Personal Development and Self Improvement» communication

How to Have an Effective Conversation With Your Boss

blogadmin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:58:23 +0000

Photo by laverrueTrying to talk to your boss can be uncomfortable and awkward. But if you know the right way to approach your superiors, you can survive the encounter and even thrive in your workplace.

Effective communication with your boss is essential for many reasons. If you want to ask for a raise or talk about another employee’s behavior, communicating effectively can increase your chances of success.

If you want to make a suggestion that you think could help the company, your idea will only be considered if you handle the encounter in a way that’s most beneficial. Here are some suggestions to get your conversation off on the right foot when talking with your boss.

Be Aware of Your Boss’ Schedule

If you don’t know your boss’ schedule, you risk approaching him when he’s not receptive. Know what kind of schedule he keeps. There are times when he’s more stressed and times when he’s more relaxed, so focus on talking with him at his convenience.

Bosses are often busy and stressed. If he’s busy with someone else, pick a different time to address your concern or ask your question. If possible, schedule some time to talk to your boss so you’re not interrupting anything. When you plan meetings, it shows that you have your boss’ best interests in your mind.

Show him that you understand the value of time. Schedule the meeting in advance so that other things don’t interfere with your chances of success. If you’re considerate of his busy schedule, your boss will likely be more receptive to what you have to say.

Pay Attention to Industry Trends

One way to get your boss’ attention is to know what’s going on in your industry. Staying knowledgeable can help you get ahead and make your conversation with your boss more effective. And, your boss is more likely to remember the conversation in a positive way.

Ways to stay up-to-date with industry trends include:

Reading industry trade magazines

Talking with others in the same profession

Attending conferences and listening to speakers

Keeping up with the news

If you pay close attention to what’s happening around you, you’ll be able to show your boss that the company’s goals are important to you. Communicating this commitment can help you get promoted, keep your job in a tight economy, and make your opinion appear more valuable to others.

Stand Up For Yourself

Everyone fears rejection, but giving in to that fear can stop you from achieving the career success you deserve. If you have something important to discuss, you should do so. Just remember stay calm and present a professional image. Avoid profanity, slang, being too informal, and other things that might turn your boss off to what you have to say.

Of course, every industry is different. Effective communication with your boss in a construction environment is different than in a corporate office. In every setting, however, the general keys to success are the same. Remain polite and professional. Your boss will notice and your communication with him will be effective as a result.

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How to Be a Better Communicator

blogadmin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:54:46 +0000

Communication is the key when it comes to anything that involves collaboration. Since humans are a social species, communication is involved in nearly everything you do.

Some people are born with the natural ability to communicate well, while others may struggle with it. No matter what category you fall into, it’s likely that you can benefit from paying attention to improving your communication skills.

Why Better Communication Helps You

Did you know that most businesses consider your communication skills to be the most important characteristic about you? This means that you could have top-notch knowledge and job skills but still fail to land a job if you’re lacking in the communication department.

Communication is certainly not only important when it comes to your work life, but it’s also vital in having a successful home life as well. Couples and family members that are good communicators lead happier lives overall.

Proper communication will prevent misunderstandings and save you time so you won’t have to go back and explain yourself again and again. You know you’ve gained good communication skills when you can communicate your thoughts effectively with as few words as necessary!

How To Improve Communication With Others

Communication is a two way street. This means that you could have excellent skills, but if the recipient is lacking, then you may not be understood. This is why it’s important not only to develop our speaking skills, but our listening skills, too.

Since you can’t affect the skill level of others, the only thing you can do is strengthen your own communication skills. Besides, when you’re an excellent communicator, more people will understand you, everything around you will run more efficiently, and you’ll more often get what you want!

Try these strategies to improve your communication skills:

Avoid arguing. If you run into a snag in a conversation and it starts to morph into an argument, step back and realize what’s going on. It’s easy to get swept up into the blame game, but ultimately it’s not important who’s at fault. What’s important is the mutual understanding of the issue at hand and a desire for a solution that benefits everyone.
Don’t be afraid to compromise. You may be tempted to try and “win” but that’s not the best way to reach a mutual agreement. You may be happier with getting your way, but it may come at the expense of the other person, which can cause further issues. Find a good compromise that you both can willingly accept.
Work on listening. Your listening skills are even more important than your speaking skills. After all, how will you know what you should say – and when – if you haven’t effectively listened? Listen more than you speak and you’ll gain a profound wisdom of others, too!
Keep your focus. Communication will get overly complicated if you worry about too many issues at once. Avoid bringing up the past or other issues and, instead, focus on the one topic at hand.
Stay calm and take responsibility. Adopt a calm and cool manner of handling situations. When things remain low key, it’s easier to communicate and get your point across. This also means that you need to take responsibility for what you say. Don’t be afraid to admit mistakes when you’re wrong.

Becoming a better communicator doesn’t happen overnight. But if you keep practicing and tweaking your skills, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish.

