Free Cuttings! Grab some top tips and shoots on how to improve the way you communicate with people.

[Jason Stevens]

Not Communication but Comm-pollination - spreading the nectar of rapport.

 

In the book we discussed how communication is an essential management tool that in Ican Grow People related to watering plants.

From sprinkler methods to a watering can, the metaphor works well for describing general communication. But following on from the insights into what makes a team successful it now becomes apparent that effective communication helps to cross pollinate the team’s chances of understanding and achieving

 

If you mapped out a square meter of flowers in your garden and observed it for 1 hour you will see how each plant gives and receives pollen through the busyness of the humble bumble bee.

 

In a team, communication needs to be as busy and provided, shared and taken by all the plants in the 1 square meter to 100 square miles of where your team operate to create cross pollination, without that, there is no chance of success or continuous and sustainable growth.

 

To help you identify some of the finer aspects of “comm-pollination” here are some pointers.

 

People have equal rights and that goes for the rights of talking v listening.

 

 

Add a bit of drama to the conversation but don’t act.

 Check for understanding – did they get it? But don’t make them look stupid.

 Never assume – look and learn from differences and by differences.

 Don’t feel pressurised into talking about things that make you feel uncomfortable.

 Sticks and stones may break bones but words can actually be lethal so use wisely.

 Face in the right direction – if sunflowers can do it so can you.

 Speak to others in a way that would get the best reaction or reply out of you.

 Say what’s on your mind – better off it than on it.

 What’s your story? What’s your headline? Does what you have to say sell?

 Ask yourself why are you talking before you talk.

Respond with enthusiasm even if it kills you to do it, or you disagree.

 Be yourself – don’t go all posh or play stupid.

Forget your perception of your reputation – others will describe you differently anyway.

Discuss the learning, highlights and insights from a conversation at the end of it.

 Choose the right time, right place and the right frame of mind before opening the mouth.

 Stay on the right path – detour, but then retrace your steps to get back on track.

 If you hijack another conversation have the decency to return the hostages back to the point in time where you kidnapped them.

 Concentrate more on the why than the what.

 Summarise what others say to show you understand or at least listened to them.

 Provide more detail than you think you need to, but ask others to stop you if you give too much.

 Use advice sparingly – help people to find their own solutions.

 Use small talk – it’s not a waste of time.

 Base your feedback on facts, not gut feel, personality or hearsay.

Make time to talk…

For more details on I Can Grow People and other Management Topics download the ebook or contact Ican Development at [e-mail] or [e-mail]