High Performance Communication

Communication Skills Matter

The average workday is 70% communication-

-You can’t be successful without good communication skills.

-Communicating isn’t as easy as you think.

-The dynamics of interactions matters

Communication Ingredients

1-Speaking

 2-Listening

 3-Dynamics of the Interaction

Speaking

--The purpose of speaking is to be understood

--Always be specific with what you say

--Speaking isn’t scripted;

it’s improvisation.

--Think before you speak to prevent misunderstanding

--Be aware of the communication needs of others

Listening

--Listening is the process to understand the meaning of what others say.

Listening Problems

--Controlling the wandering mind

<!--1-Incorrectly decoding

<!--2-Resisting other people’s ideas

<!--3-Not showing interest

Dynamics of Interactions

-Try not to assume too much from body language

-Be aware that meaning can vary with each individual.

-Keep things in the same context in which they were said

Steps to Communication

1- Get your mind right.

2- Use the communication cycle.

3- Debrief on what’s working and

what’s not .

1- Get your mind right

--Assume miscommunication is part of the process

Anticipate misunderstandings and try to prevent them.

2-The Communication Cycle

<!-------------Speak

<!------------Check

<!------------Reflect

Speak

--Speak in bite-size pieces

--Use objective language

--Monitor the nonverbal messages that accompany your words.

--Be specific – what people do or say

--Assess the communication needs of others.

Check

--The purpose is to get the other person’s reaction before proceeding.

--Checking means asking questions

--A simple pause can invite another person to clarify points.

Reflect

--The purpose is to confirm to the speaker his or her ideas are understood

--Use your own words.

-Search for the core of the message.

Be brief.

-Use your own words in the form of a statement

The goal is to

-demonstrate understanding

Debrief

--If an interaction didn’t go well, ask yourself what you could have done differently

Where to Start

-Wait, before acting, to gain a better perspective of the situation

-Ask yourself, “Whose need to talk is greater?”

-If your need to talk is greater, speak

-If the other person’s need to talk is greater, reflect.

-If all needs are equal, keep silent about your point of -view until the other person feels heard.

-High Performance Communication