I’ve found over the years that one of the cornerstones of success in both our personal and professional lives is our ability to communicate with confidence. As leaders, as parents, as friends, as community members, I’m sure we can all agree that when we crack the communication code, we can enjoy much healthier, more productive connections with others in all areas of our lives.
That said, today I’m going to share what I believe is the key to effective communication.
Ready for it?
Can you hear me?
Okay, so you hear me...but are you really LISTENING?
Because that’s the key to solid communication, as far as I’m concerned. It’s ACTIVE LISTENING. What does that mean? It means listening for understanding. So, how do you do that? 1. You focus on the person. Make him or her feel like the most important person in the room. Because the truth is, he or she IS the most important person in the room if you’re talking.
2. You ask questions to clarify the message that the person seems to be sharing. Open-ended questions like, “What was that experience like for you?” or “What was the outcome?”
3. You repeat back a few key tidbits - “So I’m hearing you say….” or “It sounds like….”
4. You refrain from interrupting, as hard as that can be when you have a cool, funny, or thought-provoking story you SO want to share!
Think about your cellphone. You send a message and it might say “delivered” underneath it. Doesn’t that feel good, when you know your message was delivered?
Make the person you’re talking to feel like theirs was too.
And if you want to delve deeper into communicating with confidence, or if you’d like set up a workshop for your team, visit estuaryleadership.com to learn more! I look forward to working with you.
Learn more about Estuary Leadership’s coaching programs, which will empower you with the tools you need to communicate confidently, clarify your vision and action steps, navigate challenges, and lead with heart, humor, and humility! Group workshops or one:one sessions available with Certified Coach Marybeth Cale. Call 845.876.2220 or use the contact form on our website, estuaryleadership.com.