Thanks for taking time to read today’s blog. As always, the weekly blogs are filled with ideas and communication. It is a platform in which I am able to make our HDD voice heard and hopefully make a difference. Some subjects are lighthearted and off topic for an ultrasound company, while others are meant to be informative and thought provoking.
IDEAS
Effectively communicating involves being intentional in a manner that makes people want to listen and engage. Think about your role at home, at work, at play and in the community. Do you have something to say? How do you get people to listen? At some point, you are going to have to speak up.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
If you want people to listen to what you have to say, you might want to consider your delivery. Forbes.com has a few suggestions for communication and getting your point across effectively.
- Speak with conviction. Don’t downplay your idea by treating it like merely a suggestion. Avoid fillers such as “um”, “like”, or “You know what I’m saying?”
- Speak with intention. Speak clearly, emphasize key points and maintain eye contact. Be assertive, not aggressive. Understand when not to speak.
- Make it a conversation. People lose interest when they are listening to a diatribe. Let others weigh in with their opinions and participate.
- Be prepared. Have your points planned out and practice if necessary. Stay calm.
- Get to the point. Give people a reason to listen and respect their time. Brevity is always appreciated. Make sure you are engaging the listener.
- Speak quieter not louder. Whispers garner more attention than shouts.
- Listen more. Plan to spend as much time listening as you do talking. Don’t interrupt.
- Pay attention to body language. Your body language speaks as clearly as your words.
- Pay attention to timing. Monday mornings, Friday afternoons, before lunchtime or at the end of the day you are more likely to lose your audience. Keep it short.
- Have confidence in yourself. Believe in yourself and what you have to say then say it.
THAT BEING SAID…
It can be difficult to say what we are really feeling and even harder to say it in a way that ensures we are heard by others. Being misunderstood, misperceived or ignored can leave us feeling angry and frustrated. Pay attention to not only what you say, but how you say it. Openness and honesty can cause people to get defensive and lash out. Everyone needs to feel not only heard but understood. Effective communication can be tricky. Learn to speak your piece in a tactful respectful manner. Most of us are not mind readers so, say what you mean and mean what you say.
HDD
HDD always appreciates hearing what you have to say. Feel free to communicate your experience with us. Our mission is to serve you in a timely, professional manner. If your experience is less than you expect, let us know. We want to use it as a teaching tool and opportunity to turn into a positive experience. Call us at 505-350-3397.