SOLUTIONS THROUGH COMMUNICATION
Sometimes in business (and life) situations may arise that require some uncomfortable conversations. While no one likes these types of conversations, they are often necessary to keep your business on track and to allow you to grow in the ways you desire.
Part of running a business or being a leader is solving problems. As I have said before, communication is the most powerful tool you have in your business toolbox. Yet, it is also the most under-utilized. You wouldn’t use a drill at half power to make holes in concrete, so why are you using a fraction of your communication skills to grow and run a business or lead a group?
Like power tools, you must learn how to use your communication “tools” more effectively to get the job done. Since these skills are not thoroughly taught in schools or even in most business degree programs, you are left to figure it out on your own.
While each situation will be different, there are a few things you can do in every situation that will help you find solutions and make the entire process a little less uncomfortable. Here are 4 things you can do to make sure your communication works for you, instead of against you, in any situation.
1. State the problem. When you need to have an uncomfortable or important discussion, it is okay to start with small talk, but keep it brief. Get to the point quickly and state the issue clearly. Avoid complaining but use constructive criticism if needed. If at all possible, let the other party know beforehand that you need to have a conversation about XYZ issue so that they can come to the discussion prepared to listen and to provide their own information or feedback on the issue.
• For example, you need to meet with an employee about their job performance. Get with them briefly or send them an email a day or two before you wish to meet with them and simply state that you would like to get together to do a performance review. If salary is to be discussed, make that known as well. This way, the employee will be prepared and will know what the discussion is about. This will take away some of the discomfort and anxiety from each of you because you already know what will be discussed.
2. Think forward. Stay in the present and future. You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it. This is important whether you are preparing a speech, looking for new strategies, or diving into an issue that needs to be addressed. When you think forward, you can evaluate past performance and experience and then determine a better way to proceed. With communication, you can always change your game. If you need to grow your vocabulary, you can. If you need to work on your speaking skills, you can! There is always room for growth and forward thinking in communication! When faced with an issue, using the past as a road map to get to a solution is a great way to help everyone involved.
3. Stay on-topic. Have you ever been in a meeting or watched a YouTube video that was *supposed to be about a certain topic, only to find the speaker get completely derailed and onto something else halfway through? I don’t know about you, but to me, that is distracting and can decrease credibility. If you are planning to discuss a topic, whether in person, one on one, or via video training or zoom call, stay on course with your topic. Make an outline, have some notes, anything that will help you stay the course and discuss what needs to be discussed. Depending on the situation, IF there is time at the end, you can always add additional information or open the forum for questions or further discussion. A sure-fire way to find solutions and navigate nearly any situation is simply to keep the conversation on track with your topic. Staying on-topic will boost your credibility by showing the audience that you are able to focus on that topic and provide them with clear information that is organized and easy to navigate.
4. Use non-verbal cues. The way you communicate non-verbally can have a greater impact than the words you say. Non-verbal communication often happens without thought so you have to put extra energy into using it to your advantage. There are many non-verbal cues that can pervade your communication but there are two that are very simple to incorporate into your tool belt: Eye contact and shoulder position. Make eye contact with the person or people you are speaking to. If you are on video, look directly at the camera. Simply looking people in the eye will help them to get and stay engaged while also showing that YOU are engaged in the discussion. Keep your shoulders down and back to appear confident and relaxed. Want to learn more about this? Click HERE to read my post on non-verbal communication!
In the business world today, you must do everything you can to stand out and to provide a one of kind experience for your customers. Honing your communication skills is one of the best ways to do this! If you want to dive deeper into how to enhance your communication and become an expert problem-solver, click HERE to book a strategy session with me!
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