10 Tips to Improve Communication

 

Project Managers have to be excellent communicators. Nearly 90% of a project manager's time is known to be spent in communication with teams, stakeholders, clients etc. In this TED Talk, '10 ways to have a better conversation', Celeste Headlee discusses things that we can do to improve our communication skills. They are not the usual standbys that we already know such as look the person in the eye, think of interesting topics to discuss in advance, nod and smile to show that you are paying attention, and repeat back what you just heard. It's time to put these to rest and master new skills.

Here are the 10 tips in summary. Most of these are related to mistakes that we make while having conversations. 

1. Don't multitask. Be present and be in that moment.

2. Don't pontificate. If you want to state your opinion without any response, her advice is to write a blog. :)

3. Use open ended questions with who, what, when, where, why and how.

4. Go with the flow of the conversation. Other thoughts will come into your mind. Let them go out.

5. If you don't know, say that you don't know.

6. Don't equate your experience with theirs. All experiences are individual.

7. Try not to repeat yourself. This can happen in work conversations when we try to make a point.

8. Stay out of the weeds. Forget the details about years, names, dates, etc.

9. Listen. "Most of us don't listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply" - Stephen Covey.

10. Be brief.

Watch the TEDTalk. If you master at least a few of the 10, you will be on your way to improving your communication. Something to add to the New Year resolutions list!