- Timothy Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
What makes COMMUNICATING so difficult? Time and time again, we find that projects are DELAYED, the WRONG products ordered or people's feelings being HURT over the inability to effectively deliver a message.
First, the INABILITY of us, as professionals, to weigh out SPEED vs. CLARITY is a contributing factor. We would rather "dump" our info load on someone else so we can be FREED of the mental burden. In that exchange, we PRIDE ourselves on the "speed of moving the process" without regard for the number of "do-over's" we require.
Secondly, we RARELY have a full scope of what we want to do. You will recognize this by the comment, "I am not totally sure of all the details. Who cares anyways!? Here is what they want to accomplish. You tell me how it works." (this is one I am often guilty of). If you, as the LEAD communicator, lack a clear understanding of what needs to happen, how can you expect that when you "pass it off" that the UNDERSTANDING will somehow improve??
SIMPLICITY is success. Simple in concept, scope, discussion, communication, deliver…
2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP:
Sometimes people find me to be SHORT with them or act as if I am uninterested in their point of view. This is very UNTRUE. I am OVERLY interested in the "true point" they are seeking to make…
We often PREDICATE our explanations, with explanations of the situation to detail the incident facing the individual, which requires additional detail… blah blah blah… oh my gosh!!! Can you see how people can LOSE interest or just plain "get lost" in discussion?!
As an alternative – ask your question DIRECTLY. Do NOT provide excessive detail or background. Just ask. If the person RECEIVING your information is able (or willing) to assist, they will ask questions in response to help FOCUS their retort.
Don't OVERSUPPLY information. It is CHALLENGING for you to do, and even more difficult for the other people trying to UNDERSTAND.
Cheers,
Zach
*To enjoy past editions of the Morning Motivator go to – http://grow-learn-lead.blogspot.com
The Morning Motivator is a copyrighted publication. The use of this article is open for print or publication with proper citations.
No comments:
Post a Comment