Effective
Communication
Clear
and precise communication with team members is essential for successful
leadership.
Communication
specialists often divide communication practices into three different
domains. The first recognizes that communication varies depending on the
setting: team meetings, small groups, one-on-one, etc.
The second focuses on the purpose or intent of communication: to
persuade, to inform, to challenge, to analyze, to speculate, to solve
problems, etc. The third
domain is pragmatic communication: to explain, to ask for or receive
directions, to command, to request information, etc.
In all three domains, individuals speak, listen, and respond both
verbally and nonverbally (facial expressions, gestures, tone, body
position, etc.) The
discerning communicator must work to understand the relationship between
listening and speaking, to recognize the connection between speech and
non-verbal clues, and to detect the subtleties of how they interact.
Skillful leaders then must listen critically, express themselves
clearly and meaningfully, and assess the validity, reliability, and
meaningfulness of complex communication in all three domains.
Below
are ten important things that you can do to improve your communication:
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Ask
pertinent questions that seek real knowledge.
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Use
questions and inquiries to empower others.
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Challenge
without intimidating.
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Listen
carefully for the true intent of a speaker's message.
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Look
for meaningful nonverbal communication.
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Restate
the message to check for your own understanding of the message.
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Stay
alert to the speaker's emotions and feelings.
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Listen
to the whole message; don't focus on just one part.
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Check
to see if your listener has heard the message that you intended.
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Try
to avoid words that are all inclusive: all, never, everybody,
always, etc.
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