During the month of August, ProjectManagement.com will focus on Communication. I think that Communication skills are the Foundation to being a successful project manager and it's something we can all utilise and improve.
We're lead to believe that a Project Manager spends between 80-90% of their time communicating. I'd love to hear your top tip for being an efficient and effective communicator.
Mine is: plan your communications appropriately. This doesn't just mean the audience but specifically the content that you're trying to share. Can it be reused? Is it necessary/applicable to the audience. Saving Changes...
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace CorpsYaounde, Centre, Cameroon
Thanks Emily,
The content and communication style must be customized to suit the audience for an effective result. Interestingly, the audience and content may remain unchanged but the style may change due to changing times too.
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1 reply by Emily Luijbregts
Aug 03, 2020 7:52 AM
Emily Luijbregts
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Thanks for replying! Would you say that your communication style has changed recently?
What would be your tip for effective communications?
Thanks Emily,
The content and communication style must be customized to suit the audience for an effective result. Interestingly, the audience and content may remain unchanged but the style may change due to changing times too.
Thanks for replying! Would you say that your communication style has changed recently?
What would be your tip for effective communications?
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1 reply by Maria Lekha Johnson
Aug 04, 2020 11:07 AM
Maria Lekha Johnson
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yes, at least in my case, i have changed my communication style. It has become more creative. Using emails, pings, regular follow-ups - and in addition to these, I have started referencing these in my recent communications. Looks like people are bombarded with multiple emails and pings So, frequent referencing of earlier communications has become a necessity.
Using shared docs where they can see what we are updating has reduced frequent back-and-forth. Before Covid, we were not using these shared docs so much but this is becoming a necessity to avoid confusions.
Communications should be planed previously, taking in account aspects like communication technology, communication method, communication type and communication model. The elections depend of the organization nature, the particular needs of the project and the analysis of the communication needs of stakeholders.
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1 reply by Emily Luijbregts
Aug 03, 2020 10:19 PM
Emily Luijbregts
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Thank you Veronica! Do you have a favourite matrix to use to plot it out? Or where do you find inputs?
Communications should be planed previously, taking in account aspects like communication technology, communication method, communication type and communication model. The elections depend of the organization nature, the particular needs of the project and the analysis of the communication needs of stakeholders.
Thank you Veronica! Do you have a favourite matrix to use to plot it out? Or where do you find inputs? Saving Changes...
Thanks for replying! Would you say that your communication style has changed recently?
What would be your tip for effective communications?
yes, at least in my case, i have changed my communication style. It has become more creative. Using emails, pings, regular follow-ups - and in addition to these, I have started referencing these in my recent communications. Looks like people are bombarded with multiple emails and pings So, frequent referencing of earlier communications has become a necessity.
Using shared docs where they can see what we are updating has reduced frequent back-and-forth. Before Covid, we were not using these shared docs so much but this is becoming a necessity to avoid confusions. Saving Changes...
Marcus UdokangProject Manager| Aivaz ConsultingCalgary, Alberta, Canada
Emily,
I agree that communication is vitally important for projects, and central to what PMs do. There are very good ideas posted on this discussion thread about this topic. I'd add that each PM probably has their own style of communication, but the key to good communication is to be able to listen well. Yes, one should also ask the right questions at the right time, but also listen to what the stakeholders and resources have to say. One thing I have learned is that you get respect and understanding best when you listen first, then respond. Incorporate your stakeholder's ideas into your response. This works well, with engaging and building trust with your stakeholders, which is one element that is key to the success of any project.
Marcus Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
There was a big missunderstanding about communications from years in the field of porject management. Starting from the myth about a project manager spend 80-90% of the time in communication. Most of the people when hear the word "communication" think about to talk with other persons. That´s not right. "Everything" somebody need to know can be found inside Shannon Theory of Communications.
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1 reply by Maria Lekha Johnson
Aug 11, 2020 8:37 AM
Maria Lekha Johnson
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I read this and it is a mathematical paper with much formulae. Not sure what is the takeaway for us from that paper.
Saving Changes...
Alex KuczeraProject Manager| Stormtec FiltrationCanmore, Alberta, Canada
Does anyone have any favorite resources for learning how to communicate well as a PM or as a working professional in general? Saving Changes...
Thanks for taking the time to contribute! Some great tips here!
@Maria - I really like the use of shared docs and how it reduces down the multiple version/confusion that arises.
@Marcus - "Listen first and then respond" is a great mantra!
@Sergio: Thank you for sharing. Shannon's theory of communication is really interesting. I've not heard of it before in that form.
@Alex - There's a few great blogs which I follow (mine included ;)) which are focused around the skills that you need. Have you had a look at the blogs/webinar on this site? This might help you narrow down or learn some new skills. There's a lot of communication focused webinars available but if you give me any specifics, I'll be happy to look up some for you! Saving Changes...
There was a big missunderstanding about communications from years in the field of porject management. Starting from the myth about a project manager spend 80-90% of the time in communication. Most of the people when hear the word "communication" think about to talk with other persons. That´s not right. "Everything" somebody need to know can be found inside Shannon Theory of Communications.
I read this and it is a mathematical paper with much formulae. Not sure what is the takeaway for us from that paper.
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Aug 11, 2020 8:49 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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Is not a mathematical paper. Is a whole work which is the basement of communication and information. Perhaps you find the original paper only, but it is an related book written by Shannon. All you know about that have the basement on Shannon theory. For example, it demonstrate that the common believe about the number of channels of communication makes communication difficult is wrong. Or things like today called "big data". And it demonstrate that the other myth what stated @Emily in this post is wrong too. But no problem, things could not be valuable for everybody. Just I can affirm that when people need to understand about communication and information there is not other source more valid than Shannon, at least about basement and foundation on that.
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