| Being an effective communicator is an essential | | | | on the top 3 areas of difference in the scores |
| part of achieving success as a leader. | | | | between where you assessed yourself higher or |
| Communication falls into three main categories:o | | | | lower than others. |
| Writingo Speakingo Listening | | | | Create an action plan |
| Many who excel when it comes to writing | | | | Identify the specific steps that you will take to |
| struggle when it comes to speaking while those | | | | improve and develop. This could be anything from |
| who are good speakers sometimes struggle to | | | | taking some training, to shadowing someone who |
| listen. | | | | you regard as a great communicator or even |
| Whatever the form of communication, the | | | | observing others who you respect. |
| overarching aims of communication include:o | | | | Re-assess |
| Influencingo Persuadingo Gaining support or buy-ino | | | | Once you have implemented your action plan, go |
| Advising | | | | back to the first stage and self assess and get |
| So what can you do to become a better | | | | the feedback from others in order to measure |
| communicator and achieve results as a leader? | | | | the impact of your development. |
| Determine your strengths and weaknesses | | | | In addition to the longer term improvement plan |
| The starting point for any improvement or | | | | there are also some actions that you can start to |
| development is to get clarity on your current | | | | take right now to improve your communication |
| position when it comes to strengths and | | | | skills: |
| weaknesses. | | | | Plan before your communicate |
| Take 3 sheets of paper and label them writing, | | | | Get clear on what you want to communicate and |
| speaking and listening. | | | | the outcome that you want as a result of the |
| On each sheet identify all of the types of | | | | communication. Consider the obstacles that might |
| communication you are currently involved in. For | | | | be encountered in getting your message across. |
| example, in terms of writing it might include, | | | | Think about and have answers ready to the most |
| e-mails, letters, reports to name just a few. For | | | | likely objections that will be raised. |
| speaking it might be team briefings, team | | | | Get feedback |
| meetings or presentations. For listening it might | | | | If you have produced a report, delivered a |
| include handling problems, dealing with complaints | | | | presentation, participated in a meeting with a |
| or getting trained. | | | | group, ask for feedback on what you did well and |
| Self assess on a scale of 1-5 (5 being outstanding) | | | | what would make it even better. |
| all of the areas of communication you have | | | | Practice |
| identified. | | | | Take every opportunity you can to practice your |
| Ask at least 10 others to give you their objective | | | | communication skills. Remember that practice |
| ratings on how they score you in each area. | | | | makes perfect. |
| Use the feedback to identify areas of difference | | | | Bottom line - Developing of your communication |
| There are likely to be areas where you have | | | | skills is key to your success as a leader. So |
| scored yourself higher or lower than others. Pick | | | | what's your next step? |