Do you drive the extra mile for good communication?
By Dr. Dennis O'Grady
How do you stack up? If people who worked for you or loved you graded you on a curve on your communication, what grade would you receive? What would the customer service reality be? Would you receive a grade of "A"..."B"..."C"...or "D"? How do you stack up in the minds of others, who perhaps see things entirely differently than you do?
HOW DOES YOUR COMMUNICATION PERFORMANCE STACK UP?
Stated in the first person, here are selected communication performance questions that tap core skill areas, according to how others typically view you:
- Are you COMFORTABLE communicating with me?
- Do you feel VALUED?
- Do you feel your thoughts are HEARD?
- Do I provide consistent FEEDBACK?
- Do I COMMUNICATE CLEARLY with you?
- Do I SPELL OUT what you need to know to accomplish your job?
- Do I MAKE TIME TO TALK with you?
- Do I send the message that I'm OPEN and AVAILABLE to LISTENING, even when I'm BUSY?
- DO I DRIVE THE EXTRA MILE FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION?
These are billion dollar questions to ask of your teammates, your life partner, and even your kids. Take a chance by risking receiving negative feedback.
GIVING AND RECEIVING HELPFUL FEEDBACK
O.K. I even gave you the questions to ask to get at the truth of your communication skills. Simple, yes; easy, no. Ready? Set. Go!
1. First, you need to ask the appropriate, open-ended questions.
2. Second, you need to listen open-mindedly to ALL the answers you receive.
3. Third, you need to be open to changing and growing and learning as a result of the feedback.
4. Fourth, you can’t allow a bruised ego to flip off good communication, via retaliation.
When you learn…you earn! Ask, then listen, then add to your repertoire of communication skills...today.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: DO YOU DRIVE THE EXTRA MILE FOR GOOD COMMUNICATION?
Miscommunication kills! You can't afford to be a legend in your own mind -- namely, that your perception is way off from the reality on how your fellow co-communicators will grade you when they talk. Why not get an "A" on your Talk to Me© Communicator Report Card? Only the strong who use soft communication skills will survive today's business climate. Bottom line: Do you make others feel VALUED...AND that their OPINIONS and THOUGHTS ARE HEARD? Why, or why not? And most importantly, what are you going to do about it?