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5 Ways to Be Assertive and Say “No”

blogadmin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Do you find it difficult to be assertive and say “no” to people’s requests? Since there just aren’t enough hours in the day to appease everyone, the art of saying “no” without hurting the feelings of others is an important skill to acquire.

Saying “no” doesn’t mean you have to be rude about it. There are plenty of polite, yet assertive, ways you can tell people “no” when you need to.

Here are some ways you can say “no” without being rude or impolite:

“No” to now, but “yes” to later. “I’m very busy at the moment. Perhaps someone else can help you. If not, I’ll have time later in the week to help you out.”
- This is a great way to say “no.” It’s assertive, but also positive and kind. You let the person know there’s no way you can do what they’re asking at the moment. However, you give them the option to ask someone else or wait until you have the time to help out.
“No” unless something changes. “I’m very flattered that you’ve asked me. However, I’m not currently in a position where I can take on this responsibility. Could we talk about this at another time if there’s a change in my circumstances?”
- This statement says “no” while still being very polite. You let them know how thrilled you are that they’ve asked you, but then you’re honest about how little time you have to commit to their request.
A definitive “No.” “I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not able to do this. I’m afraid I’ll overextend myself.”
- With this statement, you express regret for disappointing the person, yet you still let them know that this is a solid “no.” No doubt they’ll understand you don’t want to overextend yourself, which makes them sympathetic to the plight you’re in as well.
- This answer is very kind and polite. Plus, it allows them to understand where you’re coming from.
“No” to attend an event. “I had a great time before, but I won’t be able to make it this time since I’m already overscheduled.”
- Sometimes you may get asked to an event you don’t want to attend or that you just don’t have the time for. You don’t have to feel obligated to go. This statement lets the person know you’ve had a great time in the past, yet you’re overscheduled or busy this time around.
“No” to loaning money. “I really wish I could but I make it my practice not to loan money to friends and family.”
- Money is one thing that many people ask for from their friends and family. It’s a difficult situation since you don’t want to insult them or hurt their feelings. This statement is a nice way to be assertive and say “no” while still being kind.
- You let them know that you wish you could loan them the money, yet you go on to explain why you won’t. You make it clear that this is the practice you have for everyone, and you’re not just saying “no” to him or her personally.
- For some reason, parents often feel the need to always say “yes.” Whether it’s working at a PTA function, helping in your child’s classroom, or going to yet another classmate’s birthday party, you may feel like these are things you must fit into your already busy schedule.

However, you can take control of your family’s calendar – and your sanity – by saying “no” to some offers that come your way. Saying “no” in a pleasant tone of voice won’t lose any friends; but it will allow you to set boundaries so you can enjoy life rather than racing through it.

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Active Listening Techniques

blogadmin — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:22:55 +0000

Active listening is an important life skill. Your listening skills can impact many aspects of your life, including how well you do your job or the quality of your personal relationships.

If you’re serious about maximizing your success, then you have to be serious about becoming a strong communicator. Although good communication skills include the ability to share ideas through speaking or writing, listening is a key essential component of good communication.

Here are some techniques you can use to become an active listener:

1. Be attentive. Give the speaker your undivided attention. Turn your body towards them and maintain eye contact. In addition to listening to the words being spoken, pay attention to what is said through nonverbal communication, like body language and gestures, to really understand their message.

* In order to pay full attention, you must put aside any distracting thoughts. Don’t use the speaker’s turn to prepare your response. If you’re thinking of what you’ll say next, you’re likely to miss what’s being said now.

2. Give the speaker cues to show that you’re listening. Confirm that you’re listening by using with visual cues through gestures and body language.

* A quick and easy way to communicate that you’re paying attention is to make frequent eye contact and nod when appropriate. This action shows your agreement and makes it clear that you’re engaged in what the speaker’s saying.?

* Smiling, laughing and other appropriate expressions are clear responses that will let a person know you really are hearing what’s being said.

3. Respond to their message. Maintain a welcoming, open posture to show you’re receptive to what the speaker has to say. This might include facing the speaker, leaning toward them, and staying alert. Short interjections like “uh-huh” or “yes” encourage them to tell you more.

* To make it clear that you’re actively engaged in a conversation, periodically summarize what has been said. Paraphrasing can be particularly useful when someone is sharing personal feelings with you. This way you can be sure that you have a clear understanding.?

* Ask questions to clarify points you don’t understand.

4. Avoid interrupting. Always be sure to allow the speaker to complete his thoughts. Interrupting someone is both rude and disconcerting. It also prevents you from hearing the full message.

* When the speaker is finished, respond accordingly and appropriately, offering your ideas and opinions in response to what he said. While you may not always agree with others, you must still be respectful.

5. Concentrate on what the speaker is saying. If you’re not accustomed to focusing intently on the words being said, it may take some time to change your habits. As with anything, the more you practice, the better you’ll become.

* Repeat the speaker’s words in your mind to help your mind focus on the meaning and prevent it from drifting off.

You’ll be surprised at how differently you’ll hear things as an active listener. If you follow these tips, you’ll not only become an active listener, but a better communicator as well.

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