Communication for

Success

Communication for

Success

Interpersonal

Communication for

Strategic Solutions Group

Communication for

Structural Engineers

SE University

October 2011

Agenda

What is the goal of the session?

What is SSG responsible for? What is SSG responsible for?

What are you responsible for?

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Setting the Table

What is the value of being an effective communicator?

What causes us to communicate in the manner that we

do?

In what ways could we get feedback that would tell us

how we are communicating?

How does poor communication cost us business, time,

or relationships?

How does someone become an effective communicator?3

Communication Concepts

Understand Nature and Nurture

Pay attention to feedback

Strengths overextended create weakness

Feeling uncomfortable vs. Feeling Not OK

Ownership

Expectations

Get it right over being right

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The Impact of Beliefs

o What is an Attitude or a Belief?

o How does it determine our approach to communicating?

o Can I get rid of an old attitude or belief?

o How are attitudes and beliefs formed?

o What is the value of knowing my attitudes and beliefs?

o How does attitude and my behavior style impact how I communicate with others?

Strategic Solutions Group

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Control Factors

Beliefs:

Talk to yourself vs. Listen to yourself

Behaviors: Behaviors:

Focus on High Payoff Activities

Abilities:

Acquire new and enhance existing

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Cycle of Success

ConditioningSuccess

The goals you seek must be supported by the attitudes you have or you

will have to settle for the results your attitudes bring you.

Attitudes & Thoughts

Actions & Behaviors

Results

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States of Attitude Change

Ignorance Reflection

The Barrier of Self-imposed Limitations and Awareness

Recognition Creation

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Aligning Attitudes

Values = Attitudes

Nature and nurture create your

assumptionsassumptions

Attitudes are either productive or

unproductive

You have control9

Causes of Change

Inspiration: Self analysis

Feedback

Vision-Goals-Desire

Internal Internal

Desperation Complacency

Settling

Status-Quo

External

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Question

What are the 3 things that you What are the 3 things that you

have control over?

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What is Style-Flexing?

o The ability to communicate with various

types of behavior styles

o The ability to understand why people o The ability to understand why people

approach things differently

o The attitude of improving our communication

and increasing our understanding of each

other

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Why Should I Style-Flex?

o So I know how other people perceive me

o So I can use a common approach and method

of communicating with othersof communicating with others

o To reduce the conflicts that naturally occur

when different styles interact

o So I can be strategic in my approach to

communicate with others13

Power Points of Human Behavior

o If I understand me better than you

understand you, then I can guide the

communications between us.

o If I understand me and you better than you

understand yourself, then I can predict and

guide how you will respond.

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Communicating for Success

Driver

Expressive

Strategic Solutions Group

Expressive

Amiable

Analytical

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Driver Tendencies

WANTS Action and Results

NEEDS To Direct & Dominate

STRENGTHS Decisive, Task Mode

GOAL Better Results

AVOIDS Wasted Time & Energy

FEARS Losing Control

OVERUSES Impatience

EMOTION Anger / Short Fuse

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Expressive Tendencies

WANTS Feedback, To Be Liked

NEEDS To Interact and Verbalize

STRENGTHS Interaction Skills, Persuasive

GOAL Social Recognition

AVOIDS Boredom

FEARS Social Rejection

OVERUSES Disorganization

EMOTION Positive, Optimism

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Amiable Tendencies

WANTS Harmony and Peace

NEEDS To Serve Others

STRENGTHS Team Player, Loyal, Patient

GOAL Harmony, Closure

AVOIDS Confrontation, Conflict, Change

FEARS Loss of Predictability

OVERUSES Possessiveness

EMOTION Masked Emotions

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Analytical Tendencies

WANTS Excellence and Quality

NEEDS To Comply with Standards

STRENGTHS Accuracy and Precision

GOAL Correct and Proper Way

AVOIDS Uncertainty

FEARS Criticism of their Work

OVERUSES Skepticism, Criticism

EMOTION Worry, Fear

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Style Summary

FACTS & RESULTS

FAST FAST SLOW SLOW

DriverAnalytical

Strategic Solutions Group

PEOPLE & EMOTIONS

FAST FAST

IMPATIENTIMPATIENT

SLOW SLOW

PATIENTPATIENT

Amiable Expressive

^^ ^^

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Question

What style is someone if What style is someone if

they are Impatient and

focused on Results?

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Focus on the Situation or Behavior

When communicating, focus on the situation or the behavior occurring, not the person.

This allows you to better communicate with the other person, rather than to seemingly

pick on them. People tend to be more open to discussing the situation they are in or

their behavior. When it gets personal, there is less willingness to change.

Focus on the Positive

Application and ActionApplication and Action

Focus on the Positive

Focus on the positive aspects of the other person to build the other persons self-

esteem. By looking at something positive about the other person, you can better deal

with areas needed for improvement.

Look for Win-Win Opportunities

Look for opportunities where both you and the other person benefitwin-win

situations where both of you can develop. In todays rapidly changing world, managers,

supervisors, and frontline employees can always learn from each other.

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Strive for Open Communication

Strive for open and direct communication with others. A manager or supervisor

can speak in a direct and clear manner and still show respect for the other person.

Clear expectations provide direction for a job well done.

Share Information

Share appropriate information with others. Organizations are realizing that they

Application and ActionApplication and Action

Share appropriate information with others. Organizations are realizing that they

are all on the same team. Better sharing of information means that managers,

supervisors and frontline employees are better informed and can provide improved

customer service.

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Behavior Traits

Focus DisciplineContinuous

ImprovementAccountability

Self-Motivation

Adaptability Maturity

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Challenges

Self-awareness

Reason to change: Inspired or Desperate

Conscious Thoughts = Deliberate Actions

Continuous Improvement through practice

Expectations

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Modifying Attitudes

What are the challenges & obstacles to overcome?

CURRENT DESIRED

Obstacles &

Roadblocks

CURRENT

REALITY

DESIRED

FUTURE

SKILLS

BEHAVIOR

STYLE

ACTIONS

ATTITUDE

SUCCESS!

SUCCESS!

SUCCESS!

SUCCESS!

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Plan of Action

Decide to become better

Self-analyze

Get feedback

Set a goal Set a goal

Identify Beliefs-Behaviors-Abilities

Implement

Analyze Readjust and Re-implement

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Thought

Successful people are those

that make a habit of doing that make a habit of doing

what unsuccessful people do

not like to do!

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For More Information

Contact

Strategic Solutions Group

Jon M. Stigliano

Office: 800-565-2089Office: 800-565-2089

Cell: 254-715-2147

www.strategicsolutionsgrp.com

jon@strategicsolutionsgrp.com

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