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The Six Rules Of Effective Communication
By Barbara Stennes, Mon Jan 2nd
Effective communication is vital if you wish people tounderstand your viewpoint. It becomes even more crucial inprofessional settings, as fierce competition means thatcustomers must be convinced that your products are superior toyour rival's. Unless you effectively communicate the featuresand advantages of your product, your customers are likely towalk out the door. Communication is equally important in yourinteractions with suppliers, coworkers, managers, and investors. The following six rules will help you communicate moreeffectively, reduce conflict in your organization, and become abetter leader. Rule #1: Organize your thoughts.
Jumbled thoughts lead to incoherent speech. Organizing yourthoughts systematically is the first step to effectivecommunication. You should be clear about the message that youwant to convey, and it is helpful to have a framework for theconversation. Communication is a dynamic process, so you need toorganize and re-organize your thoughts accordingly as theconversation progresses. This presence of mind is essential. Rule #2: Plan the conversation ahead of time. When you think through a subject, try to envision what sort ofreaction you will evoke. Plan out the different directions thatthe conversation may go, and prepare your ground accordingly. Ithelps to consider the personality and behavior of the personwith whom you are dealing. How does s/he prefer to work, what ishis/her behavioral style? Answering these questions allows youto tailor your approach accordingly. Rule #3: Be aware of your nonverbal signals. Did you know much of our communication happens through nonverbalsignals? The message you convey through your gestures, bodylanguage, and facial expressions will play a huge role in theresponse you elicit. For this reason,
your verbal and nonverbalmessage need to be consistent; otherwise, you will send mixedsignals and not achieve the outcome you desire. Rule #4: Be succinct. As they say, less is more. This holds true for communication aswell. Your goal in communication is to convey a message andcreate a certain response. Emphasize your key points simply, andrespond to questions directly. Repeating yourself andreiterating your points will only detract from your message. Rule #5: Demonstrate how the other person will benefit. When you show how the other person will directly benefit fromyour offer, you are very close to convincing him/her. To dothis, you must highlight the rewards of your offer, and explainhow they will improve his or her life. For example, instead ofexplaining that a new product is more efficient, you mightemphasize how much time or money the customer will save. This isthe fifth great rule for becoming a good communicator. Rule #6: Be a good listener. The importance of listening to the other party and understandinghis/her viewpoint is often overlooked. Effective communicationis two-way process; if you adopt a one-way attitude, you willfail to create a rapport with your counterpart. By making theother person feel that you value their participation in theconversation, and that you are addressing his/her needs, youmake him/her much more willing to accommodate your position. Inpractice, this means that you must listen patiently and converseaccordingly. About the author:BarbaraStennes, CSP, is president and owner of ResourcesUnlimited. She is a widely recognized expert in team building,creativity and innovation. To learn how Barbara can help yourorganization, please visit ResourcesUnlimited and de Bono Online.
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