Archive for communication styles
Effective Communication Tips from Misunderstood! The Fast Guide to Communicating at Work
Posted by: | CommentsOne if the most difficult listening skills to master is the ability to allow another to vent completely before you offer advice, coaching, solutions or comfort. It takes fortitude to listen to complaints and grievances. The last thing most people want to do is ask a distraught or upset person if there is anything more they want to say.
Yikes! Who wants to hear more whining, groaning, complaining or tales of woe. But you must! Jumping in to speak (even if there has been a long pause), before the last bit of sticky trash has come unstuck from the bottom of the barrel ensures you won’t be heard. It’s akin to poring clean water atop a thin layer of mud and expecting it to remain clean and pristine. Not going to happen.
So you must ask, “Is there anything more?” And if there is, you must ask again. Not until the answer is a resounding (if quiet) “No–that’s it.” can you offer your thoughts.
Try it. It works.
Misunderstood! The Fast Guide to Communicating at Work–What to Say, How to Say It and When to Shut Up is coming soon. Watch for it. In the meantime, get your FREE 6-part audio series, The Power of Effective Communication simply by entering your name and email in the box to your right.
Communication– The “Keep Your Cool” Formula – 3 Easy Steps
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes it helps to have a quick formula that’s easy to remember, easy to post where you can see it and easy to implement. In touchy communication situations when emotions might thwart clear thinking try these 3 steps:
1. Observation – Observe the pace, voice, eye-contact and posture of your listener. Pay attention to emotions, intentions, and any mental or physical distractions. Match and step it down if emotions are high.
2. Adaptation – Shift your style to communicate in the way your listener likes to communicate. A small adjustment now saves time, money and effort later.
3. Confirmation – Verify that the translation and comprehension of your message matches your intention. (and be honest about your intention-is it aligned to your highest self?)
Ready for more tips you can use? Just enter your name and email in the boxes to your upper right and get FREE Instant Access to your 6-Part Audio Series – The Power of Effective Communication now. Go. 6 short audios that can change the way you communicate. or CLICK HERE
Communication – The Power of the Pause!
Posted by: | CommentsHow to Quickly Communicate with Anyone and Avoid Misunderstanding
Posted by: | Comments
One of the great understandings in life is the realization that not everyone thinks the same way that you do. And so it goes with communication.
Misunderstandings occur when you fail to communicate in the way others want to want to listen. The solution is to make a shift in your style that better matches the recipient. You do this by using words, intonation, pacing and gestures that resonant with them.
The challenge is to incorporate this into your daily communication.
Here are some guidelines for making a quick determination of communication style types:
- When greeting someone for the first time, notice how quickly they move. Is it quick and determined or slower and relaxed?
- What about their gestures? Are they sharp and staccato, animated, measured or barely visible?
- Is their posture displaying confidence, timidity, friendliness or overload?
- Do they appear approachable or inaccessible? Do they make direct eye contact or shy away?
- What emotion does their face reveal? Do they have an easy smile and grinning eyes, a polite half-smile and concerned eyes, little or no smile with darting eyes or a resolute mouth and purposeful eyes?
You can begin to make changes in the way you approach and communicate with others by noticing these physical characteristics. Make it a game to observe the people you work with, on the street and at home.
Quickly shift your energy and physicality to better match theirs and watch what happens. Think of this as dancing with different partners. You don’t need to become someone else you simply need to learn how to move together so you glide smoothly across the room without stepping on each others toes.
The study of communication styles is exhaustive but if you apply this simple method you can begin to communicate with less effort and enjoy fewer misunderstandings.
If you would like to learn more about communicating quickly and easily go to http://www.listeningskillssuccess.com for your free listening assessment. You can access it instantly and immediately learn what your listening challenges are and what to do about it.
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