Tips for Communication: Take an Inventory of Your Communication Habits
by Laurie Wilhelm
Ever find yourself saying too much? It’s like you can’t help but tell someone in great detail exactly what you mean, how you would do it, or your experience when that project was part of your portfolio.
Maybe you don’t find yourself in that situation. But are you sure others don’t find you in that situation? (hint, hint)
It might be time to take an inventory of your communication habits for more effective workplace communication. Ask yourself:
1. Is what you’re communicating relevant? Going into minute detail is useful when it’s relevant. If it’s not, don’t go there.
Is it helpful or annoying to tell someone precisely what you mean?
Do they need to know that much information?
Will it help them do a better job?
Does it really help them to understand the situation better?
Does it create unnecessary bias and prejudice?
Does it empower them to learn more, do better, or add new information than what’s already known?
2. Is it necessary to describe how you would do it?
Why are you describing it? Do they need to know this information? Is it helpful?
Do you actually know how to do it or is this your opinion on how to do it?
Are you contributing to their success or trying to take control of the situation?
Is your way the only way?
Are they able to figure out how to do it on their own?
Did they ask you how you would do it?
3. Are your experiences relevant now?
Are you helping them learn quicker by sharing your experience or do you just want to reminisce?
Has staff turnover or new technologies made your experiences less valuable?
Are they actually interested in your experiences or do they just want to do it themselves without preconceived approaches?
Is it OK for them to dive into the project without knowing your experience or are there a few key points that you know which would help them achieve success?
Give others quality information that is useful to them and relevant to what they’re doing. Understand your purpose for offering your experiences and how it will benefit them. If you’re just talking for the sake of talking, that’s fine, just make sure it’s fine with those you’re speaking to and that you’re not monopolizing the time which they could be using to get the job done.
Great post! I definitely learned a lot from this one and have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing my own communication habits.
Laurie Me too!