highly charged emotions first before communicating with others. Write or talk it out with others and see if you can come up with at least 3 potential solutions to the issue. Put your mind in the solution mindset before you communicate with the employee.
- Be clear around your decision…communicate to the employee why it’s important to act or perform in a certain way. Set clear expectations.
Final Thoughts
We automatically judge others on their ability to communicate. If that is what we notice in others….this is the impression you leave with others. So take the time to understand how you communicate and figure out what you are doing now that works and what doesn’t work for you. Then learn and practice how to develop your communication skills. There is lots of information available to guide you in this learning process. This week take a small action to communicate to your employees in a different way.
Next Topic
What’s Your Learning Style?Pat
Other Topics:
What’s Your Management Style?
What’s Your Learning Style?
Why Do Employees Quit?
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21 Great Ways to Become an Outstanding Manager by Brian Tracy
With this valuable step-by-step program, you will learn
how to:
-Lead your team to maximum results – so you can stand
out above the rest
-Keep your team happy and motivated
-Maximize your natural leadership capabilities
-Build a team to take you to the top
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