Some Practices of Communication
From my perception, the communication topic is challenging because it involves many factors we previously discussed, such as attitude, perception, management, and organizational style. It also includes the environment, context, and goal of the communication itself. To make a successful connection, people have to deliver explicit content, set priorities, and respond effectively.
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a) to deliver a message, managers should consider conveying it using the following hints suggested by a business leadership strategist, Dr. Mary Kay:
FINE-TUNE the message delivery in the same manner as the other person processes it. Check the speaking speed so people can keep up;
HOW the message has been delivered; People matter. Pay attention to the positive attitude to reduce “emotional noise” like personal issues (Young, 2016);
LANGUAGE. Words have the power to relate to the audience in personalized messages or sense-making phrases (Reid, 2020, Tip# 5);
Make the message UNDERSTANDABLE and communicate based on PRIORITY (b);
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b) to understand the context and priority of each message, consider the following factors:
Audience. Make speech either people-oriented or task-oriented phrases according to audience perception. Practice active listening to understand the audience needs and priorities;
Manners of Speaker. Be frank, direct, clear, and simple. Avoid ambiguous messages. Be a Theory Y manager in a conversation (Clayton, 2020);
Communication Barries. Check up for the possible noise of differences like language, generations, regions, culture, common experience (Young, 2016).
Call-To-Action Words as visual flags in the speech. Use the employee’s name. Stress out what is crucial for you (Reid, 2020).
Way of Communication can be verbal (phone call, in-person, public talk) or in writing (email, call board).
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c) to know what to do or what actions to take once the message is received
_ wait a minute or two before your response. Pause to let thoughts simmer a bit;
_ be clear with your boundaries and say no to interminable email (Economy, 2015)
_ practice pertinent negative to see the situation more objectively and develop trusting relationships (Herrman, 2016).
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d) To ensure that the information is effective, managers can
_ Once “you get your point, you get the other person’s attention” (Kay, 2016, para. 6). Thus, engage the audience and make sure that the topic is RELEVANT.
_ “People are most receptive to communication when they can take an immediate action, even if it is only asking questions or giving feedback” (Reid, 2020). To make a successful connection, maintain the conversational format. Less is more on the early stage of the project. Remember that it is better to discuss the problem sooner than later. Ergo, it is priceless to mind TIMING.
_ “Once people commit to something smaller, they are more likely to say yes to greater challenges for the long-haul” (Reid, 2020). Divide a complex task into several parts to make it SIMPLE.
To conclude, I found sources on different types and aspects of communication. It seems everyone has their hints and solutions. Meanwhile, there is no unified list of techniques and strategies. I have a feeling that soft skill as a style of speaking conducts in many possible ways and comes with practice.
References
Clayton, M. (2020, February 13). Douglas McGregor – Theory X and Theory Y: Process of Model of Motivation [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/fS5iqEf1Azs
Economy, P. (2015). 6 Ways to Make Sure Your Business Messages Are Received Loud and Clear. Inc. https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/6-ways-to-make-sure-your-business-messages-are-received-loud-and-clear.html
Herman, A. (2016, September 10). Take this perception test to see how visually intelligent you are [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/jko5WaG_1mE
Kay, M. (2016). How to Get People to Understand Your Message. About Leaders. https://aboutleaders.com/how-to-get-people-to-understand-your-message/#gs.ioe0rr
Reid, R. (2020). Getting Your Message Out: 10 Communication Practices for Changing Times. ICMA. https://icma.org/blog-posts/getting-your-message-out-10-communication-practices-changing-times
Young Entrepreneurs Forum. (2016, November 27). 10 barriers to effective communication [Video]. https://youtu.be/slq1nAhZuqE