How many of the five points below apply to you?
They are all positive; the more apply to you, the better.
Below, you will find an explanation of each.
Five signs you are a good communicator
You constantly answer the question of, “what does it mean, for them, concretely?”
You make your communication relevant to your audience by using examples that make sense to them and only to them.
When you communicate a standard, you make explicit what would be too little and what would be too much.
You observe your audience’s reactions to know whether they are onboard or require further clarification.
You generally try to be clear before misunderstandings are evident.
The five signs, explained
1. You constantly answer the question of, “what does it mean, for them, concretely?”
Poor communicators only discuss abstract concepts, and let the audience wonder what they mean for them. For example, they might read the new policy without explaining how things will change in practice for the workers they are addressing.
Great communicators don’t let their audience wonder; they explain it by mentioning concrete actions. For example, they explain what they will have to do differently to comply with the new policy.
2. You make your communication relevant to your audience by using examples that make sense to them and only to them.
Poor communicators don’t make examples.
Mediocre communicators use generic examples.
Great communicators use examples that are relevant to their audience.
That means examples that make sense to their audience and only to them.
3. When you communicate a standard, you make explicit what would be too little and what would be too much.
A poor communicator would say, “we must reply to client inquiries faster.”
A great communicator would say, “we must reply to client inquiries within a business day.”
4. You observe your audience’s reactions to know whether they are onboard or require further clarification.
A poor communicator assumes that if the audience has any questions or objections, they will raise their hand.
A great communicator knows that audiences seldom voice their doubts, even if asked. Therefore, they observe body language to know whether they are onboard – and if not, they take action towards that.
5. You generally try to be clear before misunderstandings are evident.
Poor communicators only clarify what they meant after a misunderstanding becomes evident.
Great communicators take the time to be clear even when no misunderstanding is evident (because few are).
That was it. How many of the five points apply to you?
This article is the second of a six-part series of self-assessments on people-management habits. Part 1 is here. Subscribe to this newsletter to receive the rest over the following days.
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