A vitally important skill for managers is communication. Developing this will make a big difference to how successful you are. Even though sometimes managers are required to impart vital information, the way he or she communicates it, as well as everyday abilities to get on well with their team members, can make or break the potential to perform. By taking steps to change attitudes and behaviors around methods of communication, a manager can get more, much more, from the people around them.
Whilst using your capabilities to find out about what's going on around you is important, the impact of under-performance cannot be overestimated. If something isn't working right, asking questions to get the information you need is a tactic well worth developing. But, that's not all. A manager worth their salt will be able to extract information in ways that others would find impossible. It's a mix of asking the right questions linked to the capacity to hear what others say as well.
And, you know, another skill is the simple, day to day activity of listening to and talking with your people - as simple as that. So, of course, it's important to master the art of communication. How and where are you to begin, if you are planning on fine-tuning this skill?
Misunderstandings often come from communication gaps, leading to more and more frustration! While trying to explain something new to the audience, it's sometimes found that the manager is wrongly interpreted or seems to be speaking out of context. During breaks, it's worth checking with the audience whether they have followed and where necessary, amend a presentation the next time. It's also worth exploring where they misunderstood and learning from this for the future.
As issues arise, managers need to consider what they are being told carefully, whilst ensuring that they get all the detail before they act. Sometimes, assumptions can get a manager into hot water, so it's vital that they find out what really is fact, before they decide on a course of action. This is not just about the ability to impart information, more, it's about the capacity to listen carefully and then frame 'discovery' questions appropriate to the contextual clues they have received.
Being able to appreciate information for what it is, requires a special capacity within any manager. Time, 'busyness' and all the other demands on time, means that a manager has to be pretty smart to make quick judgments based on limited information. In those cases it's a good idea to make sure that actions are not taken in haste, but considered carefully when the time is available to make the nest decision possible.
Teamwork, with all the interlinked dynamics associated there, requires special attention. The challenge here, is that with several members involved at a time, if you are not careful any message gets misinterpreted as it is passed around. Having the sense to clarify as a group, with questions and feedback altogether, might well be a constructive and focused way to ensure that you get it right with your people, all of them, every time. Remember, the power of a well engineered team is impressive - the potential for downsides equally so if you get it wrong!
It's important from the outset that you have ensured there are adequate facilities for any occasions where good communication is important to you. This can be done well in advance for major events. Even when you are holding regular weekly or monthly meetings, by ensuring that you have the appropriate resources in place will not only mean that your message gets across, but also how well your people feel that they are being treated.
Developing your personal communication skill is one of the most important tactics in your management development toolkit. It has the potential to catalyze great success. Only you can do it! - 15246
Whilst using your capabilities to find out about what's going on around you is important, the impact of under-performance cannot be overestimated. If something isn't working right, asking questions to get the information you need is a tactic well worth developing. But, that's not all. A manager worth their salt will be able to extract information in ways that others would find impossible. It's a mix of asking the right questions linked to the capacity to hear what others say as well.
And, you know, another skill is the simple, day to day activity of listening to and talking with your people - as simple as that. So, of course, it's important to master the art of communication. How and where are you to begin, if you are planning on fine-tuning this skill?
Misunderstandings often come from communication gaps, leading to more and more frustration! While trying to explain something new to the audience, it's sometimes found that the manager is wrongly interpreted or seems to be speaking out of context. During breaks, it's worth checking with the audience whether they have followed and where necessary, amend a presentation the next time. It's also worth exploring where they misunderstood and learning from this for the future.
As issues arise, managers need to consider what they are being told carefully, whilst ensuring that they get all the detail before they act. Sometimes, assumptions can get a manager into hot water, so it's vital that they find out what really is fact, before they decide on a course of action. This is not just about the ability to impart information, more, it's about the capacity to listen carefully and then frame 'discovery' questions appropriate to the contextual clues they have received.
Being able to appreciate information for what it is, requires a special capacity within any manager. Time, 'busyness' and all the other demands on time, means that a manager has to be pretty smart to make quick judgments based on limited information. In those cases it's a good idea to make sure that actions are not taken in haste, but considered carefully when the time is available to make the nest decision possible.
Teamwork, with all the interlinked dynamics associated there, requires special attention. The challenge here, is that with several members involved at a time, if you are not careful any message gets misinterpreted as it is passed around. Having the sense to clarify as a group, with questions and feedback altogether, might well be a constructive and focused way to ensure that you get it right with your people, all of them, every time. Remember, the power of a well engineered team is impressive - the potential for downsides equally so if you get it wrong!
It's important from the outset that you have ensured there are adequate facilities for any occasions where good communication is important to you. This can be done well in advance for major events. Even when you are holding regular weekly or monthly meetings, by ensuring that you have the appropriate resources in place will not only mean that your message gets across, but also how well your people feel that they are being treated.
Developing your personal communication skill is one of the most important tactics in your management development toolkit. It has the potential to catalyze great success. Only you can do it! - 15246
About the Author:
(c) 2008 Martin P Haworth has written Super Successful Manager!, an easy to use, step-by-step weekly development program for managers of EVERY skill level. Want a free sample lesson? It's waiting for you at http://www.SuperSuccessfulManager.com.
