Workplace Communication 201: It's What You Say AND How You Say It
 |
Free Download - Workplace Communication 201: It's What You Say AND How You Say It By Liz Bywater |
Effective communication in the workplace requires thought, planning, and a good dose of people savvy. Whether you’re delivering a dicey performance evaluation, addressing a peer, or asking the boss for a much-deserved promotion, you can improve your odds of being heard by using the following strategies and techniques:
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare. If you’ve got a specific message to deliver, practice what you’ll say and how you’ll say it. Envision the recipient’s response. How will the conversation flow? Consider as many possible scenarios as are reasonable. Be ready to handle whatever comes your way.
2. Find an appropriate place to talk. If the conversation is private in nature, don’t bring it up in front of others. Plan ahead to assure an appropriate setting is available.
3. Listen before you speak. Many times, the most effective way to get your point across is to let the other person talk first. You can get things rolling by asking his opinion or perspective on the situation. Then just sit back and listen. What better way to understand how the other person feels and what he thinks… and then to frame your message accordingly?
4. Empathize. Try to see things from the other person’s point of view. You can and should work on this even before starting the conversation.
5. Start with something positive. If you begin the conversation on a genuinely positive note, you will help set your listener at ease. He’ll be less defensive and better able to hear what follows.
6. Use appropriate language. Don’t talk down to people by overly simplifying language. Likewise, don’t try to wow the other person with your working knowledge of obscure words or needlessly technical terminology.
7. Be kind. Be aware of your tone of voice. You can deliver even the most negative feedback without figuratively beating up the recipient.
8. Be clear. The other party shouldn’t have to work at figuring out what you’re trying to say.
9. Be concise. Get to the point, then move on. Most people have a whole lot of other work to attend to and are eager to get back to their ‘to do’ lists. Don’t waste their time or yours by dancing around the issue.
10. Be direct. Communication shouldn’t be a game of ‘20 Questions.’ Say what you mean. Chances are, the other person will appreciate your straightforward approach.
In the words of Lee Iacocca, “You can have brilliant ideas but if you can’t get them across, they won’t get you anywhere.” Be strategic in your communication. Get your ideas out there. Be heard.
copyright 2006, Bywater Consulting Group, LLC, Liz Bywater, PhD. All Rights Reserved.
Workplace Communication 201 Its What You Say AND How You Say It - To learn more about this author, visit Liz Bywater's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
| Article Tags: |
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. |
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Liz's articles
 |
|
Career Success with Liz Bywater - Insights for outstanding performance and maximum success.
|
|
 |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Quick Start Guide Relational Software Definitions of Success Find It. Use It. Business Building Check List |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 SEO Posts - 2008
Top SEO Posts of the Year | |
 |
Top 50 Raising Capital Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
 | ||||
| ||||
|
|
 | ||||
| ||||
|
 | ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
