🔔Effective Communication: it all begins with listening

Most of us understand that a leader’s ability to communicate effectively includes a range of techniques and strategies crucial for clarity, persuasiveness, and empathy.

I’m sure it must all start with listening. 

By listening I mean really paying attention to what a person is saying. It’s a skill and goes beyond simply hearing words.

Okay, then what does this mean? 🤷 For the most part it’s about

✅REALLY concentrating

✅REALLY understanding

✅CAREFULLY responding

✅REMEMBERING what was already said

Looking a person in the eyes and perhaps nodding (but not too much as it 

tends to be patronizing) while listening requires your undivided attention. 

And this can be challenging and thus requires practice to pull it off 

effectively.

It also means indicating that you understand what is going on by repeating the speaker’s words. Also, don’t bloody interrupt or think about your response while they are still talking.

Listening is only one side of the effective communication equation. Equally important to listening is the ability to make yourself clearly understood. This means thinking carefully before you speak, choosing the right words, in order to be clear and concise.

Empathy plays a pivotal role in effective communication. It’s about understanding and recognizing the emotions and perspectives behind someone’s words, even if there’s disagreement. Building trust and rapport requires empathy by respecting and validating others’ viewpoints.

It’s empathy for your fellow human beings that allows for better problem-solving and conflict resolution. It creates a place where everybody feels heard and valued. Isn’t that what everyone wants, to be heard and valued? We know the alternative. A hostile workplace where people are afraid to speak up. No one wants to work in that kind of environment, unless of course you are a psychopath.🙄

Thus, by practicing empathy, you can foster deeper connections and reinforce relationships, eventually leading to more harmonious and productive interactions. Wouldn’t that be nice?😊

I can’t overstate the importance of well-placed constructive feedback, or for that matter the soul-crashing impact of irresponsible (and sometimes ill-intentioned) negative feedback. The latter is a hell of a thing to have to deal with. 😥

So, leaders must provide detailed, actionable feedback that focuses on behaviors rather than personal attributes. Provide a fair critique.
Well, what does this look like? 🤷

I suppose, in part, it means that feedback needs to be designed to help the person understand what precise actions can be taken to improve. This allows them, and this is very important, to be able to separate their performance from their identity.

What we are talking about is the ability to produce a communication style, through empathy and thoughtful listening. It means carefully selecting your words and actions in order to bring about a communication style that is both effective and conducive to a positive and productive working environment.😊

Wishing you all the best, William 👍  

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