3 Keys To Effective Communication

While the world of Life Sciences and biotechnology is exciting and challenging, it is also demanding. Leading a team of highly qualified professionals can be tricky. After all, they didn’t reach their position without a lot of hard work, intelligence, and self-motivation. The key is tapping into those unique skills and vast experience, and encouraging creative innovation, while still maintaining your role as a leader/manager.

Healthy leadership begins with establishing an open and mutually respectful relationship with your team. Healthy relationships are built on effective communication. Three keys to effective communication include:

Active Listening

One of the single most critical elements of communication is listening. It lays the foundation for all aspects of communication. Active listening begins with self-awareness. Understanding your communication style will help you develop it and use it effectively, creating positive impressions with others. But that’s only one side of the coin. It is equally vital to learn about other communication styles and to listen/respond to various individuals. Don’t let your personal filters, judgments, and beliefs distort someone’s message. Recognize diversity and draw from it.

Communication goes beyond words. Be intentional about listening not only to words, but also to the complete message. Facial expressions, body language, and what is not being said are all part of the communication process. Acknowledge that you are actively listening to what they are sharing by smiling, nodding, and other body language. For example, a relaxed pose with arms by your side indicates you are focusing your time on listening, and you are open to what they have to say. On the other hand, a defensive, agitated stance and crossed arms conveys that you don’t have time, and you do not want to hear their message.

Ensure that you understand their message. Clarify accurate reception by repeating back what you are hearing. Paraphrase, “What I’m hearing is . . .” Ask pertinent questions. Give the speaker your full attention. Put aside distractions. Listen and absorb before you answer – don’t formulate your thoughts when you should be listening. Refrain from interruptions. It only frustrates the speaker, detours their point, and limits your understanding. Listen, pause to absorb, and then ask questions. Even if the end result is that you represent an opposing view, respectfully listening to what they have to say, and understanding the basis of their point of view, will encourage them to do likewise. Furthermore, you may both walk away with a more rounded outlook.

Feedback

Another important aspect of communication is feedback. As a manager/leader, you will need to provide feedback – from basic policies and procedures to detailed research, testing, methodologies, etc. In some situations, it will involve constructive criticism. An essential key to effective feedback is consistency. When you communicate with your team consistently, you create unity and understanding, and establish performance expectations. If everyone is on the same page, you will be better prepared to deliver the necessary feedback when a negative situation arises, and they will be more prepared to receive it.

We live in an instant messaging world, but when delivering feedback, talking face-to-face is vital. Even if you are conducting a tele-meeting, choose a platform that allows for face-to-face. Written communication (for constructive feedback) is far too open to misinterpretation because it eliminates vocal tone, facial expression, body language, and emotional inflection – all crucial elements of communication. Remember to balance the negative with the positive. Recognizing and affirming accomplishments sets the stage for the reception of corrective comments.

Present the actions you have observed, requesting – and then listening – to the perspective that motivated those choices; it will provide you with a clear picture and maintain a mutually respectful relationship. Pinpoint the topic or angle you are discussing. Do everything you can to increase understanding and present viable solutions. Finally, do not make your constructive feedback personal. Each team member was chosen for their knowledge, skills, and experience, and they play a valuable role. If an issue needs to be addressed, discuss the issue. Do not tie the character and value of the person to the problem.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution is another responsibility that will fall on you as a manager. Your Life Sciences or biotechnology team reached their positions because of their strength and insight, as well as their knowledge and experience. Inevitably, this will lead to diverse approaches, thoughts, methods, etc., and may create conflict. Being able to resolve this conflict is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of effective communication.

• Clarify the source of the conflict.?
• Don’t point fingers or become defensive.?
• Help those involved get to the root issue and deal with it.?
• Listen actively to everyone involved.?
• Provide individuals a safe and private place to share their perspectives and voice their concerns.?
• Don’t jump too quickly to a conclusion.?
• Investigate—take time to dig deeper, research points made for accuracy, and discern misunderstandings or outside factors influencing the conflict.
• Set the pace with your actions.?
• Remain calm and respectful.?
• Avoid gossip and place value on each person’s perspective.?
• Bring the team members together.?
• Encourage compromise and collaboration.?
• Help each one gain understanding of other views.?
• Define your common goal and ways to come together.?
• Accept input from everyone involved and encourage an appropriate solution.?
• Establish each one’s responsibilities for moving forward, including preventative strategies for the future.

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