Effective Communications – Life Lessons

By Terry Orr

While we all believe that best practice of effective communications are part of your good skills sets – all to often they fall short of the desired mark.  Thus some life lessons to share to help improve and sharpen those skills.

Keeping it Simple – Ensure the receiver easily understands your message

Ask questions – Clarify what has been transmitted to ensure the right message was received.

Trust but Verify – Verify information to ensure it is correct – before beginning actions.

Set the example – Good leaders establish the right way to do things by their actions.

Follow-up with written recap – Immediately after meeting, sit down and capture the essence of what was communicated, identify any actions or questions to be answered and forward that back to the other parties involved for their comments to ensure all are working from the same sheet of music.

For more information on Effective Communications, please follow these links to earlier articles:

http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-is-effective-communication-month.html 

http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2012/06/effective-communications-month-june.html 

Give it a try and let us know your results.

(Photos from Google) 

Improving our Ability to Communicate

By Terry Orr

Here at KISBYTO over the past two plus years have provided many communications related articles and links to help in becoming a better communicator.  There are three new links from experts in their field of communicating better and we encourage your to read these summaries and follow the links for more valuable information.

Mark Evans wrote an interesting article titled, “Communications 101: How to Communicate Better.” While this article was published in April 2007, I believe he has covered the basics quite well.  In order, he writes about In Person, Phone Calls, Video-Conferencing/video phones, E-mail, and Instant-Messaging.  (http://www.markevanstech.com/2007/04/29/communications-101-how-to-communicate-better/)

Keeping it Simple.

Another excellent article was written by Marielys Camacho titled, “10 effective tips for better communication skills” and are provided below.  (http://www.voxxi.com/communication-tips/)

Think before talking: Having a clear idea of the information you are transmitting will help you in presenting a well-structured and trustworthy message. It will also prevent you from saying something you are not supposed to say or from passing a confusing message to the receiver.

Be honest: Honesty is the most important factor when communicating with others. It helps you create a bond with the other person and at the same time will help you in gaining the respect and admiration of the receiver. Be honest all the time and you will never have to regret anything you have said.

Practice active listening: Effective communication is not only the way we communicate with others – it also includes the way we listen to them.

Ask questions: To have a better understanding of the topic of discussion, it is important for you to ask questions.

Watch your body language: Body language is as important as any other form of communication.

Try to see other people’s points of views: When you take in consideration other people’s points of views you will have a better chance in making them feel you care about their opinions and at the same time, it helps you in establishing a good connection between you and other people.

Don’t judge: Pretty simple – don’t do unto others what you don’t like done unto you.

Don’t overwhelm the other person: When communicating with others, it’s important for you to express your opinion without trying to manipulate the conversation.

Provide constructive criticism: If you feel like you need to criticize other people, make sure you use constructive criticism.

And lastly, but certainly as important as those above is WikiHow’s excellent article, “How to Develop Good Communication Skills” (http://www.wikihow.com/Develop-Good-Communication-Skills) in four important steps:

Step 1 - Understanding the Basics of Communication Skills

• Know what communication really is.
• Have courage to say what you think.
• Practice.

Step 2 - Engage Your Audience

• Make eye contact.
• Use gestures.
• Don’t send mixed messages.
• Be aware of what your body is saying.
• Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs.
• Develop effective listening skills.

Step 3 - Use Your Words

• Enunciate your words.
• Pronounce your works correctly.
• Use the right words.
• Slow your speech down.

Step 4 - Use your Voice

• Develop your voice.
• Animate your voice
• Use appropriate volume.

By becoming a better listener we also improve our ability to communicate better and if we practice these fine tips about in our daily interactions with others.  Open and honest communications are essential in every aspect of your daily life. 

Do you have any Better Communicating tips to share?  We would love to see them.  Thanks!

(All images from Google) 

Effective Communications Month (June) 2012

(Google Image) 

By Terry Orr

What is effective communications?

Communication is the process of sharing information, thoughts and feelings between people through speaking, writing or body language. Effective communication extends the concept to require that transmitted content is received and understood by someone in the way it was intended. The goals of effective communication include creating a common perception, changing behaviors and acquiring information.

(Google Image) 

Tip 1: You aren't a computer! (Stop Multitasking)

• When you are having a conversation, don't do something else at the same time.
• Take care to minimize distracters (TV, computer, cell phone, etc.) in the environment.
• If you find your attention drifting, consciously bring it back to the conversation.
• Make a mental note of key points that you hear during the conversation.
• Listen, don't just 'wait to talk'.

Tip 2: Set the stage (Tell your audience what's coming)

• What's the subject you wish to discuss?
• What's the timeframe for the conversation (schedule and length)?
• What's required of the listener?
• If it's a negative message, prepare the listener ("This is difficult for me to say, and may be difficult for you to hear...")

Tip 3: Think before you speak - and while you are speaking (Be more conscious to be more effective)

• What's the message you are hoping to get across?
• Determine associated information that's needed to support your message.
• Consider anticipated response of the listener, including possible concerns or objections.
• Word choice, tone and body language shape your message.
• Being more conscious helps you to be a better listener, too.

(Google Image) 

Tip 4: I can see clearly now ... (Clarification is critical for effective communication)

As a speaker:

• 'Check in' with your listener to make sure that your message is being conveyed as intended.
• Don't make assumptions of your listener's knowledge of or interest in the subject.
• Allow for and respond to questions.
• Use analogies or common examples to help facilitate understanding.

As a listener:

• Use 'active listening' ("What I hear you saying is ...)
• Ask clarifying questions ("Do you mean...")
• Reflect observed body language and tone to confirm impressions.

Tip 5: Take the high road (Break the cycle of negative interaction patterns)

• Responding to an attack with an attack contributes to a downward spiral of negative interactions.
• Take a couple of deep breaths or count to ten before responding.
• Look for common ground to get back on track.
• Watch for emotional 'flooding' and take a time-out if needed.
• If what you are doing isn't working, do something different.

Communication is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behavior.

(Google Image) 

June is Effective Communication Month

In today’s Politically Correct (PC) society, it has become increasingly more difficult to communicate effectively.  My approach to communicating with others is fairly straight forward and to the point. I believe in open and honest discussions, and always try to tell the truth, because it’s too hard to remember anything other than the truth.

In business, after having a verbal conversation with others, I frequently follow up with an email that covers the silent points and send that to the other participates for their review and comments and for a record copy of that discussion.  Over the top? Over kill?  Take a moment to review the past couple of months where you had a verbal conversation and later there were issue due to misunderstanding and or misinterpretations.

In my written correspondence, I try to have someone read what I have wrote to make sure I am conveying the correct message and that it is understandable.  When I’m deep in thought and fingers are pecking away on the keyboard, my mind knows exactly what I want to convey – but my finger are not always in sync or I make an ‘assumptions’ or two that really confesses the heck out of others.

There are a lot of talent people who spend their lives helping others to communicate better.  How effective do you communicate with others?  Ask someone who will be honest and straight forward with you.  After all, it is for your benefit!

Look at those around you in your daily life, can you tell who are the effective communicators?