Managers are uniquely placed to impact on a business. So, the way they communicate with their people is a vital part of the package. If you want to ensure that you are successful in your business, the way you get information over as well as the skills you use every day with your employees will make or break you. By making the effort to learn and enhance your skills for talking and listening to anyone, you will take a big step forward.
Whilst using your capabilities to find out about what's going on around you is important, the impact of under-performance cannot be overestimated. If something isn't working right, asking questions to get the information you need is a tactic well worth developing. But, that's not all. A manager worth their salt will be able to extract information in ways that others would find impossible. It's a mix of asking the right questions linked to the capacity to hear what others say as well.
And, you know, another skill is the simple, day to day activity of listening to and talking with your people - as simple as that. So, of course, it's important to master the art of communication. How and where are you to begin, if you are planning on fine-tuning this skill?
Many managers fail to understand the effects their poor communication style can have on their people. You see miscommunication commonly comes from arrogance, linked to a lack of appreciating that misunderstandings are almost always the fault of the person imparting the information. And, how frustrating and inefficient can it be to have gotten the message wrong! A good manager will always acknowledge that they have the accountability to get a clear message across to everyone and anyone that needs to get it right.
As issues arise, managers need to consider what they are being told carefully, whilst ensuring that they get all the detail before they act. Sometimes, assumptions can get a manager into hot water, so it's vital that they find out what really is fact, before they decide on a course of action. This is not just about the ability to impart information, more, it's about the capacity to listen carefully and then frame 'discovery' questions appropriate to the contextual clues they have received.
When deciding on a course of action, it is important to make sure that you have all the detail down first, check that you have heard what you have been told is correct and then, only then, go for a course of action. You see, how well a manager receives information, is at least as critical to success as how they impart it - probably even more so.
When working with teams, what you say and what they hear is even more important to get right. If one person gets the wrong end of the stick, then quite soon you will end up with confusion, frustration and possibly even internal strife amongst the team. Clarity is vital here. Taking the time when you brief a whole team, to recognize that they will all receive messages in very different ways (and accommodating this), will be well worth the effort in the long run. Including two-way communication with each and every member of the team fosters team spirit and collaboration.
It's important from the outset that you have ensured there are adequate facilities for any occasions where good communication is important to you. This can be done well in advance for major events. Even when you are holding regular weekly or monthly meetings, by ensuring that you have the appropriate resources in place will not only mean that your message gets across, but also how well your people feel that they are being treated.
Developing your personal communication skill is one of the most important tactics in your management development toolkit. It has the potential to catalyze great success. Only you can do it! - 15359
Whilst using your capabilities to find out about what's going on around you is important, the impact of under-performance cannot be overestimated. If something isn't working right, asking questions to get the information you need is a tactic well worth developing. But, that's not all. A manager worth their salt will be able to extract information in ways that others would find impossible. It's a mix of asking the right questions linked to the capacity to hear what others say as well.
And, you know, another skill is the simple, day to day activity of listening to and talking with your people - as simple as that. So, of course, it's important to master the art of communication. How and where are you to begin, if you are planning on fine-tuning this skill?
Many managers fail to understand the effects their poor communication style can have on their people. You see miscommunication commonly comes from arrogance, linked to a lack of appreciating that misunderstandings are almost always the fault of the person imparting the information. And, how frustrating and inefficient can it be to have gotten the message wrong! A good manager will always acknowledge that they have the accountability to get a clear message across to everyone and anyone that needs to get it right.
As issues arise, managers need to consider what they are being told carefully, whilst ensuring that they get all the detail before they act. Sometimes, assumptions can get a manager into hot water, so it's vital that they find out what really is fact, before they decide on a course of action. This is not just about the ability to impart information, more, it's about the capacity to listen carefully and then frame 'discovery' questions appropriate to the contextual clues they have received.
When deciding on a course of action, it is important to make sure that you have all the detail down first, check that you have heard what you have been told is correct and then, only then, go for a course of action. You see, how well a manager receives information, is at least as critical to success as how they impart it - probably even more so.
When working with teams, what you say and what they hear is even more important to get right. If one person gets the wrong end of the stick, then quite soon you will end up with confusion, frustration and possibly even internal strife amongst the team. Clarity is vital here. Taking the time when you brief a whole team, to recognize that they will all receive messages in very different ways (and accommodating this), will be well worth the effort in the long run. Including two-way communication with each and every member of the team fosters team spirit and collaboration.
It's important from the outset that you have ensured there are adequate facilities for any occasions where good communication is important to you. This can be done well in advance for major events. Even when you are holding regular weekly or monthly meetings, by ensuring that you have the appropriate resources in place will not only mean that your message gets across, but also how well your people feel that they are being treated.
Developing your personal communication skill is one of the most important tactics in your management development toolkit. It has the potential to catalyze great success. Only you can do it! - 15359
About the Author:
(c) 2008 Martin Haworth has written Super Successful Manager!, a very simple, week-by-week performance improvement program for managers of EVERY skill level. Want a free sample lesson? It's waiting for you at http://www.SuperSuccessfulManager.com.
