Tips on being a better communicator:
Share Personal Antidotes and Illustrations.
If you want to get the attention of an audience and hold their attention, then tell a story.
Storytelling is the most powerful means of communication known to man because it’s personal and memorable. Storytelling was critical before people could read and write. It is still runs deep in our DNA. Similar to storytelling, sharing a personal antidote or illustration can also engage an audience. This can endear you to the listener because it makes you more real. The listener thinks, “He’s just like me.” Whether storytelling, sharing antidotes or illustrations, the result is that the audience’s defenses go down; their attention goes up and they will absorb more of your communication.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Tips on being a better communicator:
Use the Right Method of Communication
Should what you have to say be delivered in person or through a letter, memo or email?
It is best to communicate in-person when you are trying to persuade, when you want an immediate indication of response, when you are praising performance or when dealing with a matter of discipline.
It is best to communicate in writing when you have a complicated matter to present, when the audience will need time for evaluation, when you are setting policy, or when an in-person meeting is impossible.
Use the Right Method of Communication
Should what you have to say be delivered in person or through a letter, memo or email?
It is best to communicate in-person when you are trying to persuade, when you want an immediate indication of response, when you are praising performance or when dealing with a matter of discipline.
It is best to communicate in writing when you have a complicated matter to present, when the audience will need time for evaluation, when you are setting policy, or when an in-person meeting is impossible.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Tips on being a better communicator:
Use Simple Language.
Why do we use big words? Do they make us feel smart? Do they cover-up insecurity? Whatever the reason, using complicated language to demonstrate competence is our enemy. It is a certain way to lose the audience’s attention. Here are three things to keep in mind when considering which words to use.
Use Simple Language.
Why do we use big words? Do they make us feel smart? Do they cover-up insecurity? Whatever the reason, using complicated language to demonstrate competence is our enemy. It is a certain way to lose the audience’s attention. Here are three things to keep in mind when considering which words to use.
- Big words are out. All great speeches, advertisements and modern persuasive writing use common everyday language.
- An audience adores someone who can make something complicated seem very simple. If you have a complex or technical message to communicate first try it out on the most junior person you can to evaluate if it communicates.
- Get to the main point fast. If you don’t, you’ll lose your audience.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Tips on being a better communicator:
Balance What You Have to Say with What They Want to Hear.
I was running a publishing company when a mentor told me “George, communication occurs when you balance what you want to say with what the audience wants to hear.” He was pointing out the problem that when we prepare for a one-on-one meeting, a speech, or written communication we tend to focus on what we want to say and what we want the receiver to do - to the exclusion of considering their needs.
Your message will fail if you neglect to take into account the needs of the reader or listener. Ask yourself: what are their needs and what is it that would make them more successful? Put yourself in their shoes and consider: how does the message sound, what’s in it for them, how does it improve their life and how are they inspired? Again, consider testing the message on a select few just in case you have missed something that could derail you.
Balance What You Have to Say with What They Want to Hear.
I was running a publishing company when a mentor told me “George, communication occurs when you balance what you want to say with what the audience wants to hear.” He was pointing out the problem that when we prepare for a one-on-one meeting, a speech, or written communication we tend to focus on what we want to say and what we want the receiver to do - to the exclusion of considering their needs.
Your message will fail if you neglect to take into account the needs of the reader or listener. Ask yourself: what are their needs and what is it that would make them more successful? Put yourself in their shoes and consider: how does the message sound, what’s in it for them, how does it improve their life and how are they inspired? Again, consider testing the message on a select few just in case you have missed something that could derail you.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Tips on being a better communicator:
Know Your Audience.
Do you know your audience? Really? Who are the key people you want to persuade? Have you had casual conversation to assess their temperature before rolling out your message? Have you investigated their needs? Do you know the condition of their personal lives? All of these questions and more are critical to being an effective communicator.
Haven’t you been on the receiving end of an ill-researched message that you either did not or would not receive? How about the business owner who, due to tough economic timed, has to cut his employees pay and a few days later asks his employees for donations to a pet charity. Consider an employee whose boss asks her to take on greater responsibility and work extra hours without considering that she is going through a divorce and dealing with a serious physical situation. In each case, the one who had something to say did not know the needs and condition of their audience. Not only did they not achieve their objective, but their insensitivity likely damaged his audience.
Before we communicate, we must do the work necessary to know our audience. Test the water first by talking over your message with someone you trust. They may have insight to some of the sensitivities of the audience.
Know Your Audience.
Do you know your audience? Really? Who are the key people you want to persuade? Have you had casual conversation to assess their temperature before rolling out your message? Have you investigated their needs? Do you know the condition of their personal lives? All of these questions and more are critical to being an effective communicator.
Haven’t you been on the receiving end of an ill-researched message that you either did not or would not receive? How about the business owner who, due to tough economic timed, has to cut his employees pay and a few days later asks his employees for donations to a pet charity. Consider an employee whose boss asks her to take on greater responsibility and work extra hours without considering that she is going through a divorce and dealing with a serious physical situation. In each case, the one who had something to say did not know the needs and condition of their audience. Not only did they not achieve their objective, but their insensitivity likely damaged his audience.
Before we communicate, we must do the work necessary to know our audience. Test the water first by talking over your message with someone you trust. They may have insight to some of the sensitivities of the audience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)