Are You Communicating Strategically?
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By Dave Wakeman
A topic I’ve come back to again and again on this blog is the need to ensure that communications skills and practices give you the best opportunity to act as a project leader—not just a facilitator.
The key tool that we project managers have to manipulate the outcome of our projects is communication. As we spend more and more time figuring out how to become strategic partners of our sponsors, it’s imperative that we think of communication skills as a weapon we deploy to achieve business goals.
Here are three areas that I think project managers can focus on to transform communications skills into strategic assets.
Always talk in terms of outcomes and achievements. I have a client that says, “I’m a big picture guy.” To try to talk with him about tactical things would be doing us a disservice.
To use your communications skills as a strategic tool, you need to take this same approach to your own conversations. Focus on what you are trying to achieve and what the outcomes that deliver value will look like. When you talk like this, you become a stronger partner to your stakeholders and you are likely to inspire a stronger following from your team because you are focused on the outcomes—and not on micromanaging every task.
Have a framework for your communications. As a project manager, I’m sure you love having a framework for most of the activities that you undertake. Why should your communications be any different?
Such a framework doesn’t need to be complex. Try a simple one like this:
1) Motivate: Begin by pumping your team and your partners up so they are excited and energized by what you are working on. You can do this pretty simply by focusing on achievements thus far, outcomes, and progress.
2) Teach: Share what you need everyone to learn. Teach your audience to see the project in the way that you do.
3) Reinforce: Make sure you confirm that everyone is on the same page. This is vital.
Invest the necessary time and energy. To become more focused and strategic with your communication practices, you’re going to have to invest some time in your relationships. For several reasons, but most importantly, you are going to need to know the goals and objectives of your key stakeholders. And you are going to need to understand how they like to be communicated with.
Without these key concepts in your toolbox, your communications are likely to fall flat. There is no real shortcut here. You just have to really be willing to listen and talk honestly with your stakeholders and team members to develop a relationship that can withstand the challenges that every project faces.
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Posted
by
David Wakeman
on: July 23, 2016 09:59 AM |
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Comments (10)
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Worth reading. Thanks for sharing.
A good reminder of the value of open and honest communication along with the importance of effective teamwork.
Thanks
A Nice share. Crux lies in "I have a client that says, “I’m a big picture guy.” To try to talk with him about tactical things would be doing us a disservice"
Thank you very much.
Good information, thank you.
Love the communication framework and incorporation of teaching. Thank you for the post, Dave!
Marlon Tosi
Project and Product Manager| Agap2IT
Lisboa, Portugal
Thanks for sharing. Great article.
Julia Cunningham
Manager Project Management| Battelle
Richland, Wa, United States
We can never go wrong by trying to improve our communications. Thanks for the reminders.
fosco frongia
Senior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUG
Fino Mornasco, Como, Italy
many thanks for sharing this article
Kevin Coleman
Subject Matter Expert, Author, Speaker and Strategic Advisor| - Insights
Pa, United States
Luis Branco
CEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, Ldª
Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear David
Interesting is your perspective on the topic: "Are You Communicating Strategically?"
Thanks for sharing
3 Tips to ensure that communications skills and practices give you the best opportunity to act as a project leader
"- Always talk in terms of outcomes and achievements
- Have a framework for your communications
- Invest the necessary time and energy "
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