Have you ever walked into a meeting and communicated an idea or a proposal, only to be met with a wall of blank stares? Or perhaps you have intended to motivate someone or even indirectly compliment him or her and the opposite reaction occurs. Do you ever reflect on why this happens?
It can be humbling to realize that your intent has little to do with what an audience actually hears and takes away from it.
This week, I was consulting with a company and discussing the possibility of hiring someone everyone loves, but who is missing a couple minor credentials. One of the senior execs pointed out that had they stuck to only hiring based on precise guidelines, one of the other leaders present at the meeting would not be with the company today. As he has been instrumental in the growth of the company, it would have been a huge loss. Unfortunately, what the COO intended as an indirect compliment was interpreted as an insult.
We all have filters and triggers and words that speak to us…or don’t. The key to being a great communicator is navigating the obstacles of your audience (whether it’s one person or 100) and making sure it is 100% clear to them. If you do not communicate your message in a way that is understood as intended, this is 100% on you.
When you are able to frame a question or a statement in the language it will best be received; that is when you can call your communication a success.
Here are some suggestions for delivering your message to your audience of any size:
- Before you talk, consider your desired outcome. Then think about it from the perspective of the person with whom you’ll be speaking.
- Now think about the outcome for the other party. What will this mean to them?
- Now for the message: share your desired outcome clearly. Let the other person respond. Listen carefully; think about what you are hearing. Does the response correspond with your desired outcome?
- Ask for feedback! Have the person reiterate to you the question in his or her own words. Listen to what they say and how they say it. Words have power and meaning beyond the dictionary. The feedback you receive is the only REAL MEANING of your communication.
You won’t always be right in your decisions; people won’t always hear what you intend to say. But when you are communicating with authenticity and positive intent and the willingness to accept the responsibility that your delivery is only as good as the message received, you will be a stronger communicator and a better hunter, using all the skills you learn on The Hunt to hit your targets!
