TAKE THE TEST:
If you communicate, teach, or lead, and your bold enough, try doing this: When your finished communicating (whether leading a meeting, teaching in front of a large or small group, etc.) ask someone to stand up, and in a one minute synopsis, ask them to tell the people what you told (communicated) to everybody. A little scary? Maybe?
Effective communication is one of the most important tasks of a leader, and it's a skill that will have to be studied, practiced, and challenged regularly. However, have you ever been around a leader who continually struggle with communicating effectively? You know, the meeting where you want to ask, "What the he%# are you saying?
Principles to Communicate (get through) with your team (taken from insights from various leaders like Andy Stanley, and John Maxwell):
- Less for More: reduce it down - the goal is not to be long, but to communicate effectively - quicker the better.
- Repeat the Message: repeat it - repeat it - repeat it.
- The 2 x 4 Rule: your first 2 minutes determine your next 4 minutes.
- Keep it Simple: getting deep isn't always the answer.
- Avoid the Hammock Speech: avoid being strong at the front and the end of your speech (talks), and soft in the middle.
- Ask the Writer's Question:will the reader (listeners) turn the page? - what's going to keep the reader (listener) from closing the book? - be create - don't major in boredom.
- Place a "10" on People's Head: you will communicate with people based on your belief in people - don't talk down - see people as they could be, not as they are.
- Live the Message: people do what people see - don't try to export what you don't have - if you don't live it, don't teach it.
QUESTION: What are some of your effective communication tips?
