Politicians around the world have attempted to deal with recent events but have confused the public with their contradictory messages and a lack of clarity. More often than not, politicians say an awful lot, but effectively communicate very little, leaving the electorate confused, fuelling a loss of confidence in government. So, is effective communication that difficult?
From a young age, we are taught how to communicate. We learn fast and become highly skilled at making ourselves understood.
So what happens? We stop thinking about what we are trying to achieve. We become complacent and in the commercial world, there is absolutely no room for complacency.
Whether you work in sales or service, management or leadership, professionals at all levels are judged by the quality of their communications. They simply need to be right. Period.
Five really simple steps to help you to become a more effective communicator
1. C-Content
Consider what you need to communicate, what are the relevant details and what may just be confusing. The focus should be on making your communication as clear as possible for the receiver.
2. O-Outcome
What do you want to achieve? What is the desired outcome? Are you encouraging the correct response?
3. M-Message
What message are you communicating? This should be informed by the content and the outcome and should be clear and concise.
4. M-Methodology
Have you decided on the most appropriate way, or just the most efficient?
5. S-Send
Don’t ‘click send’ until you are sure that you have followed the previous steps. This is relevant to both verbal and written communication. For verbal communication, engage your brain and think before you open your mouth!
Don’t just leave communication to chance. Follow these five steps to better results every time you communicate
