“Quality of communication dictates respect”
Communication is crucial!
It is a central tenet of successful leadership so developing good communication skills will get a lot of focus in the JonesyHub.
One of the best – and certainly the most common – places to start for effective communication is the ubiquitous SMART model.
Communication can be divided into three distinct areas for development: “method, manner & material”. SMART is a “method” system: it helps to ensure that some of the basic mechanics of your message are solid. For many, the model is familiar. We have – or tried – to use it for years! It is easily found on the Web and is a frequent contributor to training courses, management memos, and quick-fix books.
There are several versions, and a quick “google” will provide a few alternatives, but the following is the one I use as it avoids the confusion sometimes caused by the similarities of certain terms as used by others.
For those who are not familiar, or perhaps have forgotten, here is a brief reminder:
S – Specific: Your message should be focused, clear and precise. Stay “on point” and avoid digressions, redundancies, and waffle: keep it as simple as possible without patronising or being condescending.
M – Measurable: what you are asking must be practical with “specific” steps that can be targeted and measured along a path of progression. Help them see what “success looks like”. It may also, on occasion, be helpful to spell out what the consequences of failure may bring, too.
A – Achievable: your request must be doable by the person. All necessary resources (which may include equipment or finances) must be available and they must have the ability to do it and time to accommodate it.
R – Relevant: to the person and the overall target. If the request is not “their job” or not necessary to them or the purpose, it won’t be relevant.
T – Timed: provide a clear time-frame for when the request is needed or by when the tasks needs completing. Avoid “ASAPs”! Build in “time-buffers” if necessary (if you need something for a deadline at 13:00, give them a deal-line of 12:00, for example. This gives you some time to chase if they miss), but never be vague, loose, or just hopeful with your requests.
Many consider the way we dress is a reflection of the way we see ourselves and can reflect the level of respect we have for our role, the person we address, or even the place we attend. More so, how we communicate with others can send similar signals about how we feel about them, the purpose of our message, and what we do.
The quality of our communication reveals the quality of our relationship and dictates the level of respect for that relationship.
Taking the time to communicate clearly shows we value who we are communicating with as much as what we are communicating.
So, do not settle for being a messy communicator: make an effort to be SMART!
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