Becoming a Masterful Communicator
SUMMARY
Do you sometimes have people at work who don't understand you? They might give you looks as if they can see your lips moving, but they're not picking up what you're putting down.
Hi, this is Grant Herbert, leadership and sustainable performance coach, and today let's continue our conversation about building great relationships within your team by helping you become a masterful communicator.
Let's look at three key areas that will help you become a masterful communicator:
The first area is becoming an active listener.
The second area is understanding the communication process.
The third area is celebrating differences in how people communicate.
TRANSCRIPT
Do you sometimes have people at work who don't understand you?
Hi, this is Grant Herbert, leadership and sustainable performance coach, and today let's continue our conversation about building great relationships within your team by helping you become a masterful communicator.
So, what does it mean to be a masterful communicator? I'm not talking about getting up on stages or being an orator. It's about communicating with others confidently and ensuring your message is well received. Great communication is a key element in reducing the conflict and stress that you, your team, and your organisation may be experiencing.
Before diving into those areas, remember that the foundation of all this lies in your identity. How you feel about yourself will shape your communication with others.
The first area is becoming an active listener. Listening is a key component of communication. Learning to actively listen means fully engaging and genuinely wanting to understand what's being shared. That's the essence of being a listener — an essential quality in becoming a masterful communicator.
The second area is understanding the communication process. Communication involves a sender and a receiver. The sender encodes the message they want to communicate, filtering it through their own lens and communication style. This message has to travel through a lot of "noise" — distractions, daily stresses, the receiver's own uncertainties. When the message reaches the receiver, they decode it based on their own filters, which may lead them to interpret the message differently than intended.
The third area is celebrating differences in how people communicate. For example, I'm a very visual person. If you want me to understand something, paint me a picture rather than overwhelming me with words. Understanding the person you're communicating with will help you avoid sending a message they might interpret differently than you intended.
Masterful communication as a leader is vital to creating an environment where a team can work cohesively and build strong relationships. I'll see you then.
