Читать книгу Communication - Carolyn Boyes - Страница 6

Yes, it sounds basic, but most of us just open our mouths and speak without prior thought. Yet, whether you are talking or just standing around, you are communicating. So take responsibility. Everything you say and do gives a message in business about how you see yourself and your job.

It is said that we:

“Hear half of what is said; listen to half of that; understand half of that; believe half of that, and remember half of that.” (Anon)

Face to face or on the telephone, business is won and lost by communication. If you don’t communicate well enough to a customer or to your boss, you might lose money or your next promotion. The real communication is the message the other person picks up. Take these steps to make sure you always are in control of your message.

one minute wonder One of the first steps you can take to improve your communication is to make it two-way. Sometimes you need to hold back from telling others about all the wonderful things you know and start listening instead.

 Use your ears. Remember, communication is not two monologues. If you are talking to someone, listen as well.

 Take your time. Pause, ask questions, negotiate, sell, respect the other person’s point of view.

 Get in tune. Good communicators are very flexible. They monitor the other person’s reactions and vary their delivery according to the understanding and background of the person.

 Be focused. Have a reason to communicate. Don’t just open your mouth. What outcome do you want from your communication? If you know what you want, you are more likely to be focused in how you communicate.

 Pay attention to the medium. In business, how you communicate is often as important as what you communicate.

 Choose your approach. Will your message be more effective if you speak face to face, have a meeting or write an email?

 Think before you speak. People who think through what they are going to say can be a rarity in business. Many people talk in order to form thoughts; they produce a lot of noise but without much purpose.

 Develop your natural inquisitiveness. Good communicators are genuinely interested in listening as well as talking. They want to gain new knowledge and hear what the other person has to say.

Take responsibility for what you say and how you say it.