Learn to Communicate So People Will Listen

There are three main reasons communication is a problem for people leading teams.

1.????? Not having the training and the tools to communicate well

2.????? A fear of public speaking

3.????? A lack of self-awareness

Communicating so people will listen is a skill. You need the knowledge and the tools to know how to do it well. You need to practice and gain honest feedback from your peers. You need to continue to put effort into developing and honing the skill. And over time you will get better and better at communicating with your team, and public speaking.

For people responsible for leading teams finding communication a challenge, we often hear that speaking in front of groups causes you anxiety, you don’t feel listened to, and you are not sure how to communicate well. People who are self-aware know they need to improve their communication. They just need some help and personal development support in getting better at it.

People Who Lead Teams and Are Great Communicators

Great communicators capture our attention, they make us feel engaged and deliver messages in a confident way that we want to listen to them. We may not always agree or feel aligned with what is being shared, but we stop and listen.

The traits we would suggest you look to develop to become a great communicator are:

·?????? Authenticity. There is no act or trying to be something that they’re not. They speak from the heart and be themselves. They are human and you know they are being genuine. You can feel it.

·?????? Vulnerability. They have a raw honesty and openness that forces you to lean in. If they don’t know, they say they don’t know. They share their mistakes. They tell us how they are really feeling. It’s the vulnerability that captures our attention.

·?????? Clarity. They don’t use jargon or waffle. They speak clearly in language you can understand. The message they are looking to get across is loud and clear. Their approach to communication is to help you to understand, not to tell you something.

·?????? Storytelling. They use anecdotes and stories to help you understand the message they are looking to share. Stories that are relatable and breathe life into the essence of their message. Stories with emotion and character.

·?????? Tools. They use the tools they are born with to the best of their ability - their voice, their tone, their pitch, their volume, their pace, their body language, their hands, their smile, and their facial expressions. And if it will help, use props, visuals or slides. They bring all the right tools together in an authentic way that makes their communication engaging.

·?????? Preparation. They put the time and effort into preparing for their communications. They work on understanding their audience. They ask for feedback. They learn and adjust their communication to continually improve. They practice.

·?????? Listen. They don’t see communication as a one-way thing. They listen to the people they communicate with and learn to read the room. They have the courage to stop what they are doing, and say, “something doesn’t feel right here”. Great communication is not all about telling people stuff. Your audience needs to feel a connection, and you can only do this by listening, reading the room and asking for feedback.

We can observe people who communicate well and say, “it’s OK for you, you’re good at communicating”, or “you’re such a natural at public speaking”, but every great communicator has been a beginner at some point. They have put the practice in and the effort to get better. And over time it has become natural, as it could for you and your team.

In a recent YouGov survey there were a number of statistics related to the fear of public speaking, or Glossophobia, that highlighted how common an issue it is for people:

·?????? 21% of Britons admitted to hating public speaking and would avoid it completely.

·?????? 59%?of individuals would avoid public speaking opportunities if there weren’t any repercussions such as job requirements or friends and family expectations.

·?????? The most anxiety-inducing settings for public speaking are job interviews?(32%), speeches?(25%), and work presentations?(22%).

·?????? 36% of respondents said that forgetting the words caused the most anxiety for them.

When you are responsible for leading a team, being a great communicator is part of your role and vital to the success of your business. Overcoming fears and becoming a better communicator is part of the journey of becoming a better leader of people.

Communicating So People Will Listen Course

On 16th & 30th July 2024, The Manufacturers' Alliance is running a 2 day Communicating So People Will Listen Course to help people responsible for leading teams in the manufacturing sector to improve their communication skills.

We want to support you in your quest to becoming a better leader, by providing you with the tools you need to communicate well and help you overcome your public speaking challenges.

The 2-day course will include…

·?????? A 360 Communication Assessment to help you understand what is working well for you right now, and where your development areas are.

·?????? Working in a small group (maximum 8 people) with Kerry Leigh – speaker and comedy trainer, and leadership development facilitator.

·?????? Learning to communicate confidently and authentically in a style that works for you.

·?????? 1-2-1 coaching and support help you overcome your barriers to communicating well.

·?????? A set of tools that will enable you to become a great communicator, public speaker and storyteller.

·?????? Working in a supportive and practical learning environment where you can be yourself.

·?????? A post training 1-2-1 coaching session to help you apply your learning.

Kerry has trained many of the keynote speakers that have presented exceptionally well and authentically at the Manufacturers’ Alliance conference for the past 3 years. She is great at helping people find their own style of communicating that will work well for them.

If you would like to learn more about course and request a brochure, please complete the form on the course page here: https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/events/communicating-so-people-will-listen/