Talking is not communication
Layla Shaikley
Co-Founder at Wise Systems — Check us out for the smartest last-mile software. Join the over 270,000 people across social media who follow along for straightforward startup learnings and leadership frameworks ↓
What you are doing wrong, and how to fix it
I once had a brilliant colleague who never got the chance to shine, and I assume his potential will always be capped.
While he was smart, the effort required to decipher his words into action was so heavy that he never got the promotion he believed he deserved. While his ability to see problems and execute was spot on, his ability to articulate only what was necessary was lacking.
His issue is common. An organization with 100 people spends 17 hours a week clarifying communication, per Siemens Enterprise Communications. That's 68 hours a month spent repeating information to ensure it is understood.
Good communication is the skill that will level you up in any industry and at any level. Talking and communication are different practices. Communication is driven by a goal, and the best leaders have mastered the art of communication.
Why you are a bad communicator?
Every piece of communication should be able to answer these questions: Why am I sharing this, and what do I hope it will result in? Bad communicators suffer from at least one of the following:
The goal of communication in the workplace is either to solve a problem or execute a vision. This manifests through a variety of categories:
In The First Minute, Chris Fenning categorizes conversations by intent. Fenning recommends framing every conversation in fifteen seconds by providing context, a clear intention, and a clear headline followed by a structured summary of the entire message that needs to be delivered, including the goal and the problem standing between you and the goal. Fenning recommends always putting the issue in front of the solution. To frame a conversation, include context (topic to talk about) + intent (what you want the audience to do with your info) + key message (the most important part of the message you are about to deliver).
Fenning believes most communication will fall into one of the categories below and offers the devices in the image above:
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Common communication pitfalls
While we are at it, stop using these words.
In communication, some words diminish your power in communication:
In conclusion
The skill that will guarantee growth at any organization is good communication. You will get noticed for doing your job clearly and aligning with the right folks.
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sounds like effective communication requires clarity, focus, and simplicity. leaders gotta lead Layla Shaikley