The Surprising Factor Behind Business Success: Communication Agility By Scott Agnew

Hello, fellow entrepreneurs!

Today, I would like to write about a subject that has been frequently overlooked in leadership discussions but is of paramount importance - so much so that its negligence can lead to the downfall of even the most promising businesses. While many aspects contribute to the success or failure of a business, I wish to spotlight one primary factor that has proven itself repeatedly in research: Communication Agility.?

Communication agility is the ability to adapt communication behaviors authentically and effectively depending on the situation, audience, or medium. This skill is increasingly important in today's fast-paced, digital world, where the methods and platforms of communication are continually evolving. Three key factors that underpin communication agility are:

1. Active Listening & Empathy:

• Active Listening: This involves fully concentrating and understanding the meaning and intention of what the other person is saying. (Most of the time, they are looking for validation). It's about being present in the conversation and paying close attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues. Active listening helps gather complete information, understand the context, and reduce miscommunication.

• Empathy: It's the ability to understand and acknowledge the feelings of another. Being empathetic means putting yourself in someone else's shoes and understanding their point of view. Empathetic communication fosters trust and strengthens interpersonal relationships and can oftentimes lead to long-term friendships. ?

2. Flexibility & Adaptability:

• Flexibility: It's crucial to understand that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to communication. Being flexible means adjusting your communication style or redirecting the topic based on the situation’s needs or the audience’s preferences.

• Adaptability: As communication tools and platforms evolve, adaptability ensures you can transition smoothly and use available resources best. It's about being open to change and being prepared to shift your approach when needed. Allow your people to lead you sometimes.??

Clarity & Conciseness:

• Clarity: This involves making your message as clear and straightforward as possible. Eliminate jargon, use simple language, and structure your message in a way that is easy to understand.

• Conciseness: People’s attention spans are short, especially in the digital age. Being concise means conveying your message in as few words as necessary without sacrificing its meaning or completeness.?

Tell your people WHY they need to do what they need to do. Let them know how important their actions are to the organization’s destiny.?

In addition to these factors, continuous feedback, cultural awareness, and ongoing learning are essential in fostering team trust amongst the leaders and themselves. Being proactive by inviting criticism fosters effective team communication. Being aware of cultural nuances ensures effective communication across diverse teams and audiences. Ongoing learning keeps you updated with the latest communication trends and tools.

It's not just about what's said (content) but How it's communicated (process). The next level is meta-communication, which we won't discuss today. Focusing merely on behavioral assessment tools results in a pre-conceived perception when choosing team members.? This is the reason we do personal one on one interviews, because the way a person shows up in an interview is more vastly more important than the words that come out of their mouth.??

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Scott Agnew