Tuesday, March 31, 2009

How To Communicate Effectively


Connect

  • Establish rapport with people
  • Pay attention to people’s facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
  • See things from the other person’s point of view.
  • Adjust your communication style to match theirs.
  • Avoid criticizing, making negative judgments, or saying that the other person is wrong.
  • Show interest in the other person’s interests and concerns.
Listen
  • Encourage people to talk.
  • Show your willingness to listen. Minimize distractions. Attend to the other person with your whole body (your body language, eyes, facial expressions).
  • Nod your head and give verbal cues to communicate that you are paying attention.
  • Ask open-ended questions.
  • Listen to what people are trying to communicate, not just to what they are saying.
  • Listen to their emotions.
  • Listen also to what they want.
  • Check to make sure you understand. Use your own words to reflect what you have heard and noticed.
Communicate
  • Speak with sincerity and conviction.
  • Be sensitive to other people’s communication style.
  • Know what you want to accomplish. Do you want people to understand your position? Lend their support? Approve your request?
  • Listen at least as much as you talk.
  • Attune what you say with how you say it. Keep your message fitting with your tone of voice, facial expression, and body language.

Speak
  • Project confidence.
  • Connect with your audience.
  • Know what you want to accomplish. Do you want people to understand your position? Lend their support? Approve your request?
  • Keep it short and simple. Most communication can accomplish only one objective, develop three main points, and hold people’s attention only so long.
  • Ask for feedback; was the message understood.

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