Communicating effectively

The Best Organisations Invest in More Than the Obvious. 

Think of the different personalities within your organisation - no doubt there are some natural influencers amongst them, those people who have a knack of persuasion. Perhaps they are the extroverts in the office who love nothing more than pitching for business. If we are being scientific about it, they’ll probably be loitering around the ESFP, ENFP boxes of a Myers-Briggs exercise.

We love categorising people, don’t we! Of course it’s really helpful, if not vital, to help our people play to their strengths. But have you ever wondered what could be achieved if you nurtured some of the less obvious talents of those in your team? Have you considered how many great ideas simply wither away because someone doesn’t have the confidence, the encouragement or the platform to speak out? 

Good communication takes skill not luck 

Your team has diverse skills – it’s what makes them brilliant! Every day they interact with each other, your donors, partners, volunteers, beneficiaries, and suppliers. They might not be on the front line sales force, but they’re all communicating, persuading and building relationships – and to do so effectively isn’t just down to personality type. 

Communication is one of those skills that some people inherently seem to have in swathes – we generally call it the gift of the gab - but there is no reason why all of us can’t be better at communication. 

Imagine the ideas that would surface, the relationships that could be built, and the problems that could be solved if everyone was that little bit better at communication. Your donor care team could manage that frustrated supporter with greater ease; your IT team could explain the technical upgrade so much more easily and those ideas that the junior members of your team have been too nervous to share could come to light.

Better communication means better results 

It’s not just about helping your front line sales force to win that pitch but helping to improve the way your people work with each other. This way people can avoid misunderstandings,  ensure key issues are communicated clearly and effectively and give people the skills they need to share knowledge and ideas confidently.

Here are the top 5 takeaways from our presentations course to get you and your team on your way to better communication:

1. Be yourself, remember to use your own style.

2. If you breathe, smile and think positively, you will control those nerves

3. Make sure you have a clear objective.  What do you want your audience to do? Choose your material carefully and make sure it answers this question.

4. Include stories of your experience where-ever you can.

5. Practise, practise, practise.  Even the best of us do this, people are not gifted or natural public speakers!

It’s such an overly used cliché to say that your people are your best assets – but sometimes cliché’s exist for the very reason that they are true. Helping your people to develop a much broader range of skills and talents, not just those they excel at, is certainly a great way to help your organisation to develop at a faster pace, and perhaps in ways you never thought possible.

Good luck and do share any more thoughts with us!