For any entrepreneur building a company, or even for employees of a business who are trying to work for internal promotions, it is well understood that communication is a key point in achieving these goals. Whether it is for team members or leaders, effective communication is integral to meeting both personal and professional desires.
On The Basic Level
At Technalink, one of the things that we have noticed over the years is that effective communication does take many forms. From a basic business tutorial standpoint, we can certainly give some sound advice regarding communication that opens doors instead of closes them.
- Know your message – while different employees or clients may respond to specific verbage or even channels of communication, it is also imperative that the message being sent is clear. The core message should always have language that is clear, unambiguous, and is phrased in a manner that is not open to interpretation.
- Know your audience – as mentioned, different personalities will respond better to different modes of communication. It is very important that leaders and team members both become aware of this, and also respect this when dealing with these individuals. This will not only reduce confusion, but will also improve engagement.
- Follow up appropriately – although we all understand how difficult it can be to work if someone is hovering over to monitor our progress, we also know that this does not negate the need for good follow up. Setting regular times to touch base, or even providing employees and clients with a time line for communications can be effective without raising stress levels.
- Understand non-verbal communications – this can be imperative for clarity and engagement, especially as this form of communication can be based on the speaker’s intent as much as the listener’s perception. From a tangible level, factors such as body language, tone of voice, and syntax can all give messages that are actually counter to the initial communication.
Looking Deeper
The concept of non-verbal communication also plays a larger role in the obstacles that may be attracted. From the general perspective that tone and body language will inform another of our intents as much as the words will, it can become apparent to see that what we may think is good communication is actually forming obstacles in our relationships with others. However, there is also another issue which relates to all these tangibles, but can have an even more significant effect.
While basic clarity and syntax have been addressed, people should also consider the real meaning of words that are being used. As an example, one phrase we try to stay conscious of avoiding is saying that you “love something to death”. While it is a common colloquial phrase that should be quite sweet, the actual words denote control and smothering. As a result, the recipient of this phrase becomes burdened by it, and this can alter the relationship.
Another common habit that has similar impact, is the tendency to negate something unwanted, without actually delineating the positive desire:
- I do not want to lose this deal
- I will not abandon my dreams
- I am not going to lose this promotion
It is very important to note that while the interpretations of these phrases are positive, the focus of the phrases is still on the negative outcome.
This common habit is informing others that we are more focused on the negative outcome, versus stating:
- I AM getting this deal
- I AM following my dreams
- I AM gaining promotion
In comparison, it can also become apparent how basic aspects of our communication can truly create obstacles or opportunities. However, by balancing a mindful awareness of the power of words and intention, and a presence of mind to be sensitive to basic communication, people can easily begin to find that discourse will open doors, both with others and for the self.
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