Today I am teaching a course on Effective Communication Skills to a group of 40 participants. In the new hybrid working environment where some employees work in the office and others work virtually, communication is even more challenging. This course covers many areas of communication; however, I will only be touching on a few key points in this newsletter that will make you stand out as a great communicator and team player.

We are often moving so fast to get things done at work that we assume others know what we know, and we overlook the fact that they may not have the same information that we have. Below are some questions to ask yourself to be sure you are communicating effectively and setting your team up for success. 

• Who else should be included in this discussion/decision/email?
• Who will be impacted by this and needs to know about it?
• What do my team members need to know today/this week that will help them do their jobs better, give them a better understanding/picture, keep them motivated and on track, etc.?
• Consider your audience. Who, what, when, where, why, and how? Why should they care? The receiver wants to know “What’s in it for me?” (WIIFM).

By taking the time to slow down, think through these questions, and take action based on our responses, we can prevent unnecessary miscommunication, misunderstandings, conflict, and rework. Using these questions to better share information will not only greatly benefit your team and organization, but you will also stand out as an excellent communicator and collaborator.

“How well we communicate is not determined by how well we say things but how well we are understood.” – Andrew Grove

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Great leaders communicate and great communicators lead.” – Simon Sinek