Effective communication is critical to the success of any business. Good communication is simply a transfer of information that will ultimately lead to an action.Think about it for a moment. Everything that is said is intended to invoke some response or action.
If I ask my kids to do the dishes or I write them a note with the same instructions, I am expecting a response. Hopefully they will do the dishes.
Even if I am having a sharing an example of a success somebody experienced while implementing Level 7, I am expecting a response and corresponding action from that. Perhaps the action comes in the form of a new opinion about Level 7 that could lead to a physical response or action.
Even these Implementation Tips are intended to cause or generate a response. The intention is that you (the reader) will utilize the information in a way that will support you in creating the business of your dreams. It is intended to inspire, instruct and direct.
Imagine for a moment we wrote the Implementation Tip of the Week in Chinese. Now unless you read Chinese, it would be totally meaningless to you. Although you would still respond with a corresponding action. You would probably close this page with a click of your mouse. (Please don’t do that) You would definitely draw some mental conclusions about the Level 7 System.
Regardless, communication always ultimately leads to some action. The Level 7 Principle of Defining Results suggests that everything we do should be with intention; focused on a result or goal. With that being said, we need to be intentional about our communication otherwise we might not achieve our desired results.
Communication, and it’s effectiveness, is one of the most overlooked areas within business. We are communicating all the time and not necessarily getting the response we are looking for. We also hear other people communicating all the time and yet misinterpret the meaning.
Today’s Implementation Tip is all about being conscious of our communication and understanding our roles and responsibilities when it comes to communicating.
Your Implementation Tip of the Week
- When communicating, regardless of whether it’s with an employee, customer, prospect, friend or spouse, consider the result you want to accomplish in your communication.
- Craft a message that will maximize the likelihood your communicated message will be received.
- After communicating, stop to confirm, if possible, that the hearer of your message actually understands. You can say something like, “Does that make sense to you?”
- Make sure when people are communicating with you, listen carefully and ensure that whatever they are saying or communicating with you is also understood. You can use a technique called reflective listening. When using reflective listening you are simply repeating back what you hear someone say.
Bottom line: Be intentional in your communication within your organization. Consider where and how communication takes place in the business and perhaps how you might be able to systematically improve it.
Does that make sense to you? We would love to hear your comments, just so we know we are communicating effectively. How do you ensure effective communication within your organization?