I communicate for a living - from a stage as a speaker, in meeting rooms delivering workshops or facilitating discussions, and as a consultant developing strategic plans, funding proposals, and more. My success in these roles depends on my ability to share and receive messages.
But truthfully, your success depends on the same thing.
You communicate everyday - with your staff, colleagues, bosses, funders, stakeholders, Board members, clients, and more! Poor communication with any of these people can damage your business. Yet we tend to take communication for granted. Rarely do I see leaders with intentional communications strategies for everyday operations. This is why examining communications is a core component of many of my customized training programs for organizations.
Being intentional about how you share information pays off.
Here are a few quick tips:
1. WHO is receiving the message is as important as the message itself, so know your audience. Why should they care? What are their needs?
2. Know what you want to say and state it clearly. Don’t make the listener have to work hard to understand the message. The easier it is to understand, the more likely your message will be received and acted on.
3. Assume nothing - share the information as though your audience doesn’t have any prior background.
(Note: This has always been important when making a case for funding or in a strategic plan, but you might wonder why you’d approach staff or a colleague this way? People are bombarded with information all day, every day, making them distracted. Add to that the stress most folks are feeling these days and it’s hard to cut through the noise - externally, and inside their heads. So providing fulsome information makes it easier for the listener in that moment, and it ensures that you are both working from the same information set.)
4. Make your message relevant and timely. Why are you sharing this message, and why NOW? (NOW is important - it explains why the actions you want as a result of your message are needed.)
5. Have a clear call to action with expected results. What action do you want the listener to take? When and how? And…what's in it for them if they do? (Connect your message to their needs, role, sense of purpose with your organization or team, etc.)
Try these tips the next time you have a message to share and see what happens!
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