Keys to Effective Communication
Unlock more confidence in your conversations with these communication tips
Communication is an incredible thing. It’s how we connect, relate, and relay – and just like any skill, it can (and should) be practiced. Think back to a time when someone in your life had to have an important conversation with you: How did you feel after that conversation? What elements of the communication contributed to helping you feel that way?
What I want us to think about today is how you prepare to communicate important messages in the workplace.
These four essential keys to communication will help to improve your conversations, whether it’s a tough talk, a managerial conversation, or a growth conversation.
1. Prepare your message
If this is a high-stakes conversation, you probably know what you want to say days ahead of time. Which means by the time it’s time to actually deliver that message, you may have completely over-thought it! Intentional preparation can help keep you from spiraling into a convoluted communication scenario.
Remember
Remember that you’re the leader in this scenario
Get very clear with yourself about why you’re having the conversation
Think about how you can tailor your communication to your audience (factor in any cross-cultural communication differences)
Be straightforward and get to the point quickly
Don’t overthink it – aim for simplicity and clarity
Plan to leave time for feedback and conversation
Prepare how you’ll close the conversation
Have a plan for follow-up, if needed
One of the shortcuts I like to use is thinking through the potential objections, resistance, or questions from my audience – plus, it’s a good exercise in empathic dialogue.
I wrote about some more ways to prepare for a 1:1 meeting here →.
2. Set your intention
Now that you’re clear about what you want to communicate, it’s time to think about its impact on the person so you can prepare how to communicate effectively to deliver your message.
Questions to ask yourself
What does success look like?
What do I want them to take away from this message?
What thoughts and feelings am I aiming for? (Inspiration, motivation, commitment, engagement, appreciation, relief…)
Visualizing these outcomes can help reverse-engineer and focus your dialogue (remember: simplicity!).
Even with all this effort you’re putting in, it’s important to consider how you’ll adapt if the initial response is different from what you expected. Flexibility and adaptability – be prepared to adjust your communication style, as needed.
3. Get your wiggles out
Almost zero leaders would say they waltz into a communication scenario without at least some anxiety (AKA, “communication apprehension”). Anxiety will set up shop in our bodies in many different ways – some people will feel the typical tightness in their neck, heightened heart rate, and difficulty concentrating, while others might find themselves uncharacteristically snapping at family members the day before a big conversation or experiencing digestive discomfort and shallow breathing.
The fight-or-flight response is real, but you can help get it out of your system by:
Taking a walk
Making sure to nourish your body with good food (being “hangry” never helps)
Listen to music
Give yourself a pep talk (don’t let your self-talk hold you back from being the leader you can be!)
Get rid of all that negativity so you can step forward into the great things you’re entirely capable of! Remember: Your self-talk doesn’t always have your best interests at heart.
4. Prepare your mind
Now that your message is prepared, it’s time to settle in and prepare your mind. I like to give myself a good 20 minutes before a big conversation to:
Do some breathwork or meditate
Get some water
Use the restroom
Clean up my surroundings
Take a lap around the office
Prepare a drink, straighten the chair, or any other hospitality gestures for the other person
By the way, my favorite time for tough conversations is 11am. That way you’re not rushing to the office for a first-thing meeting, and you’ll have had time to address all the urgent things of the morning. And lunch is always a good breather – everything’s better when you step away for a moment!
Closing thoughts
Effective communication is not just about the words you say – it's about how and why you are communicating. By intentionally preparing your message, mind, and body, you can unlock the power of effective communication skills to build trust and connection with your teammates.
Lead the way,
