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Greetings!:
Spring is time for new beginnings and "spring cleaning"! I hope this newsletter proves to be helpful to you in cleaning out old communication habits and beginning some new ones.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your co-workers, friends, employees, or customers.
If you have any ideas for future newsletter topics, contact me and let me know.
Writing a newsletter and need some "snippets" of information? You are welcome to quote anything in this e-zine, provided you give credit to Sarah Zink Business Training.
Warm Regards,
Sarah Zink
Sarah Zink Business Training |
April "Think Zink" Sponsor
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Communication is a Fragile Thing!
Understanding the Communication Process
First - KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY! Break it down to the "lowest common denominator". Sometimes, we talk without truly thinking about our message really is.
Second - WHAT'S YOUR DELIVERY VEHICLE? Too often, we're sending the right message through the wrong delivery vehicle. For example, sensitive, complex, or corrective messages shouldn't be sent via email. Those are best reserved for a face-to-face meeting coupled with written documentation.
Third - KNOW YOUR LISTENER. Why would you try to deliver a complicated message to a group of people coming off of third shift? Be sure to take into consideration education, environment and attitudes of those to whom you are speaking or writing.
Finally - GET FEEDBACK! Ask questions to determine if your audience understood what you communicated. NOTE: This doesn't mean you ask: "Did you understand what I just said?". That is the most inefficient form of gathering feedback possible. The instinctive response will be: "Yes".
Better questions to gather feedback and determine understanding include: "What do you see as your first step to complete this project?" or: "Who do think will be good resources to help you get this done?". These type of questions require a more complete response from the listener, and can reveal if they fully understand what you've said. |
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Do you accept "adequate" performance from the people you work with? Of course not! In the same way, don't accept "adequate" communication skills as the norm for yourself or others.
Think about it - we only have two methods to communicate a message - verbally or in writing. But these "channels" of communication can occur in many ways - on the phone, in meetings, one-on-one, via email, through a memo or a letter, or through a variety of other ways.
GOOD communication skills are critical tools for your success in the workplace. In many business environments, your style of communicating is often the first, and sometimes the only, impression people will have of you and your company.
As you browse through this month's "Think Zink" newsletter, think about what you consider to be your biggest challenge to having good communication skills. Then find the tool that will help you send the right message! |
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What Did You Just Say?
Mom was right! It's not WHAT we say, it HOW we say it. the sad fact of the matter is is that some of the negative and childish games we played with "tone" carry on into our professional life. And frankly - they are just as childish and rude now as they were then, but now we know better.
TOOL: Remember that your voice is a tool or a weapon. Focus on the message you are sending with your words AND with your tone. |
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Please Take A Business Survey! Click HERE to take a business survey on Career Development through "Zoomerang". This survey is only available to the first 100 respondents. An email address will be provided, should you want to request to receive a copy of the results of the survey. |
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What is Your Body Saying? 
Did you know that what we say only accounts for seven (7) percent of our overall message?
The main part of our message (55%) comes through in our body language and appearance.
Tone, speed and inflection make up the rest of our message (38%).
TOOL: KNOW what message your body language is sending. Crossed arms, finger tapping, heavy sighs in a meeting send a message that you aren't listening, you are bored, and you are mentally "finished".
REMEMBER: How you feel can impact how you act. How you act can impact how you feel. You can't always control how you feel, but you CAN control how you act!
If you need to pay attention, use body language that will help you: eye contact and taking notes instead of doodling. It will go a long way to help you look, act and feel more professional. |
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The Art of Listening 
Obviously, effective listening is the responsibility of the listener, but many of us THINK we're listening, when in reality, we're just hearing the other person talk. Often, we're simply thinking about what we want to say next!
TOOL: First, practice focusing your attention. LOOK into the other persons eyes on and off throughout the conversation. Second, avoid distractions! Don't multi-task (i.e., checking your email or trying to shuffle through papers). Third, write down what the other person is saying - bullet points work best here. Be sure to let the other person know that you are going to write down their important points, so you can process the information later. Finally, repeat what you think the other person said back to them. For example: "What I think you just said to me is....(re-state idea). Did I get that correctly?"
These four tools - Focus, Avoid Distractions, Write it Down and Repeat it Back - will prove to be invaluable when listening to others. Give it a try! |
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