The Art of Communication A management consultants view

The Art of Communication

A management consultants view

Successful communication & conversation

“Without strong communication skills and solid business etiquette, you limit your potential, risk your image, jeopardize relationship that are fundamental to business success.”

Debunking the myth – Hairdressers and opticians?

Clients pay huge sums of money for highly paid magicians to appear and make problems go away with the wave of a wand…

Trusted advisors is engaged because of their ability to listen to a client’s problem,

deconstruct complex issues into tangible

terms and apply their experience to find a mutually beneficial solution. All of these rely on our ability to effectively communicate.

“ Seek first to understand then to be understood”

Franklin Covey

Preparing to communicate

“You cannot not communicate. Everything you do or say, don’t do or don’t say communicates something.”

- A very wise, but anonymous person

Preparing to communicate – pop quiz

WORDS 7%

HEAR 38%

SEE 55%

What's the most effective means of communication?

Words

Listening

Sight

Practice Viewpoint

• Be confident, creative and daring• Be inquisitive & love learning• Be engaging & insightful• Be Different• Read your audience• Be sympathetic to outcomes• Be experiential/anecdotal• Be ‘real’• Be prepared• Be flexible and like the challenge of uncertainty• Listen, listen… speak• Love what you do.. They’ll love who you are• Above all…. HAVE FUN!!!

No ‘I’ in team

F - FunI - IntelligentT - Team Player

When presenting

V - Variety of methodsI - InteractiveV – VisualE - Examples

A word from the wise – McKendry’s pearl

Do

“If you want to learn, take risks and don’t be afraid to try. You cant always do things you know well”

Don’t

“Make sure you manage expectations – don’t promise the universe and deliver an island. Your client comes first, whether that’s external or your manager, VP or colleague”

Preparing to communicate

60 second elevator pitch

Three steps:- Plan (what’s the goal of the meeting)- Prepare (what you want to say)- Preview (all supporting materials)


VERBAL• In Person/Phone• Volume/Intonation/Pace/Clarity

NON-VERBAL• Written (email, correspondence)• Presence and Body Language• Eye Contact & Handshake• Attire• Perfume/Cologne• Eating

Types of communication


Arrival

Building Rapport

Effective Listening

Body Language & Eye Contact

Honesty

Follow-up

Interviews


One Point of Contact

Respect the audience and their time

Confirm details in writing

Honor Your Commitments

Leaving voicemails

Be honest and be fair

Communicating with leadership


We speak at a rate of 120-150 words per

minute

Brain can process more than 500 words per

minute

Filtering what you hear

Consider speaker’s motivation

Eliminate distractions

Clarify messages with the speaker

Conversation includes listening

CConnect

Consider

Clarify

3


Cell Phone

Fast Speaking

Interruption

Slang

Eye Contact with Audience

Attire

Common pitfalls

Building relationship

Creating communication that is warm and sincere

establishes rapport and connects with people

Key is to be genuinely interested in getting to meet and

know others (even if only briefly)

It is called Net-work-ing

Networking

Building the relationship

Appropriate dress & hygiene

Business demeanor & manners

Smile, stay connected and upbeat

First to shake hands – firm but relaxed

Initiate & generate conversation

Open ended questions, keep conversation flowing

Remember who you have met

Remember you are a seller and a buyer

Networking Dos

Building the relationshipNetworking Don’ts

Talk too much, or too long to one person

Use poor humor

Check voice or email messages

Drink alcohol in excess

Sit down, flirt, or leave for a smoke

Look around while talking with someone

Approach with questions in restroom

Linger all night when the event is over

Action plans

Career center seminars and training sessions

Toastmasters

Youtube!

Questions?

Documents

The Art of Communication A management consultants view