Every thriving business is built on a foundation of good communication, where employees openly convey their thoughts and feelings to one another in order to accomplish the common goal. However, not everyone possesses these skills, and a business can suffer when employees aren’t effectively communicating.
Fortunately, Arden Coaching specializes in communication skills training to help employees refine their skills so they can be more effective when working with others. Managers must be able to successfully lead employees but lack the necessary techniques to do so. Executive coaching will instill these techniques so they can be more influential and motivational.
The following tips will help you improve your communication skills:
1. Building Self-Awareness
Be aware of your interactions and how you handle yourself with others. If you can’t recognize your habits and patterns, you’ll never be able to improve on them and gain new opportunities. It’s crucial to gain perspective and understand how you interact with others.
One way to increase your level of self-awareness is videotaping yourself during a meeting or a presentation. Seeing how you speak to others and how you present information, you’ll realize habits that you didn’t know you had. Perhaps you’ll see how you talk to others or that you pace and fidget during a presentation.
2. Ask Others for Feedback
If you can’t fully realize your actions on your own, you’ll need to turn to others for help. Ask other people for feedback about your behavior during business meetings and day-to-day operations. Tell them to be honest with you, as you want to improve. Perception is reality, so by understanding how someone else perceives you, you can adjust your actions to be perceived in more of a positive light, if necessary.
3. Learn How to Disagree Respectfully
When you disagree with someone, it’s important to try not to offend him or her. One way to avoid this is by starting off by saying something that shows your appreciation of the person you’re about to disagree with. For example, if a co-worker created a report, but you disagree with some of their findings, start off by saying, “Thanks for taking the time to do this.” This lets the person know that you support them but just have a difference of opinion.
Another method to approaching a disagreement is by asking questions rather than making statements. Disagreeing in the form of a statement may come off as abrasive, causing your co-worker to become defensive. Phrasing your disagreement as a question could help you ease into a discussion with your co-worker.
Before you disagree, ask the person questions about their opinion to make sure that you fully understand what they’re saying. You may not fully comprehend the point they’re trying to make, so asking them to elaborate on their beliefs and findings could help you realize what they’re trying to say.
If you believe that Arden Coaching could help you improve your communication skills, click here to set up a consultation with an executive coach.
