Communications Articles Index

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COMM101
Word Count: 402

Effective Communication

s we think about our everyday life we find most problems occur because we have failed to communicate clearly with someone.  If we take a moment to think about why, in almost every case, we find that someone did not listen to what was said.  This holds true in sales as well as in our personal lives. If we are to have effective communication with each person we talk with we must “Tune the world out and the person in” This action allows us to build rapport and trust much quicker with the person, to whom we are talking. The more trust between you and them, the more openly they will share information. The rapport and...

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COMM102
Word Count: 157

 The Silent Side of Communicating

Whether negotiating the biggest deal of your career, coaching your team, or describing a project, keep your ears open. Otherwise, you may talk yourself right out of the room.
To be a better listener:
• Try not to judge. Even if you disagree with what’s being said or the way it’s presented, resist planning a rebuttal. Focus on understanding the message, not critiquing the messenger.
• Commit your full ...

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COMM103
Word Count: 153

COMMUNICATION BASICS

 large percentage of a person's day is spent communicating with other people such as customers, employees, and managers. This communication can be in person, on the phone or in writing. Even your body communicates a message when you haven't said a word. Being able to communicate effectively is an important skill that can be learned.

Some of the basic communication skills are:

1. Use statements such as "I need ...", "I feel", or "I want" to show ownership of your message.

2. Be complete and specific with your message. Define your expectations. Don't expect others to guess or anticipate what you...

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COMM104
Word Count: 426

Huh? The True Art of Listening

By Marsha Petri Sue

Great salespeople are great listeners. Period. Case closed. They have developed the ability to hear their customers and clients, understand their needs, and meet those needs with products and services. How great a listener are you? Answer most given: Not good enough.

Here are four key points to help improve your listening skills:

1. Turn off your self-talk. We cannot hear what the other person is saying if we have our own thoughts getting in the way. We talk to ourselves while others are talking to us. The rate of speech in our own heads is about...

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COMM105
Word Count: 113

Communicating Criticism

Many managers are eager to compliment but often neglect to criticize. It is so hard to tell another grown-up when they have done something incorrectly. But managers are responsible for helping others grow and need to help mentor their employees.

Here are a few guidelines to follow to help employees gain new skills:

1. Specify the behavior and criticize the behavior - never the individual.

2. Be specific in your criticism - don't generalize.

3. Say something...

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COMM106
Word Count: 189

Teach your employees' communication basics

Sharpen communication between you and your staff members by following these guidelines:

• Really listen; don't "wait to talk." When employees are speaking, focus on what they're saying and try to understand their complete meaning. Don't let your attention wander because you're thinking about how you'll respond.

• Be concise. Don't monopolize...

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COMM107
Word Count: 469

Talk It Up

It’s been well established by behavioral science that what we say – and how we say it – has a tremendous impact on thoughts and actions. Yet according to author Dr. Kenneth Christian, many of us go about our lives woefully unaware of the impact everyday use of language has on our attitudes and our fundamental beliefs about ourselves. In Your Own Worst Enemy: Breaking the Habit of Adult Underachievement (Regan Books, 2002), Christian offers six tips for taking control of your speech patterns and talking yourself into greater achievement.

1. Stop “try”-ing.
The word “try” is a part of what Christian calls “loophole language.” By saying you will “try” to do something, you are implicitly giving yourself an out to fall short. For one week, forbid yourself to use the word “try” and see what kind of effect it has. Also, note the difference you feel between forbidding yourself to use the word and simply “trying” not to.

2. Cut out vagueness.
Phrases like...

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COMM108

Word Count: 402

Effective Communication

s we think about our everyday life we find most problems occur because we have failed to communicate clearly with someone.  If we take a moment to think about why, in almost every case, we find that someone did not listen to what was said.  This holds true in sales as well as in our personal lives.

If we are to have effective communication with each person we talk with we must “Tune the world out and the person in”  This action allows us to build rapport and trust much quicker with the person, to whom we are talking.  The more trust between you and them, the more openly they will share information.  The rapport and trust you have will only increase if you follow this simple action guide each time you communicate with people.

The following are 10 do’s and 10 don’ts that will improve your listening skills and overall communication.

Do…

·         Be patient

·         Make eye contact

·         Take brief notes of key points

·         Offer nonverbal and verbal...

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Comm109

Word Count: 694

Communication Is An Outcome, Not An Activity

You’ve all read the survey results.

“Employees place communication problems at the top of their frustration list.”

“Effective communications between management and employees is lacking in the majority of organizations.”

There is an interesting paradox in most organizations because it is typical for the managers to feel they are quite effective communicators. In fact, one study showed that 80% of managers think they are better communicators than they really are.

In many of the corporate assessments that I have done, this has been proven time and again. The good news is that, once the situation is acknowledged, communication and understanding from both parties tends to improve.

So much has been written about how to communicate better, usually about improving the process of communicating. Do this, don’t do that. It all becomes a bit tiring, doesn’t it?

We need to do a major shift in our thinking. We must concentrate on the outcomes, not on the process itself. Let’s look at some key outcomes of communicating.

• Building trust

You may not often think of this as a desired outcome, but you should. In order for people to truly follow a leader, they must trust that leader.

Without trust in the person, whatever is being communicated may not be fully understood, accepted and supported. Trust is at the core of effective communications.

Lack of trust creates a barrier or disconnect that is difficult, and time consuming, to overcome. No matter how important or impressive a title someone holds, no matter how big their bank account, or how much authority they have, what is really important is that others thrust him or her and what is...

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COMM110

Word Count: 650

How to actively listen

Communication skills

or some reason, many people believe that the ability to speak articulately is an important prerequisite to achievement.  Without downgrading the importance of good speech habits, it would do us well to upgrade the importance and quality of our listening skills.  Disreali noted that “Nature has given us two ears but only one mouth.”  This may be nature’s way of telling us that listening is vital to our personal growth and development.  Active listening is the compliment to good questions.

Volumes have been written on the art of public speaking, how to deliver exciting speeches, and even how to exercise your vocal cords to have a pleasant voice.  But little has been written or presented on “how to listen for understanding.”  If we agree that empathy and understanding are important traits, then we realize too, that it is impossible to find out what someone else is thinking or feeling if we are doing all of the talking.  Listening, then, becomes an “empathy” skill.

In order for you to integrate good listening habits into your personal communication style, you must know some of the “how-to’s” of listening and some of the “to listen fors.”  The listening tips presented here will help you to sharpen your listening ability and your sensitivity to the feelings of others:

1.        Take time to listen.  There are many things in life which can be heard that are not available through written sources.  Your...

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COMM111

Word Count: 187

The Top 10 Ways To Have "The Edge" Without Injuring Anyone.

he Edge is a term that describes one's way of coming across or managing -- firm/expectant, but not a jerk. When you have The Edge, others respect you and respond to you; you are not ignored.

 1. Make direct requests that are specific.

 2. Communicate your concerns sooner than usual.

 3. Ask directly what the other person is "doing" with/to you in that moment.

 4. Tell others what you need them to do -- don't assume they know; don't protect them from what you want.

 5. Tell others what you feel needs to change/grow -- be very, very specific and charge neutral.

 6. Get the...

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