My name is Mark Walsh from Integration Training.
This is my top ten communication tips.
So communication is massively important.
Um, in most jobs today we are actually paid to communicate in one way or another and all
of these apply to emails, phone, and face to face conversations and meetings.
So it's really the essence of what of we do in work.
And just in life, we are social animals, so communication is massively important for our
health, our happiness, and our well being.
So I work a lot with communication, in stress, leadership, team development, coaching, um,
conflict resolution all over the world, and here are a few general rules of thumb.
None of them are hard and fast, but these are the things that I have found that will
help communication as a general rule.
Number one, listen first.
Listening, um, is massively important to communication.
If you remember just one, remember this one.
There is a video we have on what is empathy if you would like to look at it some more.
It is really that intention to connect in the present moment, so really being present
with the person are with and listening to them.
Number one, breath.
So when a lot of people communicate, um, particularly if it is something stressful or some difficult
situation perhaps a speech or an appraisal at work.
Then, people often get tense and they forget to breath, so they don't come across as well
as they might.
So take a deep belly breath, aaahh...
Nice and slow and relaxed before you say what you need to say.
Number three, say "I." By saying "I" you, what we call, "own the communication."
You say "I" think this, "I" feel this, so it's really coming from you, and that's clear
rather than saying "one" or "it" or not being clear in that way.
So, as a general rule, using "I" statements is, is useful for ccommunication.
Number four, avoid judgment, blame, and denial of responsibility.
So this is something that I've got from Marshall Rosenberg of nonviolent communication.
If you blame or judge people then, they don't like it.
We all do it; we are human, and it gets in the way of effective communication.
Equally, denial of repsonsibility.
People turn up for a meeting late and they'll say, "sorry I was late, it was traffic.
It was not my fault" rather than, "okay, I was late and the reason was I really didn't
leave enough or I didn't check the traffic."
So, really owning your communication, having responsibility, can help.
Number five, separate facts from opinions.
The basis of a good conversation is often the facts.
We often start with the facts.
Let us say you are giving an appraisal.
You can say, "John, you've been more than 50 minutes for the last three days."
Now that's quite different from jumping to an opinion or an evaluate and saying well,
"you're lazy" or, um, "you're sloppy."
So really connects to judgment and blame, but starting with some clear observations
that the other person can connect with as well.
Number six, be aware of emotions.
So emotions, um, are key part of being human.
They are part of how of how we communicate.
Often, that's what we are communicating, is our feeling or emotions, and emotional intelligence,
is really important in the workplace.
Number seven, be aware of needs and values.
So underpinning our emotions are our needs.
So, for example, I might feel happy because my need for consideration was met, or I might
feel sad or angry because my need for respect or dignity wasn't met.
The beautiful thing about needs is that we all them.
They are completely universal.
If you can connect with someone on that level, you can really see, um, how they are similar
to you.
It can really help with the connection.
Um, values is similarly another way of talking about it.
So highly recommend connecting to needs and values in any kind of difficult communication.
Number eight, ask for what you want.
So, by asking for what you want, you are more likely to get to get it.
Sounds like common sense, and a lot of people don't do it.
Asking specific, clear, and in the positive.
So, "would you open a window now" or, rather than, "I'm hot in here."
Yea.
Or instead of, ah, "I wish you would love me more," "would you be willing to give me
a hug."
So the specific thing that would meet your needs.
Number nine, body language.
So the body is really integral to communication.
Ah, we communicate through our bodies as much through our words.
If I say something without moving my face or expressions or body, it's much less engaging
than when my body's is really involved in the communication.
We work a lot with this area in Integration Training; something called embodied leadership.
There are videos that...
And, um, let's say for now it's just being aware of the body is what's important.
Not so much, ah, learning some tricks or gestures, but just paying some attention to your body
while you are communicating.
Number ten, last but not least, is taking account of the individual and cultural differences.
So, we are all different: some are extrovert, some introvert, some, ah, more thinking, more
feeling orientated.
So you might talk to those people quite differently.
Similarly, with culture.
Cultures are different.
There are different cultural ways of communicating.
So, for example, when I'm teaching in the Netherlands, I might be much more direct than
if I'm working with Japanese people who prefer a different approach.
So taking the individual and cultural differences into account is really important.
So going through those again.
The top ten.
Hope I've communicated them to you effectively.
Number one, listen.
Number two, breath.
Number three, say "I." Number four, avoid judgement, blame, and denial
of responsibility.
Number five, separate facts from opinions.
Number six, be aware of emotions.
Number seven, be aware of needs and values.
Number eight, ask for what you want.
Number nine, be aware of body language.
Number ten, be aware of individual and cultural differences.
So I hope these have been of some use.
Um, feel free to comment.
I'd love to have your questions, to engage in dialogue about this.
Ah, if you want support individually, than coaching is available.
If you would like organizational support, workshops on difficult behavior, appraisals,
or leadership than please get in touch.
It's mark@integrationtraining.co.uk, www.integrationtraining.co.uk.
Thank you.
Puff...
So Lucy how do you think that went?
I mean we are in this communications thing and...
Yea.
I know.
I think...
You know, you agree, you were good.
It was really good.
Yea, it was okay wasn't it.
It was.
It went pretty well.
Well, I hope they like it.
And um, yea, you know, you are looking good today Lucy.
Nice and green, and if you need water, just ask, okay?
I just really, really appreciate your help on that one.
Thanks.