How to Communicate more effectively with your Team and key Stakeholders

How to Communicate more effectively with your Team and key Stakeholders

Communication is king and even more so during times of crisis and change.  Non-verbal Communication can constitute up to 70% of what we are saying and can have 8 times more impact than words e.g. slamming your fist down on the desk.  Body language, posture, presence, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact are all important in making a leader or manager come across well, and even more so on a video call.

The most overlooked part of Communication is listening.  People often believe that good Communication skills are about being articulate, telling a good story and having a wide vocabulary, but the ability and willingness to listen to others is more important.  Unfortunately, many leaders and managers interrupt their team members or reach conclusions about what they think their employee is trying to say, even before they have finished speaking. Frequently because of biases and filters we don’t tend to hear what’s really being said.  Active Listening is a real skill and includes empathising with the person, nodding, and summarising what they are saying.  

Another key to effective Communication is using Open Questions which don’t allow a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ response.  These questions start with Why, What, How, When, Where, Who and can dramatically improve Communication by eliciting more information and ensuring that the stakeholder feels listened to and valued.  Open Questions can assist managers in better identifying their teams’ needs, as well as enabling them to negotiate more effectively and manage conflict. 

In order to be able to communicate messages effectively, managers need to identify their key stakeholders and how best to flex their style to communicate with each of them.  They need to understand the impact of non-verbal communication, be adept at Active Listening and Open Questioning and know how to handle objections by asking questions.

During Natural Talent's Coaching and Training Modules managers have the opportunity to identify their communication style and practise being clear and concise in order to create a vocal impact and be successful in getting the right message across, which is so important - 'now more than ever.'

'You were brilliant; you gave us the confidence and incentive to change for the better and we are now realising our true potential! ’  Business Owner

You can read some of our Client Success Stories here and contact us to discuss your requirements or to book a Coaching or Training module. 

And you can listen to Jill's Expert Audio Talk on this topic here: https://bookboon.com/en/communicating-effectively-in-the-hybrid-workplace-ebook and watch one of our videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HklFMnZ94Lc&t=2s