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elevate your impact
We might be more connected than ever before, but we still have an enormous communication problem. Even with all of the tools at our disposal, our ability to actually connect with someone is faltering.
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Do you ever get a brief and wonder what on earth the person needs? Or how often do we have challenges communicating with colleagues because we're both different wavelengths?
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Clear communication is vital for businesses, teams and individuals to flourish. It's a fundamental component of resilience because it emphasizes the need to think of others.
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Because, let's face it, effective communication is always about the other person.
how we can all improve communication
empathy
In business, we often think about what is happening in the minds of our customers - what irks them, what ignites them, how do they like to be communicated with. However, in the regular world, we're often guilty of ignoring that skill, especially when dealing with challenging people. The benefits of improving our empathy skills are everywhere. It allows us to build authentic connections with colleagues, team members and our leaders. When we understand other's pain points and needs, we can tailor messaging to resonate on a deeper level and cut through the noise.
curiosity
The only time we shouldn't be curious is when we already know everything. Ha! Think about that for a second. Curiosity is a powerful tool of communication because it allows us to focus on learning something rather than spouting wisdom. Curiosity is the fuel that drives innovation and creativity in business. When we get curious and ask interesting questions, we inevitably uncover valuable insights. It also allows us to challenge assumptions and discover new opportunities for growth and differentiation.
perspective
When was the last time you changed your mind about something important? Like, really important? Perspective is about being open to seeing the world from a different angle, and it's probably my personal favourite skill to talk about. It's such a simple concept, and yet so powerful. Perspective is closely aligned to empathy in the sense that it encourages us to see things from a new point of view, but it also encourages us to take a broader look at the circumstances. When we see something from a new angle, we can adapt our approach accordingly and potentially craft a new message.
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listening
Have you heard the quote "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak"? It's an easy way to remember the power of listening. Effective communication isn't just about speaking—it's also about listening actively and attentively. Admittedly, it's a constant obstacle in today's world of never-ending notifications and buzzing phones, but the importance of being attentive listeners can't be understated. In business, listening enables us to truly understand our customer's and colleague's needs so that we can respond accordingly.
storytelling
Storytelling captures attention. We all love stories, so much so that they are part of our fabric. Think about the best ads you've seen, or the most powerful TED talks....what makes them stand out? It's usually because they made you feel something. That's all a story is. It's a narrative that evokes emotion, so that we are more connected to the idea, the brand, or the person. When we craft compelling narratives that connect with our audience's experiences and aspirations, we create meaningful bonds.
quick guide: these ideas wrapped up
How do you think others would describe your communication skills? A useful hack is to remember that communication is always about the other person. Just because we sent that email or said something in a meeting, it doesn't guarantee that anything was actually communicated. Understanding this is a critical piece of effective communication. When we realize that we can tailor our messaging so that others can receive and digest it properly, a whole new world unlocks. You've scratched the surface here, so dive a bit deeper at the link below.
