Effective Communication Strategies That Get Results

Effective Communication Strategies that Get Results

Of all the things people struggle with in business and in life, communication skills top the list. Communication breakdowns are the root cause of business disputes, marital problems, and even familial challenges. The key to overcoming communication challenges is to learn the principles of Communicating with Impact.

1.Use I-Statements rather than You-Statements.
Throughout school and life were taught to speak with you-statements. Teachers and other professionals continually tell us to speak and write directly to the other person, and to use you often. However, when youre communicating with impact, you need to abandon that thinking and focus on the I rather than the you. Compare the following:
You always interrupt my stories! (Aggressive)
I would like to tell my stories without interruption. (Direct)
You embarrassed me in front of all those people. (Aggressive)
I felt embarrassed when others heard the story of the mistake I made at work. (Direct)
By focusing on I-Statements rather than You-Statements you take the blame off the person and focus it on the behavior.

2.Use factual descriptions instead of judgments or exaggerations.
Too often, people are afraid to be definitive. They use vague descriptions to hide behind their words and not be held accountable. But when youre vague, you confuse people, which leads to communication problems. Therefore, always be specific when giving feedback. Compare the following:
This is sloppy work. (Aggressive)
The punctuation in the report needs work. The headings are spaced inconsistently. (Direct)
If you dont change your attitude about coming to work late, youre going to be in real trouble. (Aggressive)
I will place any tardy person on a 2 day suspension without pay if he or she continues to arrive after 8:00 a.m. (Direct)
The more detailed your statements, the more understanding and agreement you create, which keeps communication challenges from surfacing.

3.Express thoughts, feelings, and opinions reflecting ownership.
Stop blaming others for your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. You own those thoughts, feelings, and opinions, so you need to take ownership of them. The more you hide your thoughts behind the actions of others, the longer it will take for people to understand your point of view. Compare the following:
He makes me angry (Denies ownership of feelings)
I get angry when he breaks his promises (Direct)
Dont you think we should table this for now? (Indirect, denies ownership)
Tabling this question would allow us time to gather more data. (Direct)
Being clear and direct when expressing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions enables other to better understand you and take action on your words.

Communicating with Impact Leads to Communication Success
Continuing to use unhelpful words will reinforce old habits and interfere with your being direct. You can increase your success rate and improve relationships by Communicating with Impact.