Communication to succeed

As discussed last week, it is impossible not to communicate – if that is the case, do we treat it with the respect and trepidation that it deserves?! As a CEO, effective communication is one of your finest tools in your armoury – so how can you use it to your very best advantage?

When was the last time that you looked/read your own communications or announcements, as if you were the recipient?

Have a quick look at a sample of your last week’s output , and what does it ‘say ‘ to you – does the style reflect your personality, what did it say about your mood that day, what assumptions had you made when writing it? Do there seem to be any hidden agendas in there? What message are you conveying? Is it written by you, or your PA?

Writing is such a powerful medium, it is invaluable to not only think about the content, but the style, format, length, and choice of media that is appropriate for the communication. When people receive your communication, their brain will be full of literally millions of transactions. Give them the best chance to get the message as you want. Firstly, give them the simple facts to be able to understand the message clearly. Make sure that your assumptions about their knowledge on the topics is correct.- spell it out if you are not sure. If you want their attention, appeal to their senses (remember last week?). Use appropriate language and style in order to demonstrate your passion or feelings around the message. If it is a message from you, use words, and phrases that are clearly yours.
How often do you send an email or text, rather than picking up the phone, or actually visiting someone?

CEO’s always have the need for 26 or more hours a day, so emailing is often a very efficient means of working. However, do you ask yourself if this is the right medium for that communication? How would it come across if you used voice, or eye to eye contact to enhance your communication? In the long run, we can often save hours of debate and nip issues in the bud, by simply meeting with someone, eye to eye, or picking up the phone.
Additionally, be honest, how much of your choice of medium is due to wanting to convey a message and not listen to a response? Be careful that you are not hiding an issue that will just get bigger in time.

What are they telling you – without telling you?!
Humans are amazing creatures in that we communicate with many parts of our body other than our voice. Eye movement, eye contact, body posture, gestures, body movement – all of these are ways to communicate without even opening your mouth. Just sitting in a pub, watching other people, you can quickly see whom is interested in whom, without overhearing the conversation – all through body language. In meetings, how often have your heard ‘Yes’ but you know that means ‘Maybe’ or ‘No’? Our subconscious mind will pick up those unheard communications – and it is up to you to do something with that information. Act on that knowledge, your intuition; it can be invaluable in telling you something that has not been ‘said’.
Communication is two-way
Being the CEO means that you are a Leader. However, that does not mean that you have to come up with all the answers. Listening to those around you; Clients, Suppliers, Colleagues, and Competitors provides you with a wealth of useful information. Why not give yourself permission to sit and listen at various times of the day, rather than doing the talking,– and you will be rewarded by a mass of hidden communication and information.

‘When to start and when…’
Mozart communicated his passion of life through music, but was clearly aware of the importance of all forms of communications. A quote from the master himself ‘To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop.’,

Until next week.

Kate Tojeiro is an Executive Performance Coach at www.the-x-fusion.co.uk