Communicate Effectively For Productivity

Communicate effectively for productivity

1. Listen better.

Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk. - Doug Larson.

Someone in your life may need more of your attention, more of your concern, and more of your ears. You can understand this person better and make him or her feel better by being a good listener.

2. Speak with impact.

If all my talents and powers were taken from me by some inscrutable providence, and I had my choice of keeping but one, I would unhesitatingly ask to be allowed to keep the power of speaking, for through it, I would quickly recover all the rest. - Daniel Webster.

Some speakers command attention. They sound convincing, authoritative, and credible. Their discourse has none of the self-effacing qualities that too many people allow to sap the energy from their ideas. Can you rid your conversation of power-robbing phrases?

3. Send strong nonverbal messages.

Suit the action to the word, the word to the action. - William Shakespeare.

Non verbal show how you feel inside and determine how you feel inside. Walk with your head up and you'll feel up. Wear your finest duds, you'll feel great. Get yourself excited.

As little as 10% of the impact of your spoken message is carried by the words you utter. As much as 40% is achieved by vocals) tone, inflection, emphasis, pitch, rhythm, volume, rate). More than 50% comes from your body language (eyes, face, hair, gestures, posture, cosmetics, accessories, clothing, actions, and use of space). Can you harness the 90%?

4. Speak eloquently.

The ability to speak is a shortcut to distinction. It puts a man in the limelight, raises him head and shoulders above the crowd, and the man who can speak acceptably is usually given credit for an ability all out of proportion to what he really possesses. - Lowell Thomas.

A good speaker is not the one who remembers what to say, but rather says what will be remembered. This person is expressive, articulate and well-spoken. You can learn such eloquence.

5. Choose powerful words.

Words have weight, sound and appearance; it is only by considering these that you can write a sentence that is good to look at and good to listen to. - W. Somerset Maugham.

The well-chosen word gives your speech, your letter, and your manuscript the power to attract, mesmerize, and persuade. You can use words that get the best results. Increase the power of your suggestion with specific, colorful language. Your claim of interest won't carry the same weight as your excitement or inspiration.

6. Improve your vocabulary.

A great many people think that polysyllables are a sign of intelligence. - Barbara Walters.

What if your carpenters showed up without any tools? They'd probably strike you as incompetent amateurs. In the same way you'll have a hard time projecting a polished, professional image with a deficient vocabulary. Your words are the plane, chisel, drill, level, and sandpaper you use to form your ideas. Can you shape them in just the way you need to get the impact you want?

7. Reduce communication errors.

The difference between the almost right word and the right word 'tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. - Mark Twain.

English is a language in which it's easy to make mistakes in grammar, usage, pronunciation, and spelling. But you can make fewer errors.

8. Improve your speaking voice.

Make thyself a craftsman in speech, for thereby thou shalt gain the upper hand. - Ancient Egyptian Tomb Inscription.

Radio announcers are hired based on the quality of their speaking voices. Although many of them were born to utter resonant tones, most also employ strategies to improve the way they sound. You, too, can use these strategies.

9. Prepare compelling presentations.

Why don't th' feller who says, "I'm not a speechmaker," let it go at that instead o'givin' a demonstration? - Frank McKinney Hubbard.

Successful presenters know how to organize speeches that are fun to deliver and full of impact. You can learn their secrets. Research the topic thoroughly; gather abundant evidence; statistics, and other supporting material.

10. Deliver compelling presentations.

Speeches, like babies, are easy to conceive but hard to deliver. - Author unknown.

Give two people the same speech to deliver, and one will leave the audience more motivated to act. Can you consistently convince your audiences that your ideas are valuable to them?

11. Gain confidence as a speaker.

The mind is a wonderful thing. It starts to work the minute you are born, and never stops until you get up to speak in public. = John Mason Brown.

More than one opinion survey has shown that speaking before a group is our number one lifetime fear. But although it many afflict you much like a disease, you can overcome stage fright. Rehearse your presentation from the very lectern in the very room where you'll deliver it.

12. Learn to deliver impromptu presentation.

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. - Mark Twain.

Speaking with the benefits of advance preparation, carefully planned notes, and eye-popping visual aid is one thing. Speaking without warning is quite another. Are you prepared to meet this communication challenge? Can you sound and look polished without warning?

13. Overcome writer's block.

If any man wishes to write in a clear style, let him first be clear in his thoughts. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Getting started may be most difficult task when you sit down to write. You have all these ideas in your head, but you're just not sure how to introduce them or organize them. You're suffering from writer's block, but you can find a cure.

14. Write persuasively.

In composing, as a general rule, run your pen through every other word you have written; you have no idea what vigor it will give your style. - Sydney Smith.

We write letters, memos, and reports to sell ideas to others. But we aren't as persuasive as we want to be. Can you do a better job of convincing others in writing? Write in the language keeping the reader in mind.

15. Express your feelings honestly.

For a few brief days the orchards are white with blossoms. They soon turn to fruit, or else float away, useless and wasted, upon the gentle breeze. So will it be with present feelings. They must be deepened into decision, or be entirely dissipated by delay. - Theodore Cuyler.

As children we learned how to deal with our feelings. Perhaps the lesson you got was not to be honest about your reactions to what others do. As a result, you may have grown up walking on eggshells, afraid to speak your mind. You can be freer with your feelings.

The author of this article is Iyer Subramanian, presently working with Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry. E Mail: iyerpdkgnm@yahoo.com